3.5 stars. I see a lot of dislike for this book on Goodreads. A LOT. People refer to it as a 'self-help' book, criticize the writing style, and a host of other things. None of that really bothered me. I love folk tales, so I enjoyed the storytelling aspect of the book. As far as people describing it as a 'self-help book', I didn't really get that sense. There are profound messages throughout the book, but I didn't feel like it was pretentious or judgmental at all, the way self-help books can be. On the contrary, this book is all about knowing yourself, and understanding that what fulfills you will not be the same as what fulfills another. There are fundamental truths in this book, but they are presented with a level of humility.

Now, people looking for a super in-depth novel full of descriptions and twists and turns and intricate plot probably won't enjoy this book. It's a simple story about a boy who goes out in search of treasure and the people he meets along the way who aid in (and sometimes hinder) his quest. It's told in a style that reminds me of fairy tales or folklore. The writing is simplistic (which could be partly because it's translated into English) but effective. It was a very quick read, at only 172 pages. I don't think it's a book I would feel I need to re-read, but I didn't hate the experience of reading it.