The Biblio Blogazine

Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho
Translated from the Portuguese by Jull Costa
Fiction, 191 pages
Harper Collins Publishers

Inspired by personal experience, Coelho brings us this novella which explores the perceptions of those with mental illness and those who have to deal with it – or choose not to.

At the core is a story about finding acceptance, facing denial, and finding the freedom to takes one’s fate into their own hands regardless of the obstacles.

The only detraction, for some readers, may be way the author handles the narration, at times literally placing himself within the story. In addition, there is sexual content which didn’t bother me, but may put off others.

This was a good introduction to Coelho, but not the best one. I have a feeling The Alchemist may be a much better story. I’m looking forward to reading it, hoping to appreciate this author more.

If you would like to learn more about the this work, the author, or any of his other stories, please visit the links below:

• Paulo Coelho’s website
• Author discussing writing this book
• My reading notes

Amigoland by Oscar Casares (2009)
Scheduled publication date 08/10/2009
Fiction, 368 pages
Little, Brown and Company

Review copy courtesy of Hachette Book Group

Elderly brothers, Don Fidencio and Don Celestino are stubborn and independent. However, for the older Fidencio, this independence has been taken away and he spends each day in a nursing home trying to remember his past, while trying not to think too much of the future.

. . . he didn’t like thinking about his life, how it used to be, how it was now, and what it would likely become, if God didn’t do him the favor of taking him soon.

All they want is to keep me alive for another fifty years. Tell me, tell me why it is nobody wants me, but nobody wants me to die either.”

Struggling against the injustices of age, both know that they must find common ground before it’s too late. They are all that is left of their large famil, and time is running out.

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