weekend reading
Saturday 1 March 2008
Oi! yesterday was a terrible rainy, windy day. There's no point in going outside when it's like that. Somehow I made it down to the library but I was sorry I did. My umbrella blew inside out or knocked me upside the head a gazillion times. By the time I got home I felt like a wet drowned rat. Today however, is nice and sunny but still blow you over windy so I think I'll stay inside today and catch up on some reading.
My friend was telling me about this amazing book, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly written by Jean-Dominique Bauby. Quoting from the back of the book: "On December 9, 1995 Jean-Dominque Bauby suffered a massive stroke, locking his mind in the prison of his body. He then produced a work so unusual, moving and beautiful that it was published, read and admired around the world. With grace and economy, it describes his life before and after the stroke, his continuing imaginative freedom, and how he comes to terms with what has happened. It is a book that illuminates the very business of being alive." After Bauby's stroke he suffered from what is known as Locked-In Syndrome. As a result he is only left with the ability to move his left eyelid. By flickering his one eyelid and the help of a nurse Bauby was able to write his book. That alone sounds remarkable but apparently the book in itself is more so. Bauby unfortunately passed away in 1997 2 days after his book was published but he was at least able to witness it's popularity with 25,000 copies sold in the first day, 150,000 by the end of the week. Bauby's book was recently made into a film and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. My friend and I talked about going to see it but before I do he lent me his copy so I could read it first. I'd like to eventually get a copy of the book in its original French Le Scaphandre et le Papillion and give it a try.I also hope to finish, Slaughterhouse 5, The Voyage Out and Thank You, Jeeves and I'm going to try to catch up on my book reviews.
Changed the look of the blog, was trying to go for more of a spring look. Even though spring doesn't technically start until the 20th I always thought of March 1st as spring, it certainly feels like it when you grow up in Phoenix. Unfortunately it still feels a bit like winter here in Liverpool. But the daffodils are blooming so I have hope that warmer temps will be on their way. The headline picture was taken in Monet's Garden at Giverny, France. It was an absolutely gorgeous garden! My mom and I were there in September 2005 and everything was blooming and just breathtaking. You could easily see Monet's paintings come to life right in front of you.
74 days till I'm on the island!
. listening . lucky . hoobastank . the reason .
Labels: book
posted by Ashleigh @ 13:46,
