A Very Easy Death

By: Simone de Beauvoir

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

When her mother was in the hospital with terminal cancer, Simone had time to reminisce about her mother's early life, as Simone and her sister, Poupette, prepared to face the decision of whether to prolong a life when it was full of suffering. Like most people they believed it would be better to die than to continue to suffer, but their mother had a very different view of the matter. Françoise de Beauvoir had finally found happiness in her life, and she truly believed she could find happiness in her own suffering.

Considered by many to be the master work by Simone de Beauvoir, A Very Easy Death focuses on death and the other limitations in one's life and with what attitude one approaches them. Through her mother's beauty, her smile, and her pride in her life and in herself, Simone learned that to be human and to have individual choice are the most important aspects of existence.

©1965 Editions Gallimard. Translation copyright © 1965 by Andre Deutsch, Ltd., George Weidenfeld and Nicolson, Ltd., and G. P. Putnam’s Sons (P)2005 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Lovely reading.

Engaging enough of a story for a freebie written in another time and in another language. I liked the narrator’s different approach to the characters.

Too Brainy for me.

Okay. I have now Read de Beauvoir -- I don't have to read anything else. Just too cerebral for me. There is a line in Amadeus wherein one of the characters states that (more or less) Mozart's music is good, but that it has too many notes. Ha ha. That's what I would say about this little memoir. Too many words. There were times I felt that the narrator was literally droning on. And the voice she gave the poor Mamam!!! Oh my Goodness. Sounded just like a frog. Actually, it may be worth the listen just to hear that awful voice! But that's about all I can say about this writing -- unless you are a die hard fan of the author.

oof

heavy book. death is never an easy subject. but she makes some sense of it in her mother's final days

Elegantly written and read

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It’s not too long or too short. The writing was compelling. The ideas were poignant. The literary imagery delighted.

Emotions in deep thought

Touching memoir about loss, very brutally real, you can feel the anguish but also the clarity behind every action, to allow your loved one peace, even if it means sacrificing your own for their sake.