The Book and Movie of The Month

The story of Jean Dominique Bauby is incredible, heartbreaking and inspiring. At 43 years old he was the editor of French Elle magazine. He suffered a massive stroke and became completely paralyzed. He was completely cognizant, but unable to speak and his only form of communication was done by blinking. His right eye began to deteriorate and was sewn shut. His communication was then limited to one eye.
He called his speech therapists guardian angels who set up the communication code without which he would have been completely cut off from the world. (They read each letter and he wrote the book spelling out each letter by blinking.) The life he knew was snuffed out and something like a diving bell held his body prisoner, but his imagination gave him his freedom, and his mind could take flight like a butterfly.

It was heartbreaking to read and to see his life on film, and watch him unable to reach out and hold his children, or unable to enjoy simple pleasures. The only manifestation of his feelings are the tears that roll down his face as his children are near him and his little girl says over and over as if to convince herself, "You're my dad, you're my dad."
"...even a rough sketch, a shadow, a tiny fragment of a dad is still a dad."
As he is bathed he is plunged simultaneously into distress and happiness. He remembers with nostalgia what were the joys of his previous life. "Armed with a cup of tea or Scotch, a good book or a pile of newspapers, I would soak for hours maneuvering the taps with my toes. Rarely do I feel my condition so cruelly as when I am recalling such pleasures."
His own clothing became a symbol of continuing life and proof that he still wanted to be himself. "If I must drool, I may as well drool on cashmere."

Jean-Do retains his humor amidst despair and wonders why does it take the harsh light of disaster to show a person's true nature. When his son wants to play hangman with him he aches to tell him he has enough on his plate playing quadraplegic.

His life is incredible and his story is beautiful. He died two days after publication in France.

I loved this book, the movie, and the man. I posted it on my books read for this month, and Erin emailed me yesterday to tell me she read it, and is waiting for Netflix to send her the movie. They have 43 used copies on line at Barnes and Noble for $4.93 just in case anyone is anxious to get their hands on the book.

It really is an astonishing, unforegettable book. I read it twice. The minute I finished it, I began again.

Poor Jean Do. What a terrible thing to endure, but how lucky he was to relive his memories and escape with his imagination while imprisoned in his diving bell.