Helpful Score: 6
I really enjoy Paulo Coelho. Before this book, I had read The Alchemist. Since I loved The Alchemist, I had high expectations for Veronika Decides to Die. It definitely met and surpassed my expectations. It was an easy read but had so many interesting perspectives about life and what is "normal." I enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 5
A modern day Catcher in the Rye with a female perspective. I wish this would have been required reading in high school!
Helpful Score: 3
I really liked this book. This was the first book by Paulo Coelho I read and it won't be the last! In alot of ways I could relate to Veronika and I was pleased the way the story ended.
Helpful Score: 2
The overall message of the book is a good one - girl tries to commit suicide and gets a second chance at life. The premise is that we are all living the lives that we choose, and we can always choose to live differently - However, I found the writing style to be drawn out in some parts of the book, especially when the Doctor was trying to convey a message. Parts of the book were "dry." I don't know how else to describe it.
Helpful Score: 2
This short book has the flavor of a morality tale that explores the definition of insanity in modern society. The suicide attempt of a young woman and the subsequent influence of her story and her presence in a psychiatric hospital directed by a doctor with enigmatic methods of treatment slowly unfold to reveal surprising layers of meaning. While the ultimate message can be construed as hopeful, there is a great deal to provoke thought, which is what I always enjoy about Paul Coelho's stories.
