El primer libro que leí en mi vida, abra sido hace unos 4 años atras cuando cursaba como 3 curso y me sentia deprimida sin sentido de mi vida, me identifique mucho con la historia de veronica, y al leer el libro senti como jugo con mis emociones y me hizo reflexionar sobre mi vida, de como muchas veces dejamos de hacer cosas que queremos por miedo a que nos juzgen. ( )

Translated into Persian, rank 90/1001

A classic case of wanting something after you've very nearly lost it. ( )

We all have ways that we deal with life. In Coehlo's book, these isn't much difference between the coping skills of the institutionalized and the rest of us. Should these people be in a mental institution, or is it really that they cannot cope with life in a way that is socially acceptable?"During her life Veronika had noticed that a lot of people she knew would talk about the horrors in other people's lives as if they were genuinely trying to help them, but the truth was that they took pleasure in the suffering of others, because that made them believe they were happy and that life had been generous with them. She hated that kind of person, and she wasn't going to give the young man an opportunity to take advantage of her state in order to mask his own frustrations." p. 37"She was in a mental hospital, and so, she could allow herself to feel things that people usually hide. We are all brought up only to love, to accept, to look for ways around things, to avoid conflict. Veronika hated everything, but mainly she hated the way she had lived her life, never bothering to discover the hundreds of other Veronikas, who lived inside her and who were interesting, crazy, curious, brave, bold." p. 76"You say they create their own reality," said Veronika, "but what is reality?" "It's whatever the majority deems it to be. It's not necessarily the best or the most logical, but it's the one that supports the desires of society as a whole." p. 95"That's how it should be with you; stay insane, but behave like normal people. Run the risk of being different, but learn to do so without attracting attention. Concentrate on this flower and allow the real "I" to reveal itself." "What is the real 'I'?" asked Veronika. Perhaps everyone else there knew, but what did it matter: She must learn to care less about annoying others. The man seemed surprised by the interruption, but he answered her question. "It's what you are, not what others make of you." p. 110She would consider each day a miracle--which indeed it is, when you consider the number of unexpected things that could happen in each second of our fragile existences. p. 217 ( )

I have loved the books I have read by Paulo Coelho. They make me think and as I always say, I love book that makes me think. What exactly is insanity and who is to say what's normal? Why is conformity considered to be normal? I almost think that some of the "insane" might just be the healthier of all of us. At least they are true to themselves! This was a strange book but I loved the way it was written. I love the little paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter. I actually may go back and read only those little paragraphs to see if there is a message there. I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book, but I enjoyed my time as I read each page.
Just read it! ( )