I like Maggie O'Farrell's fiction and I thought this book sounded intriguing. It is a series of essays, each describing a brush with death in the author's life.
It is very well written, but confusing as the essays aren't in chronological order so she is eighteen in the first one, sixteen in the second and five in the third, for example.
Some of the 'brushes with death' really aren't any such thing and come across as rather contrived, others though are heartbreaking, particularly the last one concerning her daughter.
Not as good. as I hoped.

Taking to lunch with Cross-patch and Tanamo.

Picked this up at today's mini meet. Thanks Eileen.

Interesting memoir though I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been told chronologically and not jumped around from one period of life to another. What really got to me though was the part dealing with her daughter's excema. Reading about her suffering brought back my own. I was instantly there in the hospital with dark green walls and the smell of carbolic. I was born covered in excema everywhere except on my face. I could not wear wool so all the knitted baby clothes were no good for me. I had to be washed in liquid paraffin though eventually I tolerated Wrights coal tar soap. Not a memory I was pleased to go back to.

Left on a bench

If you've found this book and you're new to this, welcome to bookcrossing! I hope you enjoy looking around the bookcrossing site. If you decide to join bookcrossing (it's free, so no reason not to if you're interested!) please feel free to list me (Tanamo) as the member who referred you. Even if you don't join I'd appreciate it if you'd leave a quick journal note so I can see where the book ended up - you can do it anonymously if you wish.

I found the book on the bench at Poole Quay. Thanks Tanamo!
I really like Maggie O’Farrell so am looking forward to reading this

I enjoyed this book & liked the fact it wasn’t chronological.
I’ve read Hamnet, so think I can see the author’s own experience of parenting a sick child definitely coming through.
I’m going to take the book to Oxford tomorrow & leave it there somewhere for the next reader… Dot 😊