Goodreads | The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly	6	55	05/25/2008 08:42PM

Heidi rated it:

07/18/08

bookshelves: biography, inspirational, nonfiction

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: everyone

When Evelyn taught the FHE lesson of Melinda's accident and how we could communicate with her, she recommended that each of us read this book. I was finally able to get a hold of a copy, but I was already in the middle of quite a few other books. (When am I not?) It is a very fast read and he is a good writer. I especially loved the "Count of Monte Cristo" reference to Grandpapa Noirtier. I always loved his and Valentine's relationship. And yet in the last 6 months, I never made the co...more When Evelyn taught the FHE lesson of Melinda's accident and how we could communicate with her, she recommended that each of us read this book. I was finally able to get a hold of a copy, but I was already in the middle of quite a few other books. (When am I not?) It is a very fast read and he is a good writer. I especially loved the "Count of Monte Cristo" reference to Grandpapa Noirtier. I always loved his and Valentine's relationship. And yet in the last 6 months, I never made the connection of him and Melinda.

There were some things I hadn't expected in the book. I had thought it would all be about what life was like after his stroke and eventual leading to his suffering from Locked-in Syndrome. I guess, in a way, it is. He has plenty of time to think now, and he often reflects on his past. Various incidents from his past are related, and all somehow tie in to what he is going through at the time of writing the book. I did not always catch the tie-ins. And sometimes I didn't want to know about that part of his life.

Yet that was what was important to him now. Reliving his life one memory at a time. That is the big difference between him and Melinda. He was 43 at the time of his accident. He'd had quite a few experiences, especially considering he had been a world traveler and pretty "high up" on the success scale. Melinda was 17. Life hadn't even really begun for her before she was left with just a shadow of an existence.

Because I have become better friends with Melinda and can communicate quite easily with her, I connected to parts of this book that others without that personal experience might not be able to. It also helped me get a glimpse of perhaps what Melinda is thinking, or just going through. On my visits, I don't spend time asking "What's it like?" We talk about books and movies, things we did in high school, guys, our futures. I brush and fix her hair. Cut her nails. Give her Satin Hands massages. If she feels anywhere close to Bauby's feelings, then I believe these little things are very special to her. That perhaps she is reaching back in so many ways that I still cannot see. No one can.

I am ashamed that I ever pity myself for anything. I, too, may not be married. But I have had a serious relationship. I have had friendships. I have been on dates. I know what it is to love someone and, even though it is not returned, I have the most special relationship there. But what is more, I have more of a hope than she does. And it is so painful to always know that, but pretend I don't see that when I'm with her.

I would recommend the book to anyone, at least just to get an idea of what kind of a world these people are in. And to always be grateful for what we have. And what we have been blessed with. But not to forget what they have. Perhaps not seen with Bauby. But I know because of her accident, Melinda has had lots of time to study the scriptures, and the hymns of the Church. She knows a lot. I think her memory has increased, and it's all in there. And her testimony is definitely there. While yes you cannot help pity her, you must always remember to rejoice with her in the little things. And let her live as much of the kind of life you do so she doesn't feel like Bauby did at times.

One thing not mentioned in this book, is that Bauby died two months after the publication of his book--not even 2 years after his stroke. A person in a condition like his is not able to fight illnesses the way the rest of us can. And the whole time I read this book, I could not help wonder how long Melinda has. I hope for her to heal. I hope for her body to get back in order. But Bauby even saidof Locked-in Syndrome, "All that is known is that if the nervous system makes up its mind to start working again, it does so at the speed of a hair growing from the base of the brain. So it is likely that several years will go by before I can expect to wiggle my toes."

I am not trying to sound pessimistic of Melinda's case. She has been blessed to live for 8 years in her condition. Who knows how many more years she will be blessed with. But the blessing is really for us. Those of us who are blessed to meet her in this life. To learn lessons we could never have imagined. To gain so much from her that will forever be precious and life-changing. At least, that's how it is for me....less

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Gregory rated it:

06/08/08

Read in December, 2007

“Does it take the harsh light of disaster to show a person’s true nature?”

The situation is unimaginable: waking from a coma to find yourself trapped in your own body, able to think clearly and understand what is going on around you, but unable to partake in any of what transpires. It’s called “locked in syndrome,” and Jean-Dominique Bauby finds himself a victim of it when he awakes from a coma following a serious stroke that damaged his brain stem and left him almost to...more “Does it take the harsh light of disaster to show a person’s true nature?”

