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Diving Bell and the Butterfly

By Jean Dominiqu Bauby

(49)

| Others | 9781857027792

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Book Description

2 cassettes / 2 hours
Unabridged
Read by Rene Auberjonois

In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle, the father of two young childen, a 44-year-old man known and loved for his wit, his style, and his impassioned approach to life. By the end of thContinue

11 Reviews

1 person find this helpful

I have known this book for a long time but didn't get round to reading it until I have seen the movie.
Translated from French (Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon), The Diving-Bell And The Butterfly is a moving memoir from Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine, Elle ... (continue)

I have known this book for a long time but didn't get round to reading it until I have seen the movie.
Translated from French (Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon), The Diving-Bell And The Butterfly is a moving memoir from Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine, Elle. Bauby suffered from the rare Locked-In Syndrome which paralysed his whole body except for three nerves in his left eye. With the blinking of his eye, he dictated this great book of his short life spanning 40-plus years.
The movie is a masterpiece - the director deserves his Oscar nomination as he has ingeniously let the audience look at Bauby's world after the stroke from his perspectives. The book will have a greater impact on you if you read it after seeing the movie.
I am in awe of Bauby's spirit, perseverance and greatness. The Diving-Bell And The Butterfly is a celebration of life and beauty, and a tribute to the triumph of courage and humanity. It should be read by everyone.

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Tracy W said on Mar 16, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

'Love it'...is not quite the description here. How could one not be moved, thoughtful, appreciative that this man would WRITE this...I downloaded it because it was 'available' from the eLibrary - what a wonderful blessing THAT was. Read it...

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Psc said on Feb 3, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Unburdened wings of butterflies

Unburdened like wings of butterflies. Another marvellous work and inward reflection, perhaps appreciation of life and family which touches the beauty of mankind.

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RL said on Dec 28, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

It's amazing what we are capable of as human beings. We can accomplish so much and many times we don't realize this, until one lives a very extreme experience. This is a short book, you can read it in a weekend easily. I found it painful at times, can't imagine someone living like that for any amoun ... (continue)

It's amazing what we are capable of as human beings. We can accomplish so much and many times we don't realize this, until one lives a very extreme experience. This is a short book, you can read it in a weekend easily. I found it painful at times, can't imagine someone living like that for any amount of time. His situation was umbearable and still he managed to write a book and tell us he has a voice (even if you can't hear it), and a mind that works fine; all trapped in just a few moments in the cage that became his body.

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VeraHuff said on Dec 7, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

*** This comment contains spoilers! ***

Mr. Bauby was rather young yet, very vital, with so many interests, and then one day... He tells his story in this slim volume with such humor, so much compassion and thougtfulness and love for others in his life - it is hard to imagine he did it all with the movement of only a portion of one eye as ... (continue)

Mr. Bauby was rather young yet, very vital, with so many interests, and then one day... He tells his story in this slim volume with such humor, so much compassion and thougtfulness and love for others in his life - it is hard to imagine he did it all with the movement of only a portion of one eye as others pointed at an alphabet board for him.

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Rzmalchie said on Aug 31, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

This is a story that you won't easily forget. At the very least it will really get you thinking about what it would be like to be trapped in an unresponsive body, only able to use one eye to communicate with the outside world. Considering that is how this book was written makes it all the more ama ... (continue)

This is a story that you won't easily forget. At the very least it will really get you thinking about what it would be like to be trapped in an unresponsive body, only able to use one eye to communicate with the outside world. Considering that is how this book was written makes it all the more amazing.

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Readingrat said on Jun 3, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback