Original Language: Portuguese
Genre: Psychological Fiction
Introduction:
Brazilian author Paulo Coelho is the author of "Veronika Decides to Die" which was published in 1998. It tells the story of a 24-year-old woman's attempted suicide and subsequent admission to a psychiatric hospital. Some people will be scared off by the book's disturbing title, but those who do pick it up and give it a try might find themselves with a fresh outlook on life and mental health.
Book Summary:
Veronika, 24, rents a room in a convent and works in a library in Ljubljana, Slovenia. She is a beautiful woman with friends and family, but her emotions of helplessness and apathy encourage her to seek "freedom" in abusing sleeping pills. It is revealed to Veronika when she awakens in Villete, the renowned asylum for lunatics in the nation, that she has only days to live because her suicide attempt has damaged her heart.
The author then goes on to describe how he learned of Veronika's tale. He can connect to her experience because his parents similarly put him in a psychiatric hospital due to his "unusual behaviour." However, Coelho only makes a brief cameo in the narrative.
Returning to Veronika, she attempts to leave Villette while horrified and resentful about it. However, she also fails in this. Mari, who has panic episodes, and she reluctantly become friends. In a later statement, she says that the schizophrenic Eduard may have been the love of her life. She eventually acknowledges the truth about her situation. She makes the decision to fully appreciate her final few days.
One of the main characters in the stories, Dr. Igor, shocks Veronika repeatedly to test his medical theory. By persuading them that their life will end, he hopes to demonstrate through his experiment that he has the power to shock someone into desiring to live again. Exactly that is what he does to Veronika.
Before she passes away, Veronika embarks on a trip to learn about herself. She rediscovers her love for playing the piano. Every night, she performs the piano at Villette, cheering up many people. She gets a heart attack during the week, but she recovers her drive to live.
Book Review:
Coelho encourages you to reassess your choices and routines. This book effectively attracts its readers. All of us have had times in our lives when we believed that the only way out was to leave this world, just like Veronika. Paulo offers his readers newfound optimism for life. You'll explore the factors that motivate you to live. He leaves a subliminal message that suicide is not an option and that there are many reasons to live in this world. Your life can change in any instant.
Because Coelho skillfully introduces the reader to a wide range of issues centered around spirituality and psychology in Veronika Decides to Die, I have grown even more in love with his writing style. This is not a book that you should read once and then put out of your mind. It is intended to be one of those books where the psychological and spiritual issues catch your interest and inspire more reading and research for a deeper understanding. Additionally, the story's characters and events are sure to stay in readers' minds long after the book is closed since they will inspire them to reflect on the exact purpose of their own lives.
After all, is said and done, I would rate this book as strongly positive. I don't think this book is for everyone, but if you're someone who appreciates learning different perspectives on life and new philosophies, you'll definitely love this book and the conclusion of Veronika's journey will definitely inspire you. Paulo focuses on the idea that even a small shift in perception can help someone who is weaker become stronger.
My Rating: 8/10
