Customer Reviews
Lasting impression - By: A. Forrest, 30 Apr 2008 
"Le Scaphandre et le Papillon" is a fantastic read full stop. I understand other's thoughts on this book & I respect their opinions, but for me, this book has had a lasting impression. I have also watched, about 2 years after having read the book, the French film version which was fairly accurate in relation to the book. I found that I gained enough insight into his former life to suffice - one must not expect memoirs of his entire life, but a focus upon his life after the stroke with a few references to his 'former' life. Both the book & the film are well written & produced & I have recommended & will continue to recommend it to anyone & everyone.
FEELING MISERABLE - By: Kinkazzo, 08 Apr 2008 
I think we are now reaching saturating levels of `La Cour des Miracles', where tear-jerking books written by alll sorts of crippled, maimed, horribly diseased, terminallly sick & almost-dead authors are flooding the market for us to enjoy an instant of sympathy & commotion. The recurring phrase "after this book I felt a better person" or similarly moving expressions are reiterated throughout reviews & comments. But they sound like the flutter of a butterfly (to remain in theme) -- they last but a moment: the closing of the very book.
And the world is definitely NOT a better place after it.
So we get the likes of Christopher Reeves (deceased) & Stephen Hawking (living) who heroicallly write accounts of their sufferings & forbearance, as well as posthumous diaries written by amputees using their feet on a PC keyboard or by paralytic invalids with the million blinkings of an eye in the Morse code...
Incredible! The feats of the human surviving instinct!
But are we readers benefiting from alll this in any constructive & enduring way? From the current state of the globe, I think not.
Five stars dosent do it justice... - By: D. Ashton, 27 Mar 2008 I admit it, i'm emotional; I cried at this book, but for good reason;
The brain rarely fails, but when it does, god almighty, does it fail!
I couldn't bear reading this book for longer then a few moments at a time, because I knew what was happening to him.
Nevertheless, to place it in the context of the reader; imagine your arms, your legs, everything being tied down, tied down so tight you can't feel them, you can't feel your heart, nor your lungs. You have yourself, your brain. That's alll.
Terrifying, & a grim reminder of what awaits us if we do not take care of our brain.
Touching achievement - By: Shanks, 22 Mar 2008 
The story behind the book & author is touching. My wife rates this is one of the best books she has ever read, but I found it pretty average. I just did not learn enough about the actual author from the book. I completely understand that the effort required to "dictate" meant the book had to be short, but I still was left wanting alot more. The most moving section for me was the chapter describing the last moments before the stroke. My wife & I now plan to see the film when it is on DVD. It will be interested to see how the book transfers to film.
staggeringly beautifully written and surprisingly not depressing - By: CAROLYN, 21 Mar 2008 A friend offered me this book some while back & I'm humbled to say I discarded it & only read it wshen she asked for it back. I am ashamed that I didn't bother to read it earlier because I found it one of the most moving & uplifting books I have ever read. What a fantastic piece of literature - it would have been brilliant even without the unbelievable effort & heartache that went into compiling it it.
I think it is so significant it should be placed on the national curriculum to shame the lazy among us to get up & do something with their lives, while they can.
