Ich Hätte Es Vorgezogen Zu Leben (2007) - Plot & Excerpts
This book was written by a French author who was struggling with understanding why his friend took his life. What was born was a moving, mystical, impactful commentary on the value of life and the effect of our own lives on those around us. Jeremy tries to take his own life as a young man when he is forsaken by the love of his life and she introduces him to her fiancé. Jeremy and Victoria were childhood sweethearts, but he never outgrew his love for her like she did. So when he couldn't have her, he decides to punish her, and God, for his unanswered prayers for a life with Victoria.In my opinion, never once does Cohen come across as preachy or dogmatic. Instead, he chooses to immerse us in the twisted results that our actions have on ourselves, and on those who love us. More than a commentary on suicide, it's a commentary on the power of love and life. Cheesy I know, but true. Great book. Thought provoking. Easy read. Inspired by the author's own experience of losing his friend to suicide, this is an insider's look at someone who kills himself for desperately selfish reasons, and what that does to those he leaves behind. Jeremy wakes to find himself still alive - not in a hospital room, but in the bedroom he does not know, to find a year has passed since the day he should have died. Locked in limbo, a Groundhog Day of living death, unable to remember an entire year of life, Jeremy slowly pieces together the forgotten days, finding he was, on the whole, a pretty unpleasant person to be around.Definitely one for the angst-monkeys, I'm sure a lot of people will find this pretty heart-wrenching and love it accordingly. I liked it well enough, but never loved it. It's very obvious that you're reading a translation: the language isn't quite right, which gives it a slight edge of unbelievably. It gets preachy and moralising at times; the author is clearly religious and this frequently breaks through into the prose. All in all, it's an interesting experiment, nicely executed, that didn't quite work for me, but simply by dint of personal taste.
What do You think about Ich Hätte Es Vorgezogen Zu Leben (2007)?
Read a translation of this book and loved it! Very interesting and different premise.
—bama123
This book was boring I had to will myself to finish read it.
—evelyn
I found this read to be spiritually refreshing .
—email201120112011
