Review of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) by Peter A — 12 May 2009

This is a first person account about the editor of Elle magazine who suffers a stroke and is totally paralysed, only able to move his left eye. Some stunning visuals, including the doctors stitching up his right eyelid which we see from the victim's point of view.

However, call me hard hearted but I didn't feel much pity for the guy. Sure he was in a bad way and did well to write a book using only his blinking but this says more about the patience and perseverance of his translator than it does about him.

I couldn't empathize with the character enough to get emotionally involved. One amusing scene was when his wife was translating a message over the phone from his lover. Only in France!!