stolencapybara's review against another edition
3.0
Not convincing as a book, esp. one of Hitchens's. What a shame.
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
4.0
When it comes to memoirs written by those on the verge of death — or, as Christopher Hitchens puts it in this book, ‘living dyingly’ — you read one and you have read all of them — with some slight variations between them all, of course. Some will come to terms with God, while others will stand defiant alongside their non-belief. Beyond the questions on faith and belief, however, things are more or less the same.
A similar book on this very topic made the waves last year — When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Look, it’s a good book, but Kalanithi was not a writer. While I enjoyed his clinical insights (he’s a surgeon), his thoughts on life and religion were a little scattered, to say the least. His wife, on the other hand, actually writes much better, evident in the epilogue.
Now, if you want a better-written book on a similar topic, this is the one you want to read. This is Hitchens, after all, the same man who could likely argue his way out of anything if given a chance.
Despite its length, Hitchens packs a lot in there. There are essays on religion, as you would expect, the physical agony of his treatments, as well as alternating sense of hope and hopelessness. Like I said, it is similar to other books of a similar topic, but written head and shoulder better than anybody else.
A similar book on this very topic made the waves last year — When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Look, it’s a good book, but Kalanithi was not a writer. While I enjoyed his clinical insights (he’s a surgeon), his thoughts on life and religion were a little scattered, to say the least. His wife, on the other hand, actually writes much better, evident in the epilogue.
Now, if you want a better-written book on a similar topic, this is the one you want to read. This is Hitchens, after all, the same man who could likely argue his way out of anything if given a chance.
Despite its length, Hitchens packs a lot in there. There are essays on religion, as you would expect, the physical agony of his treatments, as well as alternating sense of hope and hopelessness. Like I said, it is similar to other books of a similar topic, but written head and shoulder better than anybody else.
leonmas's review against another edition
4.0
'Really liked it' is een weinig toepasselijke beoordeling voor een boek waarin iemand zijn eigen fysieke achteruitgang vanwege kanker beschrijft, maar het is terecht gezien het in de behandeling van dit onderwerp ontegenzeggelijk Hitchens is die de pen voert. Wat een gemis.
ropey's review against another edition
Flew threw this. It's the third memoir I've come across about cancer, each from different perspectives. It fascinates me how different they all are but with a common denominator: near the end is resignation. Laughed at some parts too. Hitchens' glib humor and off-handed remarks made it so I could read it in his voice, which he mentions ever so often.
jatinnagpal's review against another edition
4.0
Conveys well thoughts of the man as he realised his mortality, in more ways than one.
maevefly's review against another edition
Flew threw this. It's the third memoir I've come across about cancer, each from different perspectives. It fascinates me how different they all are but with a common denominator: near the end is resignation. Laughed at some parts too. Hitchens' glib humor and off-handed remarks made it so I could read it in his voice, which he mentions ever so often.
emilyhems's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Great book if you’re a fan of Hitchens, as I am. Last few pages had me teary.
cworden7's review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing. Some of the book is nothing out of the ordinary for Hitchens but several of the articles and points about dying are unique and gripping. When I opened and read through the last chapter, there was a lump in my throat. I was sad as if I had lost a friend I had never met.
kevroller's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
mark_lm's review against another edition
5.0
One man's brilliance highlighted by the prosaic details of his last days. I think this is some of CH's best writing.