915. Veronika Decides to Die

Veronika Decides to Die
Paulo Coelho
1998
Around 285 pages

Anything that is remotely related to Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets an automatic A. The great SMG herself starred in the film adaptation, and the lady has good taste. Most of the time. I really enjoyed this one, and bought my own copy because I liked it so much.

This one is a little self explanatory. Veronika decides to die, and attempts to commit suicide with sleeping pills. Her plan doesn't work, but she is told that her heart was damaged from the overdose, and she only has a few days to live.

When men write about women with mental illnesses, it can be a bit weird. I think about The Virgin Suicides, where the suicidal girls were treated like mythological creatures who don't belong in this world. This novel was not like that, and Coelho had true empathy for all of his characters.

Happy to see this isn't the last Coelho on the List!

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Adapted to film in 2009.

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