Xandra’s review of Veronika Decides to Die > Likes and Comments
73 likes · Like
Hahaha... I agree with you completely. I was bored out of my mind reading this book and I only finished it because if was the only book I had with me on a trip :) The ending saved the story (for me at least) because it was kinky and creepy and utterly funny.
Yes! Kinky & creepy & funny is good. I guess I should have given this one more star just for that.
But I felt cheated. I expected to read some interesting dark book about suicide and all I got was a cheap mockery of the subject, written with an annoying sense of self-importance. I could almost see Coelho's smirk while giving himself a little pat on the shoulder after every written sentence. Hell, I bet he even bows before himself in the mirror from time to time just thinking about this book.
Though I haven't completed reading this book, I can still agree with you both- Seregil and you.
The book is so dull and gloomy.. no fun that can make you want to keep going further.Infact I wouldn't have taken the pains of continuing it had it not been given to me by my friend.
Oh, the fun will come if you keep pushing. Not sure if it's worth it though. If it's a struggle to continue, just abandon it. Lots of great books out there. Besides, reading doesn't have to feel like a chore.
Yep you are right- reading doesn't have to be a chore. Presently I'm taking a break from this book.. refreshing my mind you know. Seriously I' ve never taken so long to finish a book.. Can't blame myself though.
Funniest review I've read on this book so far. Good job!
sa-nteleg c-o recomanzi. Ok, la insistentele tale, o s-o citesc. Sper sa n-ai gusturi catastrofale.
:)) Citeste-o, din curiozitate macar. In general ma amuza chestiile ridicole, problema e ca nu prea imi place Coelho. Scrie de parca detine el secretul fericirii eterne si raspunsurile la toate secretele universului si daca ii urmezi sfaturile viata ta o sa fie minunata, roz si plina de sens.
Tin minte ca mi-a placut Alchimistul cand am citit-o in liceu, dar asta nu pentru invataturile [cica profunde] pe care le descopera unii, ci pentru ca m-am amuzat zile in sir pe seama chestiei aleia cu universul care conspira pentru realizarea viselor mele.
Eu am avut o tentativa timida de a patrunde in lumea lui Coelho(mi-am dat seama ca n-o sa-l plac inca de cand i-am vazut chipul, comparandu-l cu Dostoievski, de pilda, omul pare ca e proprietarul unei vulcanizari) n-am putut termina cartea respectiva, astfel confirmandu-mi pentru mine ca-i autor pentru "mase" si astfel devenind fara sa vreau un elitist superficial si abject. Acum urasc c-am devenit atat de inchistat in prejudecati si ma fortez sa-i citesc si pe cei cu care nu-s de-acord. niciodata n-am sa pot tolera aroganta pseudospirituala pe care in primul moment cand o pui la indoiala cu intrebari pertinente, esti privit ca un cinic rautacios or ca un tampit care n-a nteles nimic dintr-o atare carte. sa nu mai spun de superioritatea cu care esti privit de ceilalti care "au inteles" esenta universului...
off topic:
bookshelves: depressing
cred c-o sa-ti devorez raftul ala :))
Ha! Proprietarul unei vulcanizari. Mie mi se pare ca i-ar sta bine ca preot sau in postura de bunic usor senil care spune toata ziua povesti. Dar se pare ca si meseria de scriitor i se potriveste. Lumea il place.
The fact that you can't relate any of the book to real life tells me perhaps you are picking the wrong books or just missing the point. Why would an author be so dedicated on elaborately portraying some character through his writing when it's not his intentions? His books are philosophical. I happen to pull a tis bit of info from each book. Yes a lot of his books may seem repetitive with the message, I don't mind it.
Take what you can from books, or anything in life an move on. I swear people try to find the negative in everything. sadism AT's it's finest.
Possibly worst review ever.
Rana wrote: "You didn't understand it then!"
Yeah, that happens sometimes. Coelho's just too clever for me.
Rana, you should try Critique of Pure Reason. Coelho influenced Kant a lot and I think you will enjoy him too. Don't mind Xandra, haters gonna hate. xoxo
This is actually true. Kant is the best of Coelho's numerous epigones and he owes all his ideas to coelhian philosophy. Critique of Pure Reason is basically a homage to The Alchemist. Not as good though. :(
Believe me, I wanted to find something worth taking from this book too, otherwise I wouldn't have read it. But there was nothing here for me. To each their own.
Oh yes, I remember the story you quoted, but I don’t think it’s something Coelho came up with. This is another thing that bothers me about him. When I was in high school I used to read a weekly-piece-of-Coelho-wisdom published in a local newspaper and some of the stories were ok, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t come up with most of them. I suspect he collects these kinds of parables then inserts them in his books.
Also, I feel that a lot of this wisdom is something that, by the time you’re a teenager, you already know either from the fairy tales you’ve read as a kid or from real life. Like this story about the mad king. I think even at a young age you’re aware of the pressure to conform and not stand out.
I understand the guy’s appeal, I really do, he’s just not my cup of tea.
