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lediamond4's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Maggie O’Farrell’s writing is gorgeous. It flows naturally, her poetic style evoking emotions and images as if I were right there alongside here. I’ve read three of her novels and have had mixed opinions on each of the plots and the characters involved, but one thing remains the same: her writing is just so wonderful.
Her biography is perfectly suited to her writing. Her seventeen brushes with death that she writes about here are captivating, heartbreaking, and anxiety inducing. But they’re also her life experiences, her story, that you as the reader feel privileged to share. There are lessons to be gleaned from her words and the life she has lived, lessons of cherishing life itself, having empathy for others when we don’t know their story or have different perspectives than they do. There’s so much humanity in these chapters. Maggie O’Farrell is open and vulnerable in her writing here, and I was pulled into every single word.
Her biography is perfectly suited to her writing. Her seventeen brushes with death that she writes about here are captivating, heartbreaking, and anxiety inducing. But they’re also her life experiences, her story, that you as the reader feel privileged to share. There are lessons to be gleaned from her words and the life she has lived, lessons of cherishing life itself, having empathy for others when we don’t know their story or have different perspectives than they do. There’s so much humanity in these chapters. Maggie O’Farrell is open and vulnerable in her writing here, and I was pulled into every single word.
hopeadinfinitum's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Extraordinary memoir. A life told through brushes with death, both those close and terrifying and also those theoretical and unlikely. My only question is, why the hell does this woman keep going swimming in the sea??
davidcottington's review against another edition
4.0
This is absolute chaos.
My advice to someone who has nearly drowned 3 times - be more careful!
My advice to someone who has nearly drowned 3 times - be more careful!
bookish_olga's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death" is a rare gem in literature, a five-star read that I couldn't put down from the first page to the last. This incredibly engaging book combines emotion, humour, reflection, and surgically precise language, creating an unforgettable journey through the life of the author, Maggie O'Farrell.
As someone who typically avoids memoirs, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book. O'Farrell's storytelling prowess transcends the genre, drawing readers in with her honest and captivating narratives. Each of the seventeen stories of close encounters with death is beautifully crafted, offering a glimpse into the author's resilience and zest for life.
O'Farrell shares with us seventeen personal stories of close encounters with death that have shaped her life. From a serious childhood illness to risky adventures in her youth, to the difficult struggle for her daughter's health – this book is both a moving memoir and a reflection on the fleeting nature of life.
The structure of the book is non-linear, with each chapter titled after a body part and the year of the event. Despite this unconventional form, the reader remains engrossed in the story, reflecting on the fragile meaning of human existence. The unique organization and honestly written stories make "I Am, I Am, I Am" stand out among other books of its genre. O'Farrell doesn't shy away from difficult topics, yet her narrative exudes joy for life and deep respect for the moments we are given.
This book is a true treasure, which I highly recommend to any literature lover.
emilyjordan711's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
5.0