Book Review: The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan and Mortality by Christopher Hitchens

With the reading challenge surpassed, this week I review Mortality by Christopher Hitchens and The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan.

Well, this is a bit of a surprise - I didn't think I'd be able to read 12 books in a year, let alone 15. There's something a little different too. I thought I may have been reading too much fiction and not enough that was grounded in reality, so I decided to read Christopher Hitchens's final book Mortality.

The Fires of Heaven - Robert Jordan

Image credit: Amazon, you can buy it there in a range of formats.

The fifth book in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series follows the beginnings of Rand's campaign towards the Last Battle. Rand pursues the Shaido Aiel across the Spine of the World following the trail of death left in their wake. Long-dead memories help Mat become an adept battle strategist  while he attempts to break away from the Dragon Reborn. Elayne and Nyaneve find their way to the rebel Aes Sedai and Queen Morgase of Andor escapes from a trap of compulsion.

Mortality - Christopher Hitchens

Image credit: Amazon, available in a range of formats.

Christopher Hitchens has long been a hero of mine. His last book before his death is his raw, confronting story of his diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and his observations on the way we think and speak about death in our day to day lives. Part of what is so powerful about this book is because of it's rawness; it is not complete - you can envision that Hitchens had much grander plans for this book, but was cut short. The final chapter is a collection of his jottings and notes, of ideas that he wanted to connect, of chapters he wanted to form - perhaps after doing some more research or reading, or perhaps just that he hadn't yet gotten to writing them. A writer, public speaker and debater without equal - fearless to speak his mind, charismatic and witty; the world has indeed lost one of it's greats.