Customer Reviews

Hitch-22: A Memoir

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

"Hitch 22" is a memoir, not an autobiography, by Christopher Hitchens, who seems to go out of his way to ensure that everyone in the world has at least one compelling reason to disagree with him. Those well familiar with Hitchens will know what I'm talking about, but for those that only know him from one of his guises, a little perspective.

Hitchens works as a book reviewer for "The Atlantic", a political and culture commentator for both "Slate" and "Vanity Fair", a "talking head" on too many news shows to mention, a "semi-professional atheist" ('God is not Great'), an all around activist and speaker for the causes he deems important, and I'm sure a half dozen other roles I'm not aware of.

I defy anyone to agree with every single one of the comments below:

- Margaret Thatcher is kind of sexy
- Communism is good
- Pre-Glasnost Russia was bad
- Gore Vidal is full of it
- God does not exist
- Henry Kissigner is best viewed as a Mass Murderer
- George H.W. Bush knew that Iraq would attack Kuwait well beforehand
- The USA was justified in attacking both Iraq and Afghanistan post 9-11
- Bertie and Wooster are hilarious
- Mother Teresa was a sadist
- The USA is a great country
- British Boarding Schools are twisted

Well, we can probably all agree on the last one, but see what I mean? He does indeed "contain volumes", and his views have shifted over time - to the right in many cases, as he admits.

His memoir does not "explain" who Hitchens is, nor does he intend to. What he succeeds in doing admirably and engagingly is to give his perspectives on the people he's known, and the experiences he's had, not necessarily in chronological order. I don't have enough background in contemporary English Literature to appreciate everything he's written about the authors he's known, but even there, one finds that the people one would think both stuffy and reserved were in their time a "bawdy" and lewd group of jokesters, fond of obscene word games, and experiences both Cerebral and Slummy.

What I found most enlightening about his memoir is his memories of boarding school. Many reviews and articles about Hitch 22 will focus on the Hitchens' statements about the high degree of homosexual activity that he says existed in the boarding schools he attended. His claims (which I have no logical reason to doubt) seem pretty stunning to me, a small town boy from the midwest, but what I find most interesting how his perspective on religion seems to have been shaped by his schools.

Most Americans "get religion" through their families, and in my experience, see God and Church as something personal, rather than public. Hitchens on the other hand experienced religion as something that forbade the sexual experiences that he says were common in his schools (an oppressor of feeling and emotion), the presence of the State (Church of England) and "one more obligation" in his curriculum (compulsory attendance). The "hitch" however, was that while Hitchens HAD to go to Church services, his teachers could not force the students to worship or kneel. It seems intriguing that Hitchens chose to "resist" religion by not kneeling, in emulation of an older boy that he admired.

Now, I could be completely off base about this, but it seems as though Hitchens' antipathy to religion, was first established not on a mature consideration of faith and reason, but as the only available tactic for resisting the ever-present authority of the school and teachers that many of his readers will never face. Resisting religion ~may~ have been either the wellspring of what became a history of resisting authority and defying convention wisdom, or the first indication of that character he already had in him.

I could be way off base, and probably am, but I am glad that I had the opportunity to read and enjoy Mr. Hitchens' memoir. He's the kind of person that I would enjoy listening to as he held court over a table, with Spirits and words aflow. I am sure I could not agree with everything he said, and as an experienced debater, he would skewer anything I could have to say in return, and perhaps not always in the kindest manner. Even so, I'd gladly have, and later relish the experience.

I don't think anyone has to completely "like" Christopher Hitchens, but I do think that he is worthy of everyone's respect, at least for some aspect. Hate his politics? Read his book reviews - they're delicious. Disagree with him on religion? Read his thoughts on human rights and freedom.

And then, read his memoir, to better understand and appreciate him. He's worth it.

It's really quite fascinating that Christopher Hitchens had as normal a life as he had considering all the events he experienced early in life. He starts his memoir with the suicide-homicide of his mother and her lover in the first chapter, then continues on with his commander dad. His parents alone were quite a contrasting couple that only stayed together because divorce caried such a stigma. Then he experienced boarding schools where bullying was quite common and where boys experimented with their sexuality.

