Book Review: I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O’Farrell

Who knew a book about death could be so uplifting? Maggie O’Farrell’s  I Am I Am I Am details 17 brushes with death, ranging from a chillingly close encounter while bushwalking to a misjudgement in the ocean that almost cost her life and that of her son.

Perhaps it the satisfaction of a near miss that makes this book so enjoyable; the sense that you have prevailed against the odds. The relief of slipping, but not falling, or of waking from a dream and realising that you are okay and all of your teeth haven’t tumbled out onto the pillow.

Or it might be O’Farrell’s accessible way with words. I Am I Am I Am is quite short, and seems even shorter due to O’Farrell’s light touch, even when exploring heavy topics like life and death.

This is one of the best memoirs I have read (I don’t usually like memoirs) and would heartily recommend it.