少年時期的保羅‧科爾賀曾因精神疾病三度入院，年少的奇特行為，夢想成為藝術家，1967年他最後一次離開醫院，決心呈現這段經歷。
薇若妮卡是出生在斯洛維尼亞的年輕女子，芳齡 24。她相貌出眾，有令人羡慕的工作和眾多追求者。她一直過著平凡的日子，既無太多歡笑，也沒有什麼悲傷，但她是不快樂的。她發現自己日復一日地過著同樣的日子，放眼未來也不見任何新鮮事，只有無窮無盡的枯燥無聊。
1997 年某個清晨，她決定去死，她認為這個決定也是生活的組成部分。她吞下大量安眠藥，但又在一家精神病院醒來。因為心臟已嚴重受損，她只剩一星期的生命可活。然而就在這裡，她開始思考精神病的定義，以及我們是否有權對那些不合於所謂「正常」定義的人強制用藥。也是在同院的病友身上，在曾受暴力攻擊而自殺的律師、在違抗父命投入藝術的大使之子身上，她首次發現了自己的熱情與好奇心所在。
虛虛實實，科爾賀製造了一個夢想與真實並存的國度。幻想與夢想，正常與瘋狂，同情與悲傷，追求與死亡，保羅‧科爾賀帶領我們進入一個生命經歷，讓我們明白即使平淡的生活也有奇蹟。與其說這是一本探討「死」的小說，不如說它是一本探討「生」的哲學之書。
Twenty-four-year-old Veronika seems to have everything -- youth and beauty, boyfriends and a loving family, a fulfilling job. But something is missing in her life. So, one cold November morning, she takes a handful of sleeping pills expecting never to wake up. But she does -- at a mental hospital where she is told that she has only days to live.
Inspired by 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. Bold 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.
About the Author
Paulo Coelho is one of the most beloved writers of our time. With sales of over 85 million copies worldwide, his books have been translated into 63 languages and published in 150 countries. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious international awards and was inducted into the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 2002. Mr. Coelho also writes a weekly column syndicated throughout the world.
