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tregina's review against another edition
5.0
What starts out relatable, on some level, becomes more and more stark and harrowing, and as the narrative becomes fragmentary at the end, the last words of a dying man published posthumously, I have to remind myself that this is real, and that they were not composed that way for effect. This is written with an honesty in the face of terminal illness that, while not necessarily rare in this day of confessions and blogs, is still startlingly unflinching, marvellously articulate, and devastatingly true.
prairiedog's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant and thought-provoking. Not just about his experience with terminal cancer, but about his lifelong beliefs, the difficulties presented to him throughout his adult life by Christians and the media, and the people and philosophers who inspired him. Very rich material. Recommended.
leyavh's review against another edition
5.0
GORGEOUS, captivating writing and the afterword filled with the love of his wife is unbelievably adorable.
zakcebulski's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
This was my first book by Christopher Hitchens, but, I have known about Hitch for years. I actually remember the day that he died. I was in high school, back when I was a die hard Christian- or, rather, was trying to fool myself into believing that I was.
This was back in a time when my stomach would turn at the thought of *gasp* atheism and would not listen to reason outside of what was sent to me by my weekly passages to church.
It is a little bit funny for me to look back to see where I am now.
This book reminds me of David Bowie's Blackstar album, where like Hitch, he was staring down death, and was able to create something magnificent in that time.
This book blew my mind, to have the wherewithal to know that you are dying, and to be able to note everything down, it is amazing.
This book gave me so much to think about and I am so glad that I read it.
gadicohen93's review
3.0
Hitchens is still obsessing over religion and his religious haters here to an irritating degree. It seems to be the only thing he cares about: Showing the naysayers that he still rejects God and living out his last days in vehement atheism. It's not that I disagree with him -- I completely jive with this vehemence. But this book seemed to be simply a regurgitation of the ideas he evangelized throughout his life. Well-written, yes, but the insights into dying were too scant for this to be great. I really appreciated his wife's words, the last chapter of the book -- poignant, real, exposing the most invisible yet tangible consequences of grief.
r0b3rta's review against another edition
5.0
I was not familiar with his work but read a review of the book and thought it would be an interesting read. Over the last few years I've attended more funerals than weddings. Most were friends' whose mother or father passed. More and more of my friends have family members who are/were ill. Death has definitely visited family members. Hitchens's writing is very honest and if you have a few hours and are at ease with your own mortality I highly recommend the book.
"Death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything (Saul Bellow).”
"Death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything (Saul Bellow).”