Veronika Decides To Die

Don't let the title scare you. Yes, the main character Veronika did decided to die and no, it isn't a scary, depressing novel about the insane people. This is a story about life, told from the other side of the society, the group of people we call nuts.

Veronika is a 24 year old woman from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Tired of the same routine of so-called life, one night she decided life isn't that fun to live anymore. She took sleeping pills, hoping they would off her. But her attempt failed, someone had brought her to the hospital and brought her back to life. She is now in a patient in Villete, a small privately funded psychiatric hospital. The head doctor, psychiatrist Dr. Igor told her, her action had a terrible consequence. The medication she took had damaged her heart so badly, she only have weeks to live. After her attempt to steal pills from the hospital failed, she just had to wait for what happened. What happened, changed her life forever.

I first find out about the book after watching the screen adaptation starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Thewlis and I was hooked. The story itself is very powering and inspiring. I think the author is delivering a message that anything can happened, where ever you are. We would thought a psychiatric hospital would be last place to find hope, but again, life is a mystery.

One thing I hate about the book is the naration about Dr. Igor's medication method. Common people like me just don't get it. So it needs to be read over and over again.

always,
hana.

The Gift

I read the book a few months ago, but I think it's Cecelia Ahern's best work, besides of course P.S. I Love You. It a a Christmas holiday novel about the true spirit of christmas: family and time.

The story starts with a turkey boy, who threw a frozen turkey to a window of a house. Officer Raphie brought him to the station. He told him about the extraordinary story of Lou.

Lou is an architect and a family man, juggling two fast paced life, but he always seems to forget the family and wanted to climb the work ladder. One day he met Gabe, a homeless man in front of his building. After having a smart conversation together, Lou decided to hire him to work in the mailroom, based of Gabe's super memory. He remembers every pair of shoes that walked in front of him. Soon, Gabe was very welcomed and accepted in the office. He works fast, almost too fast, as if he can be at two places at once. On several occasions, Gabe also saved Lou from a drunken night and drove him home. Everyone gained Gabe's trust, even Lou's wife, Ruth. Gabe gave him a pill container, he said as a gift for Lou. The gift, is the gift of time, to make up past mistakes and giving hope. The pill makes Lou be at two places at once.

Okay, the story must be very hard to understand because all of Cecelia Ahern's novel are about the magical and the unthinkable. Despite the very unusual but interesting plot, the message from the book is so good and special, filled with unexpected twist and out of this world sense. I can't say more about the story because I'd spoil the fun. It is truly a one of a kind book.

The super thing about the book is the message underneath it all. A reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, about giving, the importance of family, a strong bond of friendship, and second chances. There is always an opportunity for second chances, to make up whatever it is you miss out on life. Cherish life while you can, is what I always say.

The interesting is the character of Gabe, short for Gabriel. Maybe he's an angel, sent to a man like Lou to give him an opportunity of a life time.

It's soooo good and perfect Christmas read. Although it is very far from Christmas now, but be sure to put in on your socks Santa list!

always,

hana.