title: Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption
author:  Paulo Coelho 
description: "Girl Interrupted meets The Catcher in the Rye...you'll appreciate Veronika's sensual nihilism."--Mademoiselle
zlib_text: VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE
  A NOVEL OF REDEMPTION
  PAULO COELHO
  TRANSLATED FROM THE PORTUGUESE BY MARGARET JULL COSTA
  
  For S. T. de L., who began to help me without my realizing it
  
  Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents…and nothing shall by any
  means hurt you.
  Luke 10:19
  
  Contents
  Epigraph
  Begin Reading
  P.S. Insights, Interviews & More…
  About the Author
  Praise
  Other Books by Paulo Coelho
  Credits
  Copyright
  About the Publisher
  
  On November 11, 1997, Veronika decided that the moment to kill herself had—at last!—arrived.
  She carefully cleaned the room that she rented in a convent, turned off the heat, brushed her teeth,
  and lay down.
  SHE PICKED up the four packs of sleeping pills from her bedside table. Instead of crushing them
  and mixing them with water, she decided to take them one by one, because there is always a gap
  between intention and action, and she wanted to feel free to turn back halfway. With each pill she
  swallowed, however, she felt more convinced: After five minutes t