VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE
AUTHOR:
PAULO COELHO
The Author
 The author of this Novel is “Paulo Coelho”, who is a Brazilian.
 Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 24, 1947. His age was 74 years.
 Paulo is a Lyricist and also a Novelist.
 Paulo is also a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters.
 His most famous novel The Alchemist, has sold more than 150 Million copies
worldwide.
 It’s a Brazilian novel, showing the simplicity of sentences and showing activities in
very simple way.
Theme Of The Story (About Book)
 The book revolves around a 24-years old girl, Veronika who seems to
be well settled and living a happy life, with no issues. Still commits
suicide attempt.
 Question arises Why? If she was living a good life, having a handsome
salary, no other issues, then what drove her crazy about trying to
attempt suicide?
Characters
1.
Veronika – the main character of the story who tried to commit suicide and was
admitted to Villete, a mental institution in her country.
2.
Zedka – the patient diagnosed of chronic depression. She became Veronika’s first
acquaintance and companion in the hospital.
3.
Eduard – the schizophrenic who didn’t talk much, and have liked Veronika’s piano music
very much.
4.
Mari – the leader of the Fraternity inside Villete. A senior lawyer who was admitted
because of panic attacks.
5.
Dr. Igor – the director of the institution who was writing his paper regarding this
“poison” that makes people bitter in life, causing them to have psychological disorders.
Story of the Novel
 The set of the novel is in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
 Veronika was living a decent life, a handsome salary, loving family but
still there was something missing in her life. Ends with agree to attempt
suicide.
 She took handful of sleeping pills for the purpose of never waking up.
 Before the pills take effect, she read an article “Where mostly in
Slovenia?” decided to write letter to author complaining about article.
 This letter was mostly looking like a suicide note. She wrote
“ Hasn’t anyone noticed that everything has gone completely insane?
…… I want people to know I believe in killing myself rather then to join ”
 Pills started their effect and Veronika thought she will never wake up
again.
 But she does in a mental hospital called Villette, on Rudson River.
 Her doctor, Igor, told her that she has damaged her heart through over
dosage of pills and she does not have a lot time to live but weeks.
 In mental asylum, she again tried to commit suicide but failed.
 A patient there named Eduard, who didn’t talk much, and was
mentally ill, falls in love with Veronika and this also effected on his
brain positively. He also liked the Piano music Veronika used to play
during her stay at Villette.
 After knowing that she does not have enough time and when she met
Eduard, her life became colorful like never before. She started taking
interest in living the life in a different way.
 But despite of the fact that she does not have enough time to live, she
was regretting what she did.
 Then she decided to live the few days left in her life, in a fully beautiful
way.
 She asked doctor Igor to discharge her but he refused by saying
her health is not well and to spend her last few days here.
 But Veronika disagreed with it and planned to escape with Eduard.
 Although doctor Igor saw them escaping, but let them go.
 After few days Veronika realized that she is not dying and doctor
Igor lied to her to make her realize the value of life when she was
supposed to die.
Conclusion

Veronika Decides to Die imparts a very strong message on teenagers that life is not
limited to our problems, rather we should face them and leave no space for
disappointments in our lives.

The book ends with Veronika figuring out that she really isn't going to die, and that
Dr. Igor had only told her that as an attempt at a new way of getting patients to
appreciate life due to the fact they think they have no time left. Which forces Veronika
to feel all the emotions she's been holding back for so long.
MORAL of the Story
“ It’s human nature
not to value something,
unless they lose it ”
Veronika realizes the value of life when she was on the edge of her death