Christina N. (cejaystine) reviewed Recommended Read! on 9/17/2008

Helpful Score: 1

First of all, I found the premise--that Bauby blinked the whole book out with one eyelid--a little tough to swallow... But I tried to put that aside as I figured it really wouldn't be that highly important of a detail in the grand scheme of things (and for the record, I am no more convinced after reading it... but all skeptism aside if the man did I feel painfully sorry for him in all the editing he must have wished he could have gotten across to her, because it would have been somewhat maddening... as there are a few parts that fall particularly short and he should have been more capable... she on the other hand was a budding fledgling given the dauntingly laborious task of dictating the modified alphabet at nauseum and transcribing blinks, who probably would have wanted to present the finished result quicker--so as to get on with proving herself and such--than would have happened if she'd attempted to edit it with him, and I suppose one could not really blame her given the hold it must have put on her life and career... though considering, perhaps she should have as it would have likely strengthened her capacity to be an editor in future projects... although I will try to find a copy of the french to give it another shot before completely writing her off as it could be due in part to translation...)... but all the hows and structure aside, it is largely redeemed by the whats of the story and by much of the imagery...

and it was a story worth reading, emotional but also at time amusing... and sure, you'll probably find tons of reviews out there harping on the sad and bittersweet parts but there are little gems and snippets that get through that seem particularly telling of his personality as much so as the non-amusing moments... and of course there were even disturbingly bizarre moments too (like the whole longing to lick ice cream off young sunburnt skin moment, huh?) but part of what likely captures people is the sort of stream of consciousness peep show aspect of things... it's like hanging out with a friend and capturing random moments in a journal... there's the stories of fond moments, the lusting reminiscence after good food days gone past, the recounting of daydreams (my favorite being the stained glass woman morphing one), and of course the oh-no-he-didn't moments...

all in all it is the story of a very interesting man, and limited though it may be and wanting though you may find yourself after finishing it... it does provide an inspiration to live with new verve I suppose... I mean yes, people say it incessantly about this book and maybe for the same reasons as I and maybe just because of the gratefulness of not being a drooling, leaky eyed, immobile invalid and the whole shock value that provides to some regarding their ungrateful moanings about their own less severe circumstances... but it is none-the-less true...

and he's inspiring not because of his career, or his young mistress, or his long-standing nonmarriage with his children's mother who still by some notable credit cared deeply for him in spite of the pain he caused her, or even because of some sentimental or empathic tug regarding his post-accident condition and outlook... but to me, his draw is rather in the smaller things... and in his apparently overlooked snarkiness (all anyone seems to want say about him is his "optimism" and "positive outlook" etc)... he's wonderfully sarcastic and tongue in cheek he has an off-color sense of humor that peeks thru and while there where a few references to that snarkiness in the movie, it gets very easily lost, and is more notable in the book... and deeply, deeply amusing...

All in all, I'm glad I read it... and I really would recommend it. I mean there are some really beautiful parts and some poorly constructed parts but even at it's troubled spots it is about a captivating man and hence redeemable. The book is more about Bauby while the movie is more focused on those surrounding Bauby... the movie also seemed to create a flurry of activity around him containing much less down time, while some of the book's best moments fall in periods of down time... so I'd say the book is not particularly spoiled by watching the movie because there is still so much to discover... the director talked with the people who'd been around JD and seems to have relied more heavily on those accounts to construct the film and then interspersed it with quotes from the book as parts of Bauby's inner dialogue... and if you don't like the movie, still give the book a chance as it was significantly more interesting... and even if you are skeptical of the premise (as I was and still am) it is worth reading... So go get the book already!

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