Clinton sees 'dark faces' while having heart surgery last year

Associated Press | May 19, 2005

[HAL9000]

NEW YORK — In the paperback edition of "My Life," former President Clinton acknowledges that his memoir may have been too long, recounts some friendly faces from his book tour and some odder ones sighted under the influence of anesthesia as he underwent heart surgery last September.

"At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me and being crushed," writes Clinton, whose book comes out May 31 in both trade and mass market paperback. "Then I saw circles of light with the faces of Hillary, Chelsea, and others I cared about flying toward me, then away into a bright, sun-like source."

When Clinton regained consciousness after surgery, he "waved to people, said I was all right, and laughed." At least, that's what his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, told him. The former president himself doesn't remember.

"My Life" has sold just under 2.2 million copies in its 957-page hardcover edition, and interest apparently is strong for the paperback. The trade paperback, which has the same dimensions as hardcover, will have a first printing of 300,000 — 50,000 copies more than originally announced. The mass market paperback, a cheaper, pocket-sized edition, will have two volumes, the first with a printing of 600,000, the second in late June at 575,000.

Much of the new material — a 12-page afterword, and a brief preface — summarizes Clinton's recent activities, from the building of his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., to raising money for Tsunami victims. He also offers a quick analysis of last year's presidential election, urging fellow Democrats not to move "hard to the left."

Clinton acknowledges complaints about the book's length and names a possible culprit, his wife. He calls the senator's memoirs, "Living History," a "fine book" (he has called his own book "pretty good") and says that her success "added to the pressure" for him to meet a June 2004 deadline.

"Most people thought it was too long — a fair criticism. Thomas Jefferson once said that if he had had more time he could have written shorter letters," writes Clinton, whose afterword helps make the trade paperback even longer, 969 pages.

Many reviewers were bored by "My Life." The Associated Press likening it to being trapped "in a small room with a very gregarious man who insists on reading his entire appointment book, day by day, beginning in 1946." Clinton directly mentions only a favorable review, by novelist Larry McMurtry, and otherwise pans the press for caring more about gossip: "The reviewers who were interested in people, politics and government seemed to like it better than those who weren't."

He remembers a better reception on his promotional tour, such as the young readers who thought the book would "offer guidance about how they, too, could live their dreams." He also notes those of "modest means" who had purchased a copy of the hardcover, which has a suggested retail price of $35.

"When I saw how many people of modest means came to the book signings, I worried about my long and heavy book also being too expensive," writes Clinton, whose book has a $17.95 suggested price in trade paperback and $7.99 for each of the mass market volumes.

"I can't change the length, but I hope the paperback edition, in reducing the weight and cost, will make `My Life' accessible to a new round of readers."

[ShadowDancer]

Must have been his relatives.

[worldclass]

"others I cared about flying toward me"

Please note that the publisher has issued an apology for a typo. This line should have read:

"others I cared about flying me."

[PaulaB]

Its called the dark side.....

This guy never stops cracking me up.....

I mean has he ever been for real?

Scary......

[sassbox]

"Then I saw circles of light with the faces of Hillary, Chelsea, and others I cared about flying toward me, then away into a bright, sun-like source."


well the Bible says that Satan does appear as an angel of light.....

[RushCrush]

The only reason I'd want to access this book is for kindling.

[thoughtomator]

Maybe I can get an advance copy, so I can see for myself whether or not it is possible to flush a book down a toilet.

[elli1]

Well, he always did have a flair for fiction.

[theDentist]

When Clinton regained consciousness after surgery, he "waved to people, said I was all right, and laughed." At least, that's what his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, told him. The former president himself doesn't remember.

Yeah, it's difficult remembering your own lies, and damn near impossible remembering someone else's.

[RetiredArmy]

Well, he was the FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT you know.

[Betaille]

"Then I saw circles of light with the faces of Hillary, Chelsea, and others I cared about flying toward me"

Somebody PLEASE make a white circle with Monica Lewinsky's face.

[JFC]

BC just never stops.. being BC.

[Bigg Red]

...young readers who thought the book would "offer guidance about how they, too, could live their dreams."

&&&
Clinton guiding our kids. Heaven forfend!

[Tax-chick]

The only reason I'd want to access this book is for kindling.

You probably could, if you hit the used book store or Goodwill. Honestly, I wonder what percentage of the nidjits who bought it actually read it? I suppose it could be a doorstop, like out-of-date tax accounting books ...

[Tijeras_Slim]

Danny Williams

[Betaille]

"urging fellow Democrats not to move "hard to the left.""

Well... he still is smarter than we give him credit for.

[George Smiley]

At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me and being crushed,"

I was thinking Monica's tush, but that would be mean.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Well, you would hardly expect Bubba to see God!

[RegulatorCountry]

"At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me and being crushed,"

Tutsi genocide victims come back to haunt his hypocritical ass for ignoring Rwanda. While gladly accepting the mantle of "First Black President."

[dc-zoo]

I can visualize Hillary flying "stradling a broom".