Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Veronika Decide Morrer by Paulo Coelho

13 reviews

polkadotteapott's review against another edition

dark funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This book was a DNF -- the main character did some unforgivable stuff that was not treated as such.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Classism

pau_line's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

ich muss wirklich sagen, dass das Buch mich sehr fasziniert hat. Das hatte ich, ehrlich gesagt, nicht so erwartet.
Es ist ein schwieriges Thema, es geht um (versuchten) Selbstmord, psychische Krankheiten und das Leben.
Es wird die Geschichte von Veronika erzählt, einer jungen Frau, die beschließt zu sterben, schließlich jedoch erst durch den Tod herausfindet, was das Leben zu bieten hat.
Zwischendurch bekommen wir neben Veronikas Perspektive auch Einblicke in die Gedankenwelten anderer Patient*innen von Villete (der Psychatrie, in die Veronika eingewiesen wird), was ich sehr interessant zu lesen fand.
Schon während des Lesens hat mich das Buch beeindruckt und zum Nachdenken gebracht. Ich habe vor ein paar Jahren bereits ein Buch von Paulo Coelho gelesen und konnte wenig damit anfangen, was bei diesem Buch so ganz und gar anders war.
Die Geschichte ist sanft und stark zugleich, sehr bewegend und stimmt, zumindest mich, nachdenklich.
Für mich ist es faszinierend, wie Coelho es schafft, diese Botschaften, die er transportieren möchte, in diesem kleinen Büchlein von 224 Seiten zu verpacken und den*die Leser*in so völlig in den Bann zu ziehen.
Auch wenn ich das Buch gerade erst beendet habe, bin ich mir fast sicher, dass Veronikas und die Geschichten all der anderen Figuren noch eine  Weile in mir nachhallen werden.

"Als ich die Tabletten genommen habe, wollte ich jemanden umbringen, den ich hasste. Ich wusste nicht, dass es in mir andere Veronikas gab, die ich lieben könnte."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

pn__'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

Minor: Eating disorder and Classism

aleilvandrea's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment

liri_reads's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The story began extremely promising and I loved reading about all of the main characters stories and motives, but some parts were extremely weird and irritating (yes I’m mainly referring to the author’s self-insert in the story) + maybe it’s just me but

Veronika surviving was disappointing and more predictable than her dying

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Vomit

sterrestardust's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

ale15sousa's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Did not expect the ending until I got closer to it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Alcohol

Minor: Torture and War

morgancleaver's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death and Self harm

Minor: Sexual content and Forced institutionalization

sabbcm's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

lisannelouwerse's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I'm normally not one to leave written reviews but this was such an interesting story! 

I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho a few months back and I loved it, so when I saw this book I just started reading it right away without looking up what it was about. I mean, I could have guessed from the title, but I was still quite triggered by the beginning of this book. Coelho talks about suicide the same way you and I talk about the weather. However, once used to its style, this book is about so much more than a woman who wants to die. It's about love, self-discovery and spirituality. It's about the norms of our society. And moreover, it gives a small but very important answer to the question: "What's the point of living?". 

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels a bit lost or stuck in their life. This book will definitely give you some food for thought. 

One of my favourite quotes (there are so many) :
 "Madness is the inability to communicate your ideas. It's as if you are in a foreign country able to see and understand everything that's going on around you, but incapable of explaining what you need to know or of being helped, because you don't understand the language they speak there. We've all felt that. And all of us, one way or another, are mad."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis