- Title: I am I am I am
- Author: Maggie O’Farrell
- Genre: Memoir
- Year: 2017
- Synopsis: An astonishing memoir of the near-death experiences that have punctuated and defined her life. Seventeen discrete encounters with Maggie at different ages, in different locations, reveal a whole life in a series of tense, visceral snapshots. In taut prose that vibrates with electricity and restrained emotion, O’Farrell captures the perils running just beneath the surface, and illuminates the preciousness, beauty, and mysteries of life itself.
Maggie O’Farrell narrates her many near-death experiences in this memoir. I liked her writing style, it was engaging and easy to follow along. The reflections she shares upon these experiences are thought provoking, making you realize how fragile we all really are.
The chapters are not in chronological order and they’re titled by the physiological part of the body that was at risk during that moment. I expected a sequential retelling, the years are actually disorganized and don’t seem to follow a specific pattern. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the way it turned out.
While reading this, I was astonished because how can a person come near to death so many times? Some events were not so life threatening, others really were. Some were the result of the author’s behavior, while others were completely out of her control. At times, it felt O’Farrell was narrating a nightmare or a scene from the Final Destiny franchise movies — but no, it’s her life. All of these events did happen.
I also kept thinking that she must have really bad luck. But what does luck mean? She’s a successful writer, has the family she hoped for, and she survived each stroke of death, whether aware of the danger or not. Maybe she’s the lucky one after all.
Overall rating: 4 / 5
Olivine Books 