theguywhoreads

There is a unique voice in I Liked My Life and it comes from Abby Fabiaschi. As I read it, I never thought it would be poignant for me and it does, in a sentimental way. This is a book that talks about loss, connection, healing, redemption and forgiveness in ways it was never predictable. Most books would have their characters stayed on to the very end in a formula that ends with a practical approached in writing. I find this emotionally well-written, and although I did not shed a tear (for my own personal reasons), I do find this book important and should be read.

I Liked My Life talks about one family in three perspectives - Madeline, whom recently died from committing suicide still lingers on in spiritual form, Eve, a distraught seventeen year-old daughter in disbelieved that her mother died suddenly and was ashamed of her death and Brady, Eve's father and husband to Madeline who blamed himself for Madeline's death. As I read on, what draws me in are the depth in the characters that are written. Then, I loved most of the characters that interacts so well together as real as what families are. And what makes it work is how it was handled in it. Every single chapter reveals parts of the characters that really makes you closer to them. Every single dialogue was written in how real people deal with their loss. Its a love story about family, what keeps them together, the secrets family members keep and the importance of compassion. I was trying to gauge the story but in every single chapter, I thought I could predicted it. Turns out, as realism gets, its different in some levels that life isn't what we expected but through help, what we needed is the least expectation.

For me, I would have given a higher rating of 5 out of 5 star, but then towards the end of the book it was anti-climatic for me. Not to mention, it was used before. In a way, it was clever to hide the true reason but after reading that chapter, I was just feeling at a bit of loss at the reasoning. I Liked My Life is a book I would recommend to a certain group of people to read because of its writing, its sheer wit and for those who wants to hug their family members more.