Welcome to Litsy!

This author's writing is so beautiful. She tells stories of her near misses with death. Some are sort of normal and funny. Some are very emotional and they'll pull your heart out. I love her even more after reading this.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

This book was fascinating. Very propulsive reading experience. Does flirting with Death make you feel more alive? Do you always rise to meet the challenges you‘re handed? Interesting questions.

I do disagree that no one cares what degree you got but maybe that only accounts for those truly lucky people who figure out how to actually do (and KNOW) what to do with one‘s life.

Book 85, #NonFictionNovember 2023

#NonfictionNovember !

While catching up on the zombie rounds of our #ToF Tournament of Favorites (LaRose takes down Hamnet in the Battle of the Dead Children), a comment mentioning the tagged book incites me to get eBook from Libby. The books behind it are up next.

Brilliant autobiography, very cleverly done. I have not found a book by Maggie I haven't liked

Amy, thanks again for sending me this. Just finished this morning and am blown away - I don‘t normally read nonfic in print, but this read like fiction and I absolutely can‘t resist her beautiful writing 💚 Lovely, beautiful book! @AmyG

Very much enjoying this. Not my usual holiday read but Maggie just writes so well.

Next holiday read . . . A move from fiction but sticking with a reliable author

Reading this book about the author‘s 17 brushes with death, made me remember my own brushes with catastrophes. How close we can come to something horrible happening. The first story and the last story rang so true it was frightening. I was crying at the end reading about her daughter. The stories jump around and I had to keep referring to the year of the first story to know how old she was. Still highly recommend.

I keep thinking about this book which makes it the clear winner for July.
#readingbracket2023

As others have said, this is beautifully written. The audiobook was narrated by Daisy Donovan who did an excellent job bringing the author‘s work to life. Even though the subject matter was intense, it was not without hope. I‘m looking forward to reading more of O‘Farrell‘s work. 4/5⭐️ #AuthorAMonth
(July 30, 2023)

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was simply beautiful. But from the first “event” I couldn‘t connect with this woman. I admire her greatly, yet I don‘t understand her wanderlust. I had a little trouble with the order of the events, as there was much hopping around time-wise, and yet I am so happy that I read it. Lots of conflict, but a wonderfully written book which makes me want to try her fiction. #authoramonth #aam

I love this book so much. The last story (Daughter) gave me goosebumps. Such a strong, courageous woman and a brilliant writer. It will stay with me. #authoramonth

When this book first came out I was completely uninterested. Essays about near death experiences? Not for me. But when I saw the audiobook was relatively short and available right away while looking for another #authoramonth selection I decided to give it a go and ended up loving it. She writes so beautifully and these essays made me feel a whole range of emotions from teary sadness to wanting to throttle negligent doctors anger.

#AuthorAMonth

I had trouble deciding which O‘Farrell to read out of her back list. Chose this one based on length and listened to it in a day and loved it. I think I would be a recluse if I experienced half of what she has. We shared a similar miscarriage experience that was a gut punch. Her words are vivid, intense, and real. You will feel all her emotions.

Wow. Beautifully written.

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

Back from a vacation of mountain hikes to the reality of the treadmill. Started this for #authoramonth this morning. @Soubhiville

A memoir told in essays detailing near-death experiences that the author has had during her lifetime. The writing is haunting and poignant, although some of the essays were better than others. While it is ultimately a pick for me, I do think I expected something… well, more, I guess .. based on the rave reviews I‘d seen before picking it up.

#Nonfiction2023
#AuthorAMonth

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 This was excellent. Gripping at times and also often relatable and human. Each essay jumps around in time, but I think it‘s so well done in that way. The only sad thing is she doesn‘t read the audio herself - which I usually prefer for a memoir - but the narrator did a great job.

Maggie‘s telling of her brushes with death sent a shiver along my spine. Especially the first and last chapters.
Definitely worth reading.

#AuthorAMonth Kindle deals!

They‘re both from Random House, too, so eligible if you‘re signed up for Penguin Rewards.

#12booksofchristmas @Andrew65
My February book has to be this memoir by the wonderful maggie O'Farrell which is honest, revealing, and a moving read at times. The highlight of my literary year was seeing her recently talking to kamila shamsie and i have got huge brownie points by getting hold of 2 tickets for my wife to see Hamnet in May at RSC in Stratford (I am of course benefitting from the present).

Such an unusual and moving memoir, told entirely in the near death experiences that make up the author‘s life. I was a bit confused at the beginning by how this was meant to teach us much about her but I ended up absolutely in awe of her writing and feeling like I‘d seen really deeply into her. So surprisingly beautiful

Two phenomenal memoirs for #LetterI
@alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I love her fiction but I but I loved this one even more. #LetterI #AlphabetGame

Great narrator for audio version 👏 👌 👍 quick read

Recently did a review / post about memoirs that use essays instead of straight through chronology. I liked both of these although they‘re wildly different. O‘Farrell titles her with drama, but ultimately it felt gentle in tone. OTOH, Madden has a semi-whimsical title and every essay is a heartbreaking gut punch.