The situation is unimaginable: waking from a coma to find yourself trapped in your own body, able to think clearly and understand what is going on around you, but unable to partake in any of what transpires. It’s called “locked in syndrome,” and Jean-Dominique Bauby finds himself a victim of it when he awakes from a coma following a serious stroke that damaged his brain stem and left him almost totally paralyzed; he has only limited facial movements, slight control over his neck, and use of only one eye. It is with this single good eye that Bauby is able to communicate with the world, using an excruciatingly slow code of blinking that requires time, energy, and a great deal of attention and patience. And it is also thanks to this one eye that we have this first-hand account, dictated by Bauby from his hospital bed, recounting the details of his life in the wake of tragedy.

Far from being restricted by his condition, Bauby unleashes the full force of his literary capabilities (which were quite estimable, considering that he was the editor of French Elle), leaving us with a wry, touching, and deeply affecting memoir that shines with descriptive flourishes and deep insights. His perspective in the wake of tragedy is awe-inspiring and leaves the reader with a deep respect for his fortitude; truly, this is a man I would have loved to have had an opportunity to have a conversation with, just to try and absorb a small degree of his wisdom and experience. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” has moments of regret, frustration, sadness and aching loneliness, but curiously absent are anger and self-righteousness. Bauby never curses his misfortune but focuses on getting by with the hand he was dealt. To read his memoir is to get to know a truly extraordinary man whose spirit refused to be crushed and whose mind and imagination allowed him to survive in the most constrained of circumstances. To say that “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is about the triumph of the human spirit is a sorry understatement, and does little to pay tribute to an amazing man.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is a slight volume, to be sure, but it feels wrong to criticize it for that when one considers the conditions under which it was composed. And considering that Bauby packs a hefty punch in such a short page count, it is well worth the experience.

Grade: A-...less

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Yulia rated it:

(review of isbn 0375401156)

05/25/08

bookshelves: me-moirs

Read in January, 1998

I just saw the movie adaptation last Friday, the day before my father-in-law passed away: perhaps not the best time, but I'm the type of person who refuses to get myself out of my mood, but prefers to dwell on my feelings. I actually found the movie much darker than the book itself, which I read when it first came out in English. As the book's from his perspective, we are spared the experience of the silence and loneliness he is encased in. The movie, in contrast, depicts just how terrifying ...more

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Poet-I-Am rated it:

(review of isbn 0375401156)

07/28/07

bookshelves: authors, autobiography, french, illness, journalism, literature, magazine, memoir, overcoming, paralysis, strokes, terminal, the, trauma, twentieth, writing

A Small Book with a Big Soul

Jean-Dominique Bauby's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is a small book composed of many big wonders. Primary among this book's extraordinary qualities is the fact that Bauby, a former editor in chief of the world-famous French Elle, was able to "write" it at all. after suffering a stroke to his brain stem and spending 20 days in a coma, Bauby regained command of a nearly clairvoyant intellect but lost all authority over his body. Th...more

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Alistair rated it:

03/10/08

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: Richard and Judy viewers

this is quite an achievement .
the writer a quadraplegic with locked in syndrome who died shortly after the publication of this book mangages to make himself into a totally unsympathetic character .
i really disliked this book i suppose because it has gained such an good reputation . this is mis-lit at its worst .
the author is completely self obsessed perhaps unsurprisingly and the profundity is not much above that found in a Hallmark card . it seems that the things the author misses most a...more

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Annalisa rated it:

07/07/08

bookshelves: movies, religion-philosophy

Read in July, 2008

recommended to Annalisa by: Ryan

Halfway through this movie about a man who has a stroke and is left completely paralyzed but with a fully functioning mind (locked-in syndrome) able to communicate only by blinking his left eye, I found myself at the library. His alphabet--ordered by frequency of letters in the French language--running through my head (ESA... ESARINTULOM... ESARINTULO... ESARINTU... ESAR) I see the book on display. How could I not check it out? I wanted to know what a man would have to say who lies in a hospital...more

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Justwinter rated it:

06/14/08

bookshelves: biography, especially-fond-of

After reading this book, I did something I've never done before: I immediately bought a bunch of copies to give to friends.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a slender book and a quick read, easy to get though in one sitting. But the effects are long-lasting and far outweigh the lightness of the volume.

I can't say exactly why this book affected me the way it did. And I know it will appeal to each person differently. I can say that it continues to inform and fuel a zest for life,...more

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Leonora of rated it:

12/29/07

Read in December, 2007

I can't remember when I originally read this book. I think it was last year or the year before that. But I reread it today (at 132 pages, it's possible to read it in a couple of hours) because of the movie.

Since reading it, it has stuck somewhere in the back of my mind; I think it has a very subtle, definite effect.

