Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell

35 reviews

veposve's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Blood, Death, Infertility, Medical content, and Miscarriage

Minor: Sexual harassment

leahgustafson's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favorite authors, and I’m slowly but surely making my way through her backlist.
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I knew going in that this one would be different from her others, just for the fact of being a memoir. I was curious if it would reveal how her personal experiences led to Maggie O’Farrell’s ability to eloquently articulate so many different kinds of stories and life experiences. 
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This book, like all her others, so beautifully captures the human experience. O’Farrell has such a gift for being able to express emotions through words and language. 
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This memoir is organized into short stories (which I loved!), and it makes for a very quick pacing. I am impressed by how O’Farrell captures her own story without telling the stories of others in this process. I think this is very powerful and important. I do wonder about the order of her stories, and I couldn’t seem to figure out a pattern or rationale. This didn’t take anything away from the book for me; it’s just a wondering I have.
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⚠️ There are some BIG trigger warnings with this book. Make sure you look at those ahead of time so you’re aware going in if this book is going to be a good fit for you. 
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Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Violence and Medical trauma

annakh16's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was an interesting and certainly unique read - unique because of the nature of the story, and also because Maggie O’Farrell has such a distinctive voice that this book certainly helped me understand better. The writing was vivid and compelling. It’s definitely more snapshots of moments than one overarching „philosophical“ narrative - just an observation, not a critique. I thought some stories were executed better than others (generally the longer over the shorter ones), but overall, they were all good. An insightful and „enjoyable“ book (re the storytelling, not the events). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Infertility, Violence, Grief, and Miscarriage

Minor: Excrement, Murder, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

vanesst's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Infertility, Medical content, and Grief

qtcarolyn's review

emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Miscarriage, Bullying, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Confinement, Infertility, Infidelity, Murder, and Vomit

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Sexual violence, Dysphoria, and Animal death

karinacheah17's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Violence

lilawsahar's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

There are chapters that have you gripping the edge of your seat or bawling your eyes out and others where you are bored and ready for the next brush of death. And they get repetitive especially when you regret decisions made or thinking about how you can survive your situation. The author makes me want to go out and travel more. Live more. 

Note: It’s interesting to hear about the healthcare system in Europe. It is so different than Americas. But also similar especially when doctors brush off your needs and ignore your symptoms. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Infertility, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Grief, and Chronic illness

elinorrae's review against another edition

5.0

incredibly well written and the story was just so heartbreaking but full of hope

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Medical content

Moderate: Bullying, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual harassment

samarakroeger's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

phenomenal.  had a feeling this one would be (for sure a mashed potato book).

Maggie O'Farrell reminds me why I love memoirs written by writers.  now I need to finally read her fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Violence, and Gaslighting

gabilaras's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Abortion, Medical content, and Bullying

Moderate: Rape and Infertility

Minor: Pedophilia