Twenty-four-year-old Veronika seems to have everything she could wish for: youth and beauty, pleny of attractive boyfriends, a fulfilling job, and a loving family. Yet something is lacking in her life. Inside her is a void so deep that nothing could possibly ever fill it. So, on the morning of November 11, 1997, Veronika decides to die. She takes a handful of sleeping pills expecting never to wake up.
Naturally Veronika is stunned when she does wake up at Villete, a local mental hospital, where the staff informs her that she has, in fact, partially succeeded in achieving her goal. While the overdose didn't kill Veronika immediately, the medication has damaged her heart so severely that she has only days to live.
The story follows Veronika through the intense week of self-discovery that ensues. To her surprise, Veronika finds herself drawn to the confinement of Villete and its patients, who, each in his or her individual way, reflect the heart of human experience. In the heightened state of life's final moments, Veronika discovers things she has never really allowed herself to feel before: hatred, fear, curiosity, love, and sexual awakening. She finds that every second of her existence is a choice between living and dying, and at the eleventh hour emerges more open to life than ever before.
In Veronika Decides to Die, Paulo Coelho takes the reader on a distinctly modern quest to find meaning in a culture overshadowed by angst, soulless routine, and pervasive conformity. Based on events in Coelho's own life, Veronika Decides to Die questions the meaning of madness and celebrates individuals who do not fit into patterns society considers to be normal. Poignant and illuminating, it is a dazzling portrait of a young woman at the crossroads of despair and liberation, and a poetic, exuberant appreciation of each day as a renewed opportunity.
ISBN:61015016
Author:COELHO PAULO
Rose Walubengo –
Hello;
The book depicts the “normal” orphan culture that we ( the society) are deep rooted into!
-All that happen in our society (bad/good), is brought about by the notion ‘the way we do things’……African culture. Whereby, one is sidelined as per the situation he/she is in!
-Its a wake up call for parents to do the right thing for our children /make right decisions/have a will/ have a concrete foundation for our kids from the word go/ make sure that our kids know their routes because in one way or another, our kids will painfully find out.
-Let’s teach our children on unity of purpose from an early age, they may have inadequate resources but unity is very key. At some point when parents die, very young children get divided taking sides with different relatives hence destroying their own families, thus escalating the orphan’s tear!
-The author is so keen on an orphan’s challenges, but what about the wins??? What about “sikio la kufa halisikii dawa?” (Some relatives try as much as they can to help orphans but there’s that feeling that aunt/uncle/cousin etc so and so are not helping us), lame complains right, left and center….what happens???
– If one finds him/herself in an orphan’s situation, and you get someone who can offer you education, the best thing is to focus on that and spread your wings, self pity is killing the whole society at large.
-Much appreciation for celebrating Koko Aidah Agidza Herman Muaka, its a memory that will never fade away while she’s still on this earth!
Thanks for the insights, though I feel like there’s more on an orphan’s Tear! —Remember, some of the orphan’s Tear are self induced, even if some of the parents were alive they couldn’t do more than what some relatives are doing to help.
All is well!
Cynthia Khabetsa Mwavishi –
I have finished reading the book titled The Orphan’s tear by Damaris. The book delves into realities of orphan hood, the narratives of this book resonates with both personal experiences and societal issues in broader context. The shared struggles faced by Orphans, despite coming from different family backgrounds with different socioeconomic status, the struggles are well portrayed that the orphans, after the loss of their parents, they are wrapped in a common thread of challenges, with shared reality. I loved reading the book, it has explored the harsh journey of orphans, that include the fake promises given to them by relatives, to being used in those relative’s homes.
The book triggers emotions throughout, that are powerful and overwhelming. It’s indeed a testament of resilience. The author, Damaris, emphasised on the necessity to persevere and strive for a better future. I wonder if it’s her real story, I remember her back in primary school AT Bulovi primary.. It’s a nice read that calls for action to the readers to empathise with the struggles orphans face and contribute to a more compassionate and understanding society. Thank you.
Cynthia Khabetsa Mwavishi –
I have finished reading the book titled The Orphan’s tear by Damaris,The book delves into realities of orphan hood, the narratives of this book resonates with both personal experiences and societal issues in broader context. The shared struggles faced by Orphans, despite coming from different family backgrounds with different socioeconomic status, the struggles are well portrayed that the orphans, after the loss of their parents, they are wrapped in a common thread of challenges, with shared reality. I loved reading the book, it has explored the harsh journey of orphans, that include the fake promises given to them by relatives, to being used in those relative’s homes.
The book triggers emotions throughout, that are powerful and overwhelming. It’s indeed a testament of resilience. The author, Damaris, emphasised on the necessity to persevere and strive for a better future. I wonder if it’s her real story, I remember her back in primary school AT Bulovi primary.. It’s a nice read that calls for action to the readers to empathise with the struggles orphans face and contribute to a more compassionate and understanding society. Thank you.