Thursday, December 28, 2006

Let Veronika Die


Coelho’s Veronika was the topic of discussion in today’s book club. I’d have to say that I’m surprised at the fame this author’s getting. The book was made of one cliché after another. A group of people in a mental asylum come to enlighten us to the fact that “all of us, one way or another, are mad.” Self-help, inspirational, spiritual how to appreciate life books are boring. Where’s the juice?

Veronika decides to die. Dr. Igor steps in and shocks her into wanting to live. Now what gives a person the right to decide for others? She made her choice. Who is he to intervene?
If someone you love or care about wants to do something that you think is harmful, how far would you go to stop them? Do you have the right to interfere in other people’s lives based on your own way of deciding what’s good and bad, what’s right and wrong? What if that’s not how they see things?


Eh ... too late to continue this post.


Now I have to decide on our book for next month.

17 comments:

Stinni said...

Can you tell me more about the book club? Is it open to anyone?

Poena said...

Book club in Kuwait! Where?
Blessed be,
Poena.

Hanan said...

Book club is exclusive to KU students. I'm afraid I had to limit it in order to minimize the number. I already have 12 members which is a bit too much as it is.

Maybe you guys should start your own book club. Announce it on your blogs or on other people's blogs and see where it goes.

sweetd said...

Ahhhh i just wrote something and it got erased!
---------------

First of all, it shud be called "verionika decides to live"...this author is over rated.. this is one of the reasons why i dont like to read books which r popular or talked about(hence i didnt bother readng the Da Vinchi Coda)...

Second of all,the idea of trying to stop someone u love to not do something even when its bad isnt my thing...what i mean by that is.. evryone has a mind of their own..so what id do is warn them (cuz most of the time i know i cant stop someone from doing from what they want to do!) then id sit back and relax and watch them do as they please...i dont believe anyone has the right to stop someone from doing what they want (pretty look up to u cuz u stick to ur thoughts H). Nothing bothers me more than trying to warn someone and getting annoyed when they do the complete opposit..ahhh..

Anyways, finally i believe u shud let people do what they want (and this is a warning : If ur sucicidal move away from me:P ill prob help u do it faster:P... just KIDDING i dont like feeling responsible for anyones personal choice!)...Do what u want.. and suffer the coinsequences!

sweetd said...

sorry the Da Vinchi Code( underlined or italics)

Hanan said...

Amy lee on my blog. I'm honored. :)
I liked the Da Vinci Code but I wouldn't call it a great book. It was fun. A bit informative. But that's about it.
Coelho is out of my list for good though.

Oh and sweetd. Have you been to our meeting? I have a feeling you're a member. Will figure out who later :)

The pie fairy said...

Whatever happened to caring for someone? So are u telling me if ur brother/sister/friend /son or daughter decides to commit suicide u'd be ok with it? :S
That’s insane. I didn’t know one can be so self-centered. I'm appalled!

Hanan said...

girl/world. No. I'm saying I would interefere naturally. The question was more philosophical than it is actual. And it does not necessarily have to address something as severe as suicide. I used it as an example, an extreme one I know. But just an example. If one you love tries to do something you disagree with in principle for whatever reason, do you have the right to stop them? If you think wine is dangerous for my health would you try to prevent me from drinking it? Wine, drugs, sex, whatever it is. People have different standards about what is right and what is wrong. Do I dictate my standards on my friends?

Chill girl. I have no intention of letting a loved one kill themselves :s You might think I'm self-centered but tra wallah I'm not.

sweetd said...

:) hehe yeah im sure amy lee:P.. just kiddin!:)... yeah thats the reason y i dont like reading faous books:P ...

sweetd said...

i agree with u H!

sweetd said...

can i say its nothing to do with being self centred! shes just saying no one has the right to stop u from doing anything whether it is right or wrong..humans in general hate it wen some one tries to stop them from doing something!

The pie fairy said...

whatever ppl!

Alia said...

Do you have the right to interfere in other people’s lives based on your own way of deciding what’s good and bad, what’s right and wrong?

I would interfere only if asked to, .. but I guess you know that

& a book for next month?? hmmmm .. what do u think of this

Hanan said...

sweetd & girl/world
fight fight fight :P

alia. i know :) But somethings are hard to share, even when you really want to share them with your loved ones :s
and I think I should stay away from that man. lol I caused enough trouble already, don't you think?

White Wings said...

I guess it all depends on how close you are to the person in question
i would go the distance :) to stop my children from harming themselves, even if this harm is a point of view, mine that is, wouldn't you?

Alia said...

بما إنني معتبره نفسي من اللوفد وَنز ... ودي أطقج

Hanan said...

white wings. I most definitely would. But you're turning a philosophical question into a practical one. The desire to interfer, for whatever reason, might not justify this interference. Or does it?

alia
:* انتي من اللوفدونز و نص بعد