Full reviews https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022

An interesting view of the way in which life could turn out for us should circumstances have been slightly altered; however, I don‘t know that she can claim an especially remarkable life. This was a quick and fairly engaging little read, so I‘ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Finally, her chapter on miscarriage is painful and deep, so she deserves a few extra points for the accuracy of that one in particular. 😢

One that I‘ve been eyeing for quite awhile, which was worth the wait! I love a memoir in essays!! ♥️ and O‘Farrell certainly did not disappoint. Harrowing, but also relatable, these stories of near-death experiences range from medical issues she‘s experienced to violence and even swimming mishaps. Adored Hamnet, which is so different, but makes me want to read her others ASAP. Also, be warned - this can be difficult/traumatic. Read TWs.

Quite curious about this one!

St Paddy's day post.
Love an Irish author, I didn't realize I regularly read so many people from Ireland and Northern Ireland! Maggie O'Farrell is for sure my favorite especially her one I forget to grab for this photo tagged above.

This was an interesting concept, a memoir told by focusing on moments of near-death experiences. It is beautifully written and very powerful. But check the trigger warnings - I made it just over halfway before I had to stop because my anxiety was too high. There are a lot of medical stories and she does not hold back on descriptions. Also a lot of pregnancy complications and miscarriages specifically

Maggie O'Farrell brings her wonderful writing to reflect upon 17 occasions when ,during her lifetime, death brushes past her. From childhood illness to child birth within the chapters we the readers learn about the writer life which gives insight to her life + work such as Hamnet . A brilliant writer, an interesting book reminding us of the fragility of life
#TitleRepeatsItself #booked2022 @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

This book was a little uneven, but the first and last chapters took my breath away.

Maggie O‘Farrell and I were born the same year so I was able to relate each of her experiences with where I was at that time in my life. She tells the story of her life through harrowing medical conditions and near accidents. It felt repetitive at times but by the end I was able to appreciate what she was trying to accomplish. Her 17 brushes with death highlight the need to take nothing for granted and live life to its fullest.

The only reason this isn't a "pan" is because I thought the first few stories were compelling, truly near death experiences. As it went on, the descriptions became lengthy and boring, and some of her experiences weren't that outlandish. I mean, apparently I've had a few brushes with death by her standard although I would've never thought that before. ?

Good morning! I have a feeling I won't be able to put this memoir down all day. Even though I haven't had near death experiences like she has, her feelings about her life are still completely relatable.

The morning after the Bookclub, it‘s still dark out here.
A ‘so-so ‘ for me and our gang .. there was a general agreement it was self- indulgent , unrealistic for a memoir, overly dramatic, a bit monotonous… We are a hard crowd to get past 😬. Having said that, everyone liked parts of it. I had great hopes after the appearance of a serial killer! I was very moved by the ending.
I did however LOVE Hamnet , and The Hand That First Held Mine

Wow, wow, wow, this was so gripping! From the first story onward, O'Farrell describes in such compelling detail, the various times she has brushed/faced/confronted death. Inevitably I started thinking about how death has shown up in my own life. It is simultaneously thought-provoking, poignant, and entertaining. The only other book I've read by O'Farrell is Hamnet and reading this gives me new perspective on that as well. Just a fabulous read!

A riveting read - her prose is wonderful, and I found this to be really beautiful. Highly recommended✨

Totally fascinating collection of personal essays about the many ways the author has witnessed and experienced the closeness of death. O‘Farrell‘s prose is stunning. She has a remarkable ability to illuminate these life-altering moments for the reader. What a fierce, unusual, interesting person.

Loving this book.

Hey #LMPBC ladies! Here's four I grabbed from my shelves that looked like interesting picks for this round. Any thoughts? I'll tag the other three in the comments!

@StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @Tianarose @DinoMom

I was really looking forward to this because I love Maggie O‘Farrell‘s writing. Perhaps it was the narration but I found the stories to be too melodramatic. She‘s such a talented writer but this one just didn‘t work for me.

Great! Really obsessed with Maggie O‘Farrell! Interesting reflections on the body and on life

1. I have worn out my copy of this!

2. Probably memoirs. David Sedaris is amazing, especially as far as constantly having new material. I also love short stories. Adam Johnson has the most in my top 10, but I also love Ottessa Moshfegh.

3. Gosh, lots. Lindy West, Samantha Irby, Cheryl Strayed, Dave Cullen, David Sedaris, Roxane Gay, Rebecca Solnit, Mary Roach, Anthony Bourdain (RIP), Stacey Abrams. I can‘t pick just one!

#wondrouswednesday

Fairly sure I‘ve read this before. What a life. So many brushes with death.
#joysbooks2021
@MrsMalaprop

So true. Rarely asked what degree you have . Largely these days it doesn‘t matter. Also degree may have nothing to do with the job you are doing. Friend working in care of people with head injuries, has a degree in anthropology.

Kindle offer today. I really enjoyed this one.

I just finished my reread of these two favorites. They have gotten me through so many hard times. Since I started from the middle of each, I am counting them as a single #freespace in #bookspinbingo. I highly, highly recommend both!!