Rereading it, it was not quite as good, perhaps because now that everyone knows about it, the book doesn't seem so special. It really is. The author spent hours crafting pass...more

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Yolanda rated it:

01/06/08

Read in January, 2008

I'm currently reading this now and it's very good. I plan to see the film shortly after I finish. It is really well written which is unexpected since the author could only communicate with one eye.
Now that I've finished the book, the most fascinating part of it is that the author accomplished something that I would imagine is impossible. The content forces me to reflect more, on the idea that fate plays a big part in our lives. Moments that we take for granted can take a turn which leads u...more

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Roxy rated it:

09/26/08

bookshelves: autobiography, non-fiction

Read in April, 2008

I decided I must read this book after seeing the movie The Diving Bell and The Butterfly (it was one of the most beautiful pieces of art in moving images I have and will ever witness.) Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor of the French Elle Magazine, wrote this book after having a paralyzing stroke. He wrote the whole book by blinking his left eye (and running through a chart of commonly used letters with his speech therapist at the hospital.) That, in it of itself, intrigued me. What drive a...more

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Tung rated it:

01/24/08

bookshelves: memoirs

Read in January, 2008

Bauby was the Editor-in-chief of Elle in France who suffered a massive stroke in December 1995. It left him a victim of “locked in syndrome”, a condition where the body is paralyzed head to toe while the mind is completely fine. Bauby is only able to blink his left eye. Rather than give in to this tragedy, Bauby takes advantage of his left eye movement to dictate this meditation on life one letter at a time. Given the time-consuming and limiting method of dictation at his disposal, Bauby’s...more

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Mariam rated it:

04/12/08

Read in December, 2007

One of a very select number of books for which I would recommend the movie with greater gusto, although that is meant in no negative way. Jean Dominique Bauby, in a testament to the potential for greatness in human dedication (to say something decidedly trite) is able to communicate literally with the blink of an eye with enough perseverence to produce a book. Is it worth reading? Yes, certainly. I am sure it would have been more lyrical in its original language, and am saddened by having to...more

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Melody rated it:

07/03/08

bookshelves: bookgroup, memoirs-and-biographies, non-fiction

Read in July, 2008

recommended to Melody by: Sara Jones

I should have been able to read this book in just a few hours. Not only is it a very slim book – but the chapters are nice and short and there are even a few blank – or near blank pages. But I could only read Jean-Do’s words for so long before I would have to put the book down and blink both my eyes or straighten my sock or stretch my neck or scratch my nose. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the memoir of the former editor of Elle magazine after he has suffered a massive stroke that...more

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Karl rated it:

06/08/08

bookshelves: nonmedieval_nonfiction

Read in June, 2008

recommended to Karl by: Picked it up in Lowell, MA
recommends it for: Fans of <i>Everyman</i>

Given the popularity of the book, and of the (better) film (which, by the way, is incomparably superior to Mar adentro), it's unnecessary for me to tell you what the book's about or what the usual--and generally apt--responses might be. I do wish, however, that Bauby had been an intellectual, a philosopher, a political thinker, that his memories and desires had not been primarily for and in his pleasures.

It's possible,...more

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Eileen rated it:

03/01/08

bookshelves: french-writers, memoir, my-fav-books

Read in March, 2008

recommended to Eileen by: Peg
recommends it for: Everyone

One the back of the book
" On December 8,1995, Jean-dominique Bauby suffered a massive stroke, locking his mind in the prison of his body. He then produced a work so unusual, moving and beautiful that it was published, read and admired around the world. With grace and economy, it describes his life before and after the stroke, his continuing and imaginative freedom, and how he comes to terms with what has happened. It is a book that illuminates the very business of being alive."

...more

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Steven rated it:

06/02/08

Read in June, 2008

I wanted to read this before a day's 24 hour capsule closed up, and I'm glad I did. I couldn't see to read it any other way, because captivating, alluring, and enticing all at once. I also wanted to read it before we gathered a small community together to watch the film adaptation on a big screen in Lampost theater. I first saw the film back in March, and I loved it. The setting was pristine, the moments were old and vintage, in a fresh way.
The story is what it's about though.

"circ...more

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Danny rated it:

08/17/08

bookshelves: library-book

Picked this one up because the movie is coming out (or came out, but not here) and it looked interesting. It's the true story of the author's life afte falling victim to locked-in syndrome, where his body is incapacitated but his mind is as aware as ever. He can communicate, initially, only by blinking an eye. The book is short, necessarily, because he is relaying it to a helper letter by letter. The helper recites the alphabet, in order of the most frequently used letters in the French alphab...more

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Stefani rated it:

(review of isbn 0307389251)

02/18/08

Read in February, 2008

I loved this book. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.

In its very short chapters, Bauby intertwines observations of his daily life and memories. It's as if the sensory deprivation he experienced when writing the book sharpened each impression into almost unbearable acuity. Observations of the sunset, taking a bath, going to the beach, memories of going to Lourdes, of spending the afternoon with his father -- it's all rendered in very precise, unusual, and poetic language that makes it i...more

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