In 1995, 44-year-old Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle, the father of two young children, and a man known and loved for his wit, his style, and his impassioned approach to life. By the end of the year, he was also the victim of a rare kind of stroke to the brain stem. After 20 days in a coma, Bauby awoke into a body which had all but stopped working: only his left eye functioned, allowing him to see and, by blinking it, to make clear that his mind was unimpaired.
Almost miraculously, he was soon able to express himself in the richest detail, dictating a word at a time, blinking to select each letter as the alphabet was recited to him slowly, over and over again. In the same way, he was able, eventually, to compose this extraordinary book.
By turns wistful, mischievous, angry, and witty, Bauby bears witness to his determination to live as fully in his mind as he had been able to do in his body. He explains the joy and deep sadness of seeing his children and of hearing his aged father's voice on the phone. In magical sequences, he imagines traveling to other places and times and of lying next to the woman he loves. Fed only intravenously, he imagines preparing and tasting the full flavor of delectable dishes. Again and again, he returns to an inexhaustible reservoir of sensations, keeping in touch with himself and the life around him.
Jean-Dominique Bauby died two days after the French publication of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
This book is a lasting testament to his life.
Download and start listening now!
"The book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby is about the author himself. Jean was a 43-year-old French magazine editor who suffered a massive stroke that left him a victim of Locked-in-syndrome. This story was completely narrated by Jean while he was suffering Locked-in-syndrome. The book was written by blinking his left eye. The story follows his experience with the doctors and nurses that cared for him and the way he started to see the life in a new way. Through out the book he wrote about an imaginary world where he went on adventures and meets some very interesting characters even tough his physical body never moved an inch. The people and events in this imaginary world were based on his family, friends, and the hospital staffs well as trips he took when he was editing Elle (the French magazine he was editing. As you read this book you can see what it would be like to be a victim of Locked-in-syndrome and also how this extraordinary man saw the world in a different way.
I liked this book because the author wrote about a real experience while it was happening. Also he wrote about his little imaginary world, which was very interesting to read. I gave it 4 stars because I really liked how the author wrote his book but it sometimes was hard to understand. I think people who like a story that tells about a tragic event but with an unexpected element of humor would like this book."
—
Clare (4 out of 5 stars)