Death-Bed Writing: How Would Yours Read?
November 5th 2006 00:16
powells.com
This is certainly not the happiest of topics, but it is interesting and not surprisingly, inspiring – especially to a writer. I have just finished reading The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby. At the age of 43, Bauby, the editor-in-chief of the French fashion magazine Elle, suffered a stroke which left him with ‘locked-in syndrome’, restricting his movements to the use of one eyelid in which to communicate. And communicate he did, dictating his book to a transcriber by painstakingly having her go through the alphabet frequency order of the French language (ESARIN TULOMD), blinking his eye when the required letter was read. Sounds a daunting task, doesn’t it? And I’m sure it required amazing resilience and patience on both sides, but this is not the most surprising aspect of Bauby’s story.
In the reading of Diving-Bell what struck me most was what he wrote about. Here we have a man with, arguably, one of the most demanding, sought-after positions in the world – yet chapter after chapter there is no mention of his work or his position in the international arena of high-level fashion journalism. Not until the end, as he accounts his last day does he give insight into this side of his world. How can someone hold a position like this and it not be a major concern in his life?
What becomes the most important details of your life, given a situation like this? What would you write for posterity?
Bauby certainly has a way with language, and the reflective time forced on him would have been a great benefit in organising his thoughts, but this does not explain his choice of topics. The people caring for him come under much scrutiny, as do his visitors and family. These people are essential to what is left of his life, and it is not without humour that he parades them back and forth through his door. Then there are the heart-wrenching memories of going about a normal day, (the sort we complain about) and the gastronomical delights of remembered feasts, something he returns to often now that his stomach is fed through a tube rather than past his own taste buds (a true Frenchman!). He finds time for imaginary acquaintances and people-watching. And his children bring him special moments, simply by existing. These chapters will tug at anyone’s heart strings, I guarantee it.
We would all like to think we know what the most important things in our life are – where our priorities lay. But unless you are faced with a ‘death-bed’ situation, how do you know where your thoughts will take you?
randomhouse.com
Mitch Albom’s Tuesday’s With Morrie has some similarities with Bauby’s memoirs. The dying Morrie, a retired University Professor has little time for his once professional life, and is even mildly scornful of it all. It is the big questions in life and small pleasures that become his centre-point. Everything is whittled down to the basics. Can life become that simple? That is a pretty big question in itself. I can only hope I never have to experience something as hellish as Bauby did (he died 2 years after his stroke). But the writer in me hopes I could pen something half as beautiful
Postscript: There is talk of a movie starring Johnny Depp as Bauby.
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Thank you for sharing this information on Bauby. I think it will make a fascinating film and who else but Depp to bring it to life. IT is yet another role made for him, it seems.
I haven't read the book, but will do so now.
Again, thanks
Lilla...
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I would hope that it would read similiarly, too. I cannot imagine life without writing nor would I care to. Thank you for sharing about this book. Like Lilla, I will read it soon.
Voices~
Comment by Joanne
Open Book
Agreed Voices. I can't imagine life without the capacity to read and write. That would leave talking and Bauby was even denied that! I'm thankful he did not live in that hell for too long. Just long enough to give us a beautiful book. Hope you enjoy it.