Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
There were aspects to this book that made me feel heard and seen but the trouble with a book that attempts to describe the miracle and gift and meaning of life is that it’s not going to resonate with everyone. With me it didn’t resonate. I don’t think that life is about doing these Hollywood things like drinking wine and being loud and discourteous to others or even about falling “in love”. I don’t know what life is about but I think it’s something much subtler. This hyper “passionate” view of life annoys me. But it seems to be Paulo Coelho’s philosophy of life (to live it up and follow your dreams and all that popular stuff but he really means it). To me life is more like Japanese Zen Buddhism, life is the ordinary appreciated.
But for the parts that I felt heard, I would give this book 5 stars. I’m subtracting 1 star to save that type of rating for my favorite books ever which this book fell just short of.
But for the parts that I felt heard, I would give this book 5 stars. I’m subtracting 1 star to save that type of rating for my favorite books ever which this book fell just short of.
It's a quick read. What's nice about this are the stories of all the various patient interwoven together. It has a good message overall.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Without spoiling anything this book was highly predictable and obviously full of a life lesson. I immediately hated the main character Veronika. This made it very hard to invest myself in this story. It was difficult to finish because I felt no connection or investment in the character or story.
Veronika has decided to commit suicide. Her reasons aren't great - she has a good life, a good job, good family. But she has had enough. She has thought through her suicide - decided the best way to go is by taking a lot of sleeping pills.
It doesn't work, and she wakes up in a mental hospital - committed and ordered to get well. Dr. Igor is treating her, and tells Veronika that she has survived her suicide attempt, but they have discovered she has a serious heart problem. This heart problem will kill her in a matter of days.
It is now that Veronika starts to learn what it is to die. And to live. She meets a few people on the inside that she comes to admire, and even falls for a young man named Eduard. She tries to fit in a lifetime of living in her final days on earth.
This is a pretty good book. It is really, really short. I read it in a day and a half. I didn't think it was as good as the Alchemist. It was a fine book, but I feel like it should have been a little longer in order to become more invested in the characters. It was hard to develop feelings for any of them in such a short amount of pages. Although -the book does really only cover a week in Veronika's life, so maybe this is all there is to say.
I would not count it out. Because I saw the movie, I knew the ending of the book already, but if you don't know it - reading the book would be worth it for the ending alone.
It doesn't work, and she wakes up in a mental hospital - committed and ordered to get well. Dr. Igor is treating her, and tells Veronika that she has survived her suicide attempt, but they have discovered she has a serious heart problem. This heart problem will kill her in a matter of days.
It is now that Veronika starts to learn what it is to die. And to live. She meets a few people on the inside that she comes to admire, and even falls for a young man named Eduard. She tries to fit in a lifetime of living in her final days on earth.
This is a pretty good book. It is really, really short. I read it in a day and a half. I didn't think it was as good as the Alchemist. It was a fine book, but I feel like it should have been a little longer in order to become more invested in the characters. It was hard to develop feelings for any of them in such a short amount of pages. Although -the book does really only cover a week in Veronika's life, so maybe this is all there is to say.
I would not count it out. Because I saw the movie, I knew the ending of the book already, but if you don't know it - reading the book would be worth it for the ending alone.
A 24-year-old attractive and intelligent woman decides to kill herself because life is boring and there's nothing worth living for. She takes a bunch of pills and basically decides to die as the title suggests, but she survives the suicide attempt and wakes up in an asylum where she learns how to live a little because apparently people in asylums live freely with no inhibitions.
Without the fear of looking crazy, and because the hospital's quack psychiatrist lied and told her she has seven days to live, Veronika decides to try out some new experiences like you know, masturbating in front of a schizophrenic man while he plays the piano, among other things.
While the entire premise is kind of interesting, the book tries way too hard to be profound and deep, just like almost all of Paulo Coelho's books. I suppose that's his schtick? It's one of those "love it/hate it" type of books, and Coelho's brand of hokey philosophy just isn't my cup of tea.
I think your age also matters when reading this book. I imagine an angsty teen who hates life, their parents and the universe will probably relate to Veronika and find this book extremely profound. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Without the fear of looking crazy, and because the hospital's quack psychiatrist lied and told her she has seven days to live, Veronika decides to try out some new experiences like you know, masturbating in front of a schizophrenic man while he plays the piano, among other things.
While the entire premise is kind of interesting, the book tries way too hard to be profound and deep, just like almost all of Paulo Coelho's books. I suppose that's his schtick? It's one of those "love it/hate it" type of books, and Coelho's brand of hokey philosophy just isn't my cup of tea.
I think your age also matters when reading this book. I imagine an angsty teen who hates life, their parents and the universe will probably relate to Veronika and find this book extremely profound. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt