Mom used to read a lot of Paulo Coelho to me as a kid, it was my equivalent of bedtime stories actually. Though the books were too advanced for my young self to properly understand, I ended up developing an interest in philosophy because of them so they can't be too bad.
The books aren't very plot focused though. They're more of a contemplative meditative experience. The experience of reading one is similar to the one you get when you're sitting down and lost in thought. Lot's of interesting ideas pass through your head, and though you aren't sure of the quality of any of them, you still feel smarter afterwards.
If you feel like reading one of his books yourself for whatever reason, the ones I'd recommend are: The Alchemist, The Fifth Mountain, Manuscript of Arca, and The Pilgrimage
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/mar/24/manuscript-found-accra-coelho-digestedIn a nutshell.
Really, the best thing about coelho is how easy to parody he is. I wish I could show you another Coelho spoof that a guy in my country wrote a while ago "The tale of the young farmer who was in love with a camel". I might actually write a translation if there is popular demand
And yeah no. I read the Alchemist and didnt find it too special. Or rather, I think that taking a folk tale, throwing in New Age filler, and then selling it to the masses is not exactly nobel prize worthy.