Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

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

31 reviews

hanz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

3.0

Some of these stories are absolutely beautifully written and heartbreaking but the rest felt very disjointed.

In particular, loved (was appropriatel  angered) by the stories about her childhood illness and pregnancy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Murder and Rape

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

aseel_reads's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

Such a powerfully and beautiful piece of writing 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Miscarriage

annabunce's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

skillwithaquill's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Moving. Emotional. Resonant. As someone with several chronic illnesses, this book was especially poignant and salient for me. 

None of the usual trappings of inspiration porn, healing through Jesus, or spiritual woowoo that many memoirs about illness and near-death experiences fall into. It’s thoughtful, but not preachy. Meaningful, but not maudlin. I’ll definitely revisit it in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Confinement, Medical content, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Sexism

Moderate: Misogyny and Death

Minor: Abortion, Blood, Excrement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Vomit

Other content warnings & specifics: medical sexism, graphic discussions of childbirth & c-section, attempted assault & kidnapping, child in peril, graphic depiction of a near drowning, claustrophobia, abortion (in the context of a missed miscarriage requiring surgical intervention).

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

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

slad's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Miscarriage

geocul's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy