“I’m Alive” is the autobiography of “Masoumeh Abad”. She was a very young daughter when Saddam’s military attack on Iran happened. She was among many volunteer forces forged to front lines of war; and was captured and held in captivity for more than three years. The majority of the book is about bittersweet memories of her imprisonment and after that. She says: “For years, I have pulled the burden of heavy words on the shoulders and I felt more tired and exhausted day by day. One day, passing sidewalk of the Street, I saw Mr. Morteza Sarhangi. He asked my situation and I said that passing of time doesn’t help me forget the past and I’m tired of taking this heavy burden along. He said, “The burden you felt on your shoulders is not just yours. It must be put down slowly. Let others share it with you. Then, the memories will shine like Medal of Honor in the chest of all women in our country.” Maybe there are some critiques on performing literature and memoir genre in this book, but as well, in the context of the book, reader finds enough time thinking about events. The reader would definitely feel it as a true honest autobiography.

Masoumeh Abad