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aaveilija's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
den_isa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Not my favorite, it was really hard to read but at the same tine I was determined to reach the end. The ending was predictable but worth it
vrnxca's review against another edition
5.0
“If God exists, and I truly don’t believe he does, he will know that there are limits to human understanding. He was the one who created this confusion in which there is poverty, injustice, greed, and loneliness. He doubtless had the best of intentions, but the results have proved disastrous; if God exists, he will be generous with those creatures who chose to leave this Earth early, and he might even apologize for having made us spend time here.”
Excerpt From: Coelho, Paulo. “Veronika Decides to Die.” HarperCollins. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Excerpt From: Coelho, Paulo. “Veronika Decides to Die.” HarperCollins. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
qamelion's review against another edition
4.0
‘The Alchemist’ surely is a hard act to follow and if that is the first book you read by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho like I did every other work of his faces the challenge of meeting high expectations.
The art in not just reading but basically everything in life is to not have high expectations. No question, looking forward to something can be one of the most beautiful things in the world but it always comes with the risk and danger of later disappointment.
All this philosophical talk might now have the impression on you that I had one of these unpleasant experiences with ‘Veronika Decides to Die’ and that I am now trying to look beyond my earlier expectations and show this book off in a better light.
But indeed that’s not the case at all here.
Coelho surprised me once again with his seemingly innate ability of storytelling and painting pictures before the reader’s eyes. With a plot so intelligently structured and well written one can at times simply not lay down this book.
Just like in ‘The Alchemist’ he manages to touch so many souls with a societal topic in a way that is really hard to find elsewhere.
A change of viewpoint in almost every chapter is reminiscent of Charles Dicken’s ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ and allows the story to be livelier and more dynamic. It also enables the quality of understanding each character’s way of acting. Something that often is not given in real life which is why certain groups of people - like the so-called ‘mad’ - arise. Social neglect is one of the basic motives of the book as well as society’s molding of values and norms.
‘Veronika Decides to Die’ also sheds a light on the importance of following your dreams as Coelho earlier did with ‘The Alchemist’.
It’s a beautiful short piece of work that is there to enjoy at any given time and that will enrich your soul and perspective of life.
The art in not just reading but basically everything in life is to not have high expectations. No question, looking forward to something can be one of the most beautiful things in the world but it always comes with the risk and danger of later disappointment.
All this philosophical talk might now have the impression on you that I had one of these unpleasant experiences with ‘Veronika Decides to Die’ and that I am now trying to look beyond my earlier expectations and show this book off in a better light.
But indeed that’s not the case at all here.
Coelho surprised me once again with his seemingly innate ability of storytelling and painting pictures before the reader’s eyes. With a plot so intelligently structured and well written one can at times simply not lay down this book.
Just like in ‘The Alchemist’ he manages to touch so many souls with a societal topic in a way that is really hard to find elsewhere.
A change of viewpoint in almost every chapter is reminiscent of Charles Dicken’s ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ and allows the story to be livelier and more dynamic. It also enables the quality of understanding each character’s way of acting. Something that often is not given in real life which is why certain groups of people - like the so-called ‘mad’ - arise. Social neglect is one of the basic motives of the book as well as society’s molding of values and norms.
‘Veronika Decides to Die’ also sheds a light on the importance of following your dreams as Coelho earlier did with ‘The Alchemist’.
It’s a beautiful short piece of work that is there to enjoy at any given time and that will enrich your soul and perspective of life.
everydayweekends's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
mshmshaya's review against another edition
3.0
An awareness of death encourages us to live more intensely
rexcy_ayekpam's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Suicide, Mental illness, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism
bluelien's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I appreciate the message but I must admit I was bored.
pau_line's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
ich muss wirklich sagen, dass das Buch mich sehr fasziniert hat. Das hatte ich, ehrlich gesagt, nicht so erwartet.
Es ist ein schwieriges Thema, es geht um (versuchten) Selbstmord, psychische Krankheiten und das Leben.
Es wird die Geschichte von Veronika erzählt, einer jungen Frau, die beschließt zu sterben, schließlich jedoch erst durch den Tod herausfindet, was das Leben zu bieten hat.
Zwischendurch bekommen wir neben Veronikas Perspektive auch Einblicke in die Gedankenwelten anderer Patient*innen von Villete (der Psychatrie, in die Veronika eingewiesen wird), was ich sehr interessant zu lesen fand.
Schon während des Lesens hat mich das Buch beeindruckt und zum Nachdenken gebracht. Ich habe vor ein paar Jahren bereits ein Buch von Paulo Coelho gelesen und konnte wenig damit anfangen, was bei diesem Buch so ganz und gar anders war.
Die Geschichte ist sanft und stark zugleich, sehr bewegend und stimmt, zumindest mich, nachdenklich.
Für mich ist es faszinierend, wie Coelho es schafft, diese Botschaften, die er transportieren möchte, in diesem kleinen Büchlein von 224 Seiten zu verpacken und den*die Leser*in so völlig in den Bann zu ziehen.
Auch wenn ich das Buch gerade erst beendet habe, bin ich mir fast sicher, dass Veronikas und die Geschichten all der anderen Figuren noch eine Weile in mir nachhallen werden.
"Als ich die Tabletten genommen habe, wollte ich jemanden umbringen, den ich hasste. Ich wusste nicht, dass es in mir andere Veronikas gab, die ich lieben könnte."
Es ist ein schwieriges Thema, es geht um (versuchten) Selbstmord, psychische Krankheiten und das Leben.
Es wird die Geschichte von Veronika erzählt, einer jungen Frau, die beschließt zu sterben, schließlich jedoch erst durch den Tod herausfindet, was das Leben zu bieten hat.
Zwischendurch bekommen wir neben Veronikas Perspektive auch Einblicke in die Gedankenwelten anderer Patient*innen von Villete (der Psychatrie, in die Veronika eingewiesen wird), was ich sehr interessant zu lesen fand.
Schon während des Lesens hat mich das Buch beeindruckt und zum Nachdenken gebracht. Ich habe vor ein paar Jahren bereits ein Buch von Paulo Coelho gelesen und konnte wenig damit anfangen, was bei diesem Buch so ganz und gar anders war.
Die Geschichte ist sanft und stark zugleich, sehr bewegend und stimmt, zumindest mich, nachdenklich.
Für mich ist es faszinierend, wie Coelho es schafft, diese Botschaften, die er transportieren möchte, in diesem kleinen Büchlein von 224 Seiten zu verpacken und den*die Leser*in so völlig in den Bann zu ziehen.
Auch wenn ich das Buch gerade erst beendet habe, bin ich mir fast sicher, dass Veronikas und die Geschichten all der anderen Figuren noch eine Weile in mir nachhallen werden.
"Als ich die Tabletten genommen habe, wollte ich jemanden umbringen, den ich hasste. Ich wusste nicht, dass es in mir andere Veronikas gab, die ich lieben könnte."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis