From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death

Jean-Dominique Bauby,

Jeremy Leggatt (Translator)

Finish date: February 19, 2015

Discussion: Task Ideas/Resources/Discussions

Discussion leader: Karen

Why we're reading this: Beautiful book originally published in French. It is a sad story about a young high power exec whose life…more
[close] Beautiful book originally published in French. It is a sad story about a young high power exec whose life is completely changed in a matter of hours. His refusal to succumb to bitterness and death is what makes it beautiful.

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By Book Riot · 1 post · 5295 views

last updated Dec 16, 2014 09:22AM

Free copy of Proximity Factor this July, no reviews required. Just enjoy.
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last updated Jul 18, 2024 06:08AM

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What Members Thought

Nov 01, 2009 Jessica rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the memoir of the former editor-in-chief of the French Elle. He suffered a stroke in his 40s which caused his body to shut down almost completely while his mind stayed completely unaffected. Confined to a hospital bed, able to communicate only by blinking one eyelid, he dictated his thoughts for publication, letter by letter. It's a powerful book, and one that takes almost no time at all to read, but ultimately it seemed like the circumstances of the story we ...more

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Apr 24, 2008 Kate rated it it was amazing

This is a huntingly heart breaking work (as to be expected) butr is surprisingly inspiring. In just 131 short pages, you become Jean-Dominique's friend--not because you know what it feels like, necessarily, to suffer from locked-in syndrome, but because we are all members of the human race.

At the end, he addresses the fateful day that he had his massive stroke--December 8, 1995. He gives a final salute to the reader, just after paying homage to his "writer", Claude. He asks it a Fitzgeraldesque ...more

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Mar 23, 2008 Becki rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, memoir

You probably know this already, but Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except for his left eyelid. To write this memoir, he had to blink his left eyelid as an assistant recited a special alphabet for him. The blink would signal the correct letter. Once you understand this, the fact that you are even holding that book in your hands at all feels nothing short of miraculous. It's very moving and very beautifully written. ...more

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Jan 30, 2008 akaellen rated it really liked it

Shelves: memoir, read2008

Although this book is short it is amazing that Bauby was able to communicate this using only a letter code and the ability to blink one eye. I am looking forward to seeing the movie.

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