Wednesday, August 8, 2007
*+* Book Review *+*Veronika Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 4 Stars ****Date Started: 01/08/07Date Finished: 08/08/07"Veronika Decides To Die" sounds like a very depressing title isn't it?But it delivers a very meaningful messages within....Its written by the same Brazilian author of the International Bestseller book called "The Alchemist" (which i haven't read yet...). Honestly, this is my first Paulo Coelho's book. I have never read any of his book before in the past, but of cause i have heard many raves about his popular book "The Alchemist". That day while browsing through Popular's website i saw this book "Veronika Decides To Die" by Paulo Coelho. The title sounds rather depressing and interesting, so i searched Amazon for the reviews and gets to know that the story was about a young girl who seems to have everything, youth, beauty, boyfriends, a loving family and a fulfilling job have chosen to end her precious life...why on the earth did she want to do that? So being curious, i bought the book home from my local Popular bookstore.
It's a very "thin" book, altogether it's only 210 pages. The storyline was rather plotless, very straight forward and it's a quick and easy read...rather meaningful as well. It delivers a very meaningful message within it...It's about "Life". How one must learn to "live life to the fullest"...Making full use of our precious life...Everyday's a miracle, so enjoy it and make the best out of it...it does makes you think back, what have you achieved in your life?
The story was about a young girl named "Veronika" (age: 24) who seems to have everything, youth, beauty, boyfriends, a loving family and a fulfilling job. To her, life is rather meaningless, everything in her life was the same, and once her youth was gone, it would be downhill all the way, with old age beginning to leave irreversible marks, the onset of illness, the departure of friends. She would gain nothing by continuing to live so she decided to end her precious life by take 4 packs of sleeping pills.
She thought that she will never ever wake up again, but she does...in a mental hospital called "Villete". She was told that although she was still alive, her heart has damaged and will in fact die in a week or less. During the last 7 days of her life in the mental hospital, she met her "inmates" Eduard, Zedka, and Mari. And everyone of them has something to share with Veronika. Slowly Veronika discover that life's worth living, understanding the joy and value of life. She soon begin to appreciate her life, living her life to the fullest until the very last day of her life....
In conclusion, it's a very good book with a very meaningful message within it.
Like I said earlier, the book was rather 'thin", how i wish the story could be longer abit.
It's a simple, meaningful, "life's lesson" read...
If you're looking for a simple and meaningful read, this is the book I'll recommend you.
=D
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