Book chalet, otherwise hotel, given turbulent times (3,9)

I believe the answer is:

the alchemist

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'book' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'chalet otherwise hotel given turbulent times' is the wordplay.
'otherwise' indicates anagramming the letters.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet).
'given' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'turbulent' indicates anagramming the letters.
'chalet' is an anagram of 'thealc'.
'times' with letters rearranged gives 'emist'.
'thealc'+'h'+'emist'='THE ALCHEMIST'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for the alchemist that I've seen before include "Subtle comedy" , "play" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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