58 pages • 1 hour read
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
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Book Brief
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1997131
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
France • 1990s
1997
Adult
18+ years
1140L
Super Short Summary
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby is a memoir composed of vignettes detailing his life and thoughts after a stroke left him with locked-in syndrome. Written with the aid of a special alphabet system, the memoir interweaves memories from different periods of Bauby's life with his current experiences in a hospital, alongside his imaginative musings and dreams.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Inspirational
Emotional
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
77,454 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jean-Dominique Bauby's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is universally praised for its poignant and eloquent depiction of life with locked-in syndrome, showcasing extraordinary resilience and poetic prose. Some readers, however, find the narrative structure disjointed. The memoir is both heart-wrenching and inspirational, offering a unique perspective on physical and emotional confinement.
Who Should Read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly?
A reader who values poignant memoirs, reflective storytelling, and profound personal journeys would enjoy Jean-Dominique Bauby's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Comparable to Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie and Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, this book appeals to those drawn to narratives of resilience and introspection.
77,454 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Céleste
Céleste
Bauby’s eight-year-old daughter, whose nightly prayers provide him with comfort; her presence symbolizes joy and innocence in the memoir.
Florence
Florence
A significant figure in Bauby’s life, depicted as beautiful and warm, she is implied to be the woman Bauby lived with after leaving his family home.
Sylvie
Sylvie
Bauby’s somewhat estranged wife and mother of his children, who continues to visit him after his stroke, providing moments of tenderness.
Claude
Claude
A dedicated assistant sent by the publisher to transcribe Bauby’s memoir using his special alphabet, acknowledged for her crucial role in its creation.
131
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
France • 1990s
1997
Adult
18+ years
1140L
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