Trigger Warning:
Veronika Decides to Die deals with topics related to suicide and mental health. It also has what some might consider to be a graphic sex scene. If one or more of these subjects makes you uncomfortable in any way, please stop reading now.
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Synopsis
Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho, as its title gives away, starts with a 24-year-old Slovenian woman’s decision to end her life. Veronika seems to have no reason to commit suicide, yet this is what she wants the most. But her attempt fails, and she is sent to a mental health hospital. There, she is told only has a few days to live. This book tells us how Veronika manages her last days and how her situation affects everyone else around her.
Here is the blurb:
“Veronika has everything she could wish for – young and pretty, with plenty of attractive boyfriends, a steady job, a loving family. Yet Veronika is not happy, and one winter’s morning, she takes an overdose of sleeping pills, only to wake up sometime later in the local hospital. There she is told that although she is alive, her heart is now irreparably damaged, and she only has a few days to live.
This story follows her through these intense days as she starts to question all her ideas about life. Soon she realises that every second of existence is a choice we all make between living and dying. This is a moving and uplifting song to life, one that reminds us that every moment in our lives is special and precious.”
About the author
Paulo Coelho (website) is a bestselling Brazilian author. His book The Alchemist has sold over 150 million copies worldwide and remained on The New York Times Bestsellers list for more than 427 consecutive weeks. He was voted in as a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, known as the “immortals”.
In Brazil, Paulo Coelho is also acclaimed for his contribution as a lyricist to Brazilian rock music. In the 1970s, during the years of military dictatorship, he was arrested and tortured, because his songs and activities were considered to be subversive.
Paulo Coelho spent many years travelling around the world as a hippie. His books are inspirational, filled with elements of spirituality and self-discovery.
Veronika Decides to Die is Paulo Coelho’s 13th book. It was first published in 1998 and has since been adapted into a film directed by Emily Young.
What I liked the most
- I consider Veronika Decides to Die to be the best of Paulo Coelho’s books that I’ve read. I won’t say it’s perfect, but its message has stuck with me since I came across it in 1998.
- I’d never read anything before that treated mental health in such an honest and open way without prejudice or mockery. The story is based on Paulo Coelho’s real-life experience (the afterword gives you more details), making it sound mature and relatable.
- After re-reading it recently, this time in English, I enjoyed it even more. I felt I could appreciate better the message he is trying to convey.
- Despite its controversial theme, Veronika Decides to Die is an easy read. Still, all of the subjects are taken seriously and dealt with respect.
What I disliked
- The author puts himself into the story a couple of times which feels a bit weird.
- The unethical behaviour of Dr Igor is treated favourably within the marrative. I won’t give too much away so as not to spoil the story, but what this character does to achieve his goals could have been better discussed.
- The character development could have been better. You are left not fully understanding the motivation behind the behaviour of some characters.
What I learned
- The book gave me a better insight into certain mental health issues and how they can be challenging to people wwhich appear to have perfect lives.
- It made me think about how we deal with death. While we all know it will come eventually, everything seem to change for Veronika when a countdown starts.
- Veronika Decides to Die explores how your decisions can affect everyone around you. Other characters started to reflect on their life choices because of Veronika’s imminent death.
- I had no idea that this book had impacted the Brazilian mental health system. It’s mentioned in the afterword (and I also did more research about it) that the book inspired Brazilian senators to end arbitrary admissions into mental health institutions.
What I missed
Because I know how inspired and talented Paulo Coelho can be (from his work as a lyricist), his books always leave me wanting. I wish he had taken it to the next level, with fuller character development and a deeper discussion of the topics presented.
What to be aware of
Veronika Decides to Die is a conversation starter. Don’t expect it to give you all the answers.
It is popular literature. Some people might think is better placed on self-help shelves.
Takeaway
Veronika Decides to Die has two main takeaways:
- It inspires us to have the courage to be different.
- It reminds us how life is precious
Favourite quotes
- “The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.”
- “You are someone who is different, but who wants to be the same as everyone else. And that in my view is a serious illness. God chose you to be different. Why are you disappointing God with this kind of attitude?”
- “Haven’t you learned anything, not even with the approach of death? Stop thinking all the time that you’re in the way, that you’re bothering the person next to you. If people don’t like it, they can complain. And if they don’t have the courage to complain, that’s their problem.”