His gift of the English language and the accompanying wit were established early on. Hitchen writes as he speaks, with passion and drama that may turn some people, especially those with a weak understanding of advanced English grammar, off. His life unfolds as the post-war wars of England in the 1950s and 1960s, giving this memoir a good example of a personal history of the times.

What struck me is the style of his writing. He writes from a deeply psychological perspective, as if everyone or everything around him is not quite in his senses. He maintains a certain distance, an aloofness, from all the events, but perhaps that is from the jobs he has held over the years as fighter for oppressed African states. Other parts, like chapter "Chris or Christopher" (pages 93-109) read like a political thriller in his often colorful and eyebrow-raising verbiage. He didn't like Bill Clinton ("the habitual and professional liar") even in his Oxford days and he certainly had no respect for American politicians during the Vietnam war.

It really should come as no surprise that he is an atheist, a left-leaner (International Socialist as he calls himself) after the life he's had; his stories alone carry the explanation. But I don't blame him. Hitchen addresses the reader as "dear Reader" as if he knows we want to read about his life. And at times the events he writes about appear fabricated just for us "Dear readers."

I started this book not knowing a thing about Hitchens, but finished the book quite impressed. I may not agree with all his political thinking, but his life alone explains why he thinks the way he does.

This book is excessively long. For a quick summary of Hitchens the one chapter I can recommend is "Something of Myself" toward the end of the book. There he summarizes his philosophies but doesn't explain them in detail as in other chapters.

I gave this four instead of five stars for two reasons: chapters tend to go on and on. (Seriously, did he have to be so wordy?!) But perhaps as a Vanity Fair writer this is expected. The other reason is his sometimes aggressive distaste for certain people, and his blatant refusal to accept differing political believes. This book may be detested by right-wingers and conservatives; let them be forewarned.

Love him or hate him, you can't deny that Christopher Hitchens is a masterful writer. While reading Hitch-22, I found myself thinking "with some editing, this could almost be Orwell" -- sometimes I think he's just a bit too in love with the sound of his admittedly well-crafted words to be able to throw them out, and become the true master of pithiness that was Eric Blair. But though he's not a master of pithiness, he is a master of his craft, and a very convincing writer. I defy you to read his passages on Iraq and not for a second believe -- or at least entertain the possibility -- that the 2003 invasion was justified. I'm not saying you'll be convinced, but I'm saying that while you're reading this book, you will at least consider the possibility. A very powerful writer indeed, and I haven't even touched on the many other subjects Hitchens touches. As always, a good memoir turns into a chronicle of the times, and that's what this is. Interesting times they were, too, and an interesting life Hitchens has led, to put it mildly. I think in lesser hands, it wouldn't be so interesting a read -- but in Hitchens's hands, almost any story is worth a look. Highly, highly recommended.

Decidedly an interesting read, though I am still wondering how I managed to get through this book in a single (and very long) evening.
Described as a memoir, this book covers a lot of territory. Journalist/writer Hitchens details his childhood, family, life in English boarding school, college years at Oxford, dalliances with socialism, political and religious views(though an affirmed atheist), career as a war correspondent and author, and encounters with the famous and infamous. Along the way, he diverges into his parents indifferent marriage, his mother's suicide, and the discovery of his mother's jewish lineage years after her death.
While I thought the book in its entirety was interesting, some sections appealed to me more than others. Hitchens had an early encounter with Bill Clinton and was convinced that Clinton was possibly an operative reporting on american students anti-war activities to the CIA while at Oxford. He also claimed that he was probably present when Clinton didn't 'inhale' marijuana. Another section delved into researching his jewish heritage. And then there was his take on the Iraq War. The book was loaded with observations and insites that were interesting and at times deadly serious. Whether I agreed with him or not, he presented interesting points of view that reflected his varied life experiences.
Initially, my impression of Hitchen's writing style seemed to be more essayist than memoirist. However, it quickly became apparent that this was his story regardless of references to history, literature, and momentary divergences (such as the purpose and usage of the acronym WASP). While his text might at times seem elevated to the average reader, it took little time for me to get used to it. Often quite humorous, he managed to keep my attention.

