Veronika Decides to Die - Paul Coelho

Veronika Decides to Die - Paul Coelho

Plot Summary

In his brilliant novel about the aftermath of a young woman 's suicide

attempt,Paulo Coelho explores three perennial themes:conformity,

madness,and death.Twenty-four-year-old Veronika li es in

Slovenia,one of the republics created by the dissolution of

Yugoslavia.She works as a librarian by day,and by night carries on

like many single women --dating men,occasionally sleeping with

them,and returning to a single room she rents at a convent.It is a

life,but not a very compelling one.So one day,Veronika decides to

end it.Her failed attempt,and her inexplicable reasons for wanting

to die,land her in a mental hospital,Vilette.

Veronika 's disappointment at having sur i ed suicide is palpable.She imagines the rest

of her life filled with disillusionment and monotony,and vows not to leave Vilette alive.

Much to her surprise,however,she learns that a fate she desires awaits her anyway:

She is destined to die within a week 's time,of a heart damage caused by her suicide

attempt.Gradually,this knowledge changes Veronika 's perception of death and life.

In the meantime,Vilette 's head psychiatrist attempts a fascinating but provocative

experiment.Can you "shock"someone into wanting to live by convincing her that death

is imminent?Like a doctor applying defibrillator paddles to a heart attack victim,Dr.

Igor 's "prognosis"jump-starts Veronika 's new appreciation of the world around her.

From within Vilette 's controlled environment,she finally allows herself to express the

emotions she has never allowed herself to feel:hate and love,anger and joy,disgust

and pleasure.Veronika also finds herself being drawn into the li es of other patients

who