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Seregil
(new)
Jan 08, 2012 08:42AM
Hahaha... I agree with you completely. I was bored out of my mind reading this book and I only finished it because if was the only book I had with me on a trip :) The ending saved the story (for me at least) because it was kinky and creepy and utterly funny.
reply
|
flag
Yes! Kinky & creepy & funny is good. I guess I should have given this one more star just for that. But I felt cheated. I expected to read some interesting dark book about suicide and all I got was a cheap mockery of the subject, written with an annoying sense of self-importance. I could almost see Coelho's smirk while giving himself a little pat on the shoulder after every written sentence. Hell, I bet he even bows before himself in the mirror from time to time just thinking about this book.
Though I haven't completed reading this book, I can still agree with you both- Seregil and you. The book is so dull and gloomy.. no fun that can make you want to keep going further.Infact I wouldn't have taken the pains of continuing it had it not been given to me by my friend.
Oh, the fun will come if you keep pushing. Not sure if it's worth it though. If it's a struggle to continue, just abandon it. Lots of great books out there. Besides, reading doesn't have to feel like a chore.
Yep you are right- reading doesn't have to be a chore. Presently I'm taking a break from this book.. refreshing my mind you know. Seriously I' ve never taken so long to finish a book.. Can't blame myself though.
Funniest review I've read on this book so far. Good job!
sa-nteleg c-o recomanzi. Ok, la insistentele tale, o s-o citesc. Sper sa n-ai gusturi catastrofale.
:)) Citeste-o, din curiozitate macar. In general ma amuza chestiile ridicole, problema e ca nu prea imi place Coelho. Scrie de parca detine el secretul fericirii eterne si raspunsurile la toate secretele universului si daca ii urmezi sfaturile viata ta o sa fie minunata, roz si plina de sens. Tin minte ca mi-a placut Alchimistul cand am citit-o in liceu, dar asta nu pentru invataturile [cica profunde] pe care le descopera unii, ci pentru ca m-am amuzat zile in sir pe seama chestiei aleia cu universul care conspira pentru realizarea viselor mele.
Eu am avut o tentativa timida de a patrunde in lumea lui Coelho(mi-am dat seama ca n-o sa-l plac inca de cand i-am vazut chipul, comparandu-l cu Dostoievski, de pilda, omul pare ca e proprietarul unei vulcanizari) n-am putut termina cartea respectiva, astfel confirmandu-mi pentru mine ca-i autor pentru "mase" si astfel devenind fara sa vreau un elitist superficial si abject. Acum urasc c-am devenit atat de inchistat in prejudecati si ma fortez sa-i citesc si pe cei cu care nu-s de-acord. niciodata n-am sa pot tolera aroganta pseudospirituala pe care in primul moment cand o pui la indoiala cu intrebari pertinente, esti privit ca un cinic rautacios or ca un tampit care n-a nteles nimic dintr-o atare carte. sa nu mai spun de superioritatea cu care esti privit de ceilalti care "au inteles" esenta universului...off topic:
bookshelves: depressing
cred c-o sa-ti devorez raftul ala :))
Ha! Proprietarul unei vulcanizari. Mie mi se pare ca i-ar sta bine ca preot sau in postura de bunic usor senil care spune toata ziua povesti. Dar se pare ca si meseria de scriitor i se potriveste. Lumea il place.
The fact that you can't relate any of the book to real life tells me perhaps you are picking the wrong books or just missing the point. Why would an author be so dedicated on elaborately portraying some character through his writing when it's not his intentions? His books are philosophical. I happen to pull a tis bit of info from each book. Yes a lot of his books may seem repetitive with the message, I don't mind it.Take what you can from books, or anything in life an move on. I swear people try to find the negative in everything. sadism AT's it's finest.
Possibly worst review ever.
Rana wrote: "You didn't understand it then!"Yeah, that happens sometimes. Coelho's just too clever for me.
Rana, you should try Critique of Pure Reason. Coelho influenced Kant a lot and I think you will enjoy him too. Don't mind Xandra, haters gonna hate. xoxo
This is actually true. Kant is the best of Coelho's numerous epigones and he owes all his ideas to coelhian philosophy. Critique of Pure Reason is basically a homage to The Alchemist. Not as good though. :(
Believe me, I wanted to find something worth taking from this book too, otherwise I wouldn't have read it. But there was nothing here for me. To each their own.
Oh yes, I remember the story you quoted, but I don’t think it’s something Coelho came up with. This is another thing that bothers me about him. When I was in high school I used to read a weekly-piece-of-Coelho-wisdom published in a local newspaper and some of the stories were ok, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t come up with most of them. I suspect he collects these kinds of parables then inserts them in his books. Also, I feel that a lot of this wisdom is something that, by the time you’re a teenager, you already know either from the fairy tales you’ve read as a kid or from real life. Like this story about the mad king. I think even at a young age you’re aware of the pressure to conform and not stand out.
I understand the guy’s appeal, I really do, he’s just not my cup of tea.