With exquisite articulation and guts, Hitchens uses his well-examined life along with switchback roads to literature and history to create a story with himself as the protagonist. If you pay attention, Hitchen's words cut through conditioned emotional bogs with sturdy reason and titrated wordage. The use of so much of his private life is bold, although in that regard Hitchens comes across as Gen Y "who cares?" modern, rightly calculating that the time is already here for this. The group psychology described seems so archaic as to belong in a time capsule, yet it is captured within a lifetime. Plenty of old cultural scripts are personalized, such as the opinion against divorce, unfair obstacles to education and class separation; Hitchens wrote how he felt straightforwardly-enough in his worst circumstances, there being a number of worsts. One thing that struck me was how uncontemporary the past seems in tone; harsh good against harsh bad, and vice versa.

To his credit Hitchen made vivid his personal stories with candor and self-analysis; this isn't a flat memoir; it's written in the full 360 degrees. Hitchens is admirably fearless in these things. Previews didn't lead me to anticipate depth and scope of this work, nor its' astuteness and charm, nor the elaborate writing style. That said, the audiobook can be edgier. Parts of it are akin to being on a train tour through abandoned foreign towns, one after the other, with a rambly guide on the microphone. But, that's pretty much the way it would have to be when a densely historical book is done on audiotape. The sound of his voice is rich and easy to listen to and he keeps his upward lilting voice going for the whole time; his stamina amazes. (For book and author references I refer to the text.) If I had to choose between the text and the audiobook, I'd choose the audiobook as, at points, it breathes life into the interesting story of this man's life, become a WiFi transfer of emotions; emotions caught in Hitchen's voice, loaded empty spaces of pause, an occasional sharp intake of breath and shifts in cadence and volume insinuate an emotional charge into like-minded parts of the listener's brain. This creates an unexpectedly intimate felt experience, personalized beyond that which even this well-writ text can deliver.

Gotta admit, I'm pretty taken aback by the vindictive reviews here which are not in the majority, but still... what's the beef? This is a memoir and it has insurance in the sense that you got his story of his life, just like the cover said you would.

High praise indeed from none other than Christopher Buckley but an accolade well warranted.Wit,intelligence,honesty,a master of the appropriate obscure word or phrase,also a partisan polemicist of the far left,atheist,outrageously anti religious,but surprisingly non doctrinaire,in short a complex and fascinating mind.Full disclosure... I am totally on the other end of the political,cultural,and metaphysical spectrum and my life encompassed the same period and yet have always been an admirer even when outraged at his positions in that they are always reasoned from his own integrity ,much as I admire Camille Paglia on a likewise ambivalent basis.In reading some of the negative reviews the term 'name dropper' was cast. Well what is a memoir but a compilation of one man's trials,victories and the cast of characters that formed his life. And what a cast it was.And what a period of national and international upheaval.Ironically and sadly publication of his bio coincided with the news of his probably terminal cancer.True to character,that too is grist for the mill of this clear eyed mordant thinker as he describes that last journey beginning with his first essay "Topic of Cancer" .Read this only if you can be open to a mind with contradictory facets but one totally engaged with life and events and an unmatched command of the languge.A fun and fascinating read from an impressive mind .

I suppose we all tend to read memoirs and autobiographies of writers and thinkers whom we admire, and I am one of those when it comes to Mr Hitchens. For one so widely published (does the man ever put down the pen?), he's spoken relatively briefly about his personal life. Here he goes back to his youth, and speaks in strikingly personal detail, and at some length, about his family and his schooling in Great Britain; then on to his decision to move to the US and become a citizen.

Along the way he's met some fascinating people, and in his usual bluntness, speaks of both their ideas and his personal relationship with them. For example, he speaks at length of his relationship with Edward Said, which was increasingly fraught with the despair as their views diverged. For Hitchens, ideas always come first, and he gives no quarter. But here he often talks of the people themselves, and of the pain which arises as those we love espouse ideas and values which we find distasteful.

Some say Mr Hitchens has "turned to the right" because of his views on Iraq, but this is a vastly simplistic view of an truly complex man living in a very complex world. One has only to read his descriptions of many on the right such as Jerry Falwell ("tethered gas balloons of greed and cynicism "), and Ronald Reagan (with "his appallingly facile manner as a liar") to dismiss such simplification.

Bottom line, this book is invaluable for those interested in placing a remarkable man and his ideas in a broader context and I recommend it unreservedly.

This is a challenging book that covers a lot of ground and takes a lot of interesting and though-provoking positions. Organized very loosely by the passage of time in his life, it's a collection of odd facts and memories of a premier intellectual. Some of it is fascinating, such as a long section on Salmon Rushdie, which gives an insider's perspective on who Rushdie is and what he went through during the fatwa on him. Some of it is dull and pretentious, such as the repetition of the oh so clever things he and his friends said when playing various word games or the long sections on obscure British authors. Some of it is deliberately disgusting, such as the graphic descriptions of the homosexual practices of Gore Vidal and others. (Did I really need to know those things? And how does he know--was he there watching?) Some of it is irrelevant, such as the mention that Hitler had halitosis (this, at a time when Hitchens was a babe in arms, was scarcely a memory of Hitchens, just a little attempt to impress us, I guess). Overall, I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't rate it as high as a lot of his other work.

An engaging, brilliantly written memoir by one of the leading essayists of our age, the equal of Gore Vidal (with whom he has some fun on the back cover). Hitchens's childhood, education, Leftist youth, infatuation with and emigration to the U.S., and storied encounters with the great thinkers and poets of the day, are all fascinating. As a lefty columnist who abruptly quit writing for THE NATION after 20 years, Hitchens probably owes his readers an explanation as to why and how he became a neoconservative, Wolfowitz-cheering supporter of the invasion of Iraq -- and, for weal or woe, he presents it here. Stimulating, moving, and ever respectful of the power of precisely-chiseled English words (he's one of the best-read human beings I've ever encountered), Hitchens at 60 presents the vivid story of a life which is still unfolding. A masterful job.

Love him or hate him, "Hitch" is a great writer. He is a wonderful combiniation of political incorrectness, enormous intelligence, scathing wit and a deep capacity for self-effacing humor.

I've always admired his verbal skill, but by his own admission he feels like a talking head on TV and feels that TV lends itself to glibness and shallowness, and saves his best and most important work for the written page. I found the book highly amusing, tear-inducing (spreading ashes of a fallen serviceman), and just plain fascinating for the breadth and depth of his life experience. Often asked about how many times in his travels he has almost died, he gives a partly harrowing, partly hilarious account of 4 incidents which nearly did him in.

This is not an easy book to read, and some might find it verbose, but when one is so gifted with words I say "bring on the verbosity". It was eye candy to me, but I also found myself skipping through some endless name-dropping of liberal elites and various poets and writers who I had never heard of and in whom I have little interest.

Perhaps most fascinating was Hitchen's move to Yank-hood, and his first impressions of the USA. You can feel his love for the country and all of its failings in this book, and his pursuit of citizenship is touching.

I was also intrigued by his eventual disgust for the anit-war Left who would rather see Saddam remain in power to torture his citizens than support the military's ouster of him. He finally concluded that the Left's support of a Nazi regime in the name of anti-military and anti-war principles was too much.

I highly recommend this book, although you have to slog through some old cultural debris from the 60s and 70s left to get to the insightful and heartwarming parts.

Hitch is very ill, and I hope we do not lose him. Christopher, if you are out there and reading reviews of your book, thanks for this effort. It was great fun.