Sandra The Terrorist wrote:
I'd be interested to know how you get on, I've nearly read that a couple of times but the feeling that "well, that's all going to be a bit negative" has put me off.
Well, finished it.
It's very short; it's exceptionally well written.
It's not a diatribe, but much more an investigation, couched largely in quiet and considered tones. There are barbs, but they are subtle and elegant.
I think it's excellent. And the subject isn't actually as limited as it might seem: Hitchens saw Mother Teresa as being someone who very much reflected and preached the Vatican's core ideology. Indeed, as he points out, it was extraordinary that she did preach, given Catholic teaching on women doing that.
There are some fascinating things. And, without him specifically saying so, it does raise the great question of why, when faced with – let's call it religion in general – there is so much uncritical acceptance; more, that there's an attitude of respect, approval ... however you want to describe it.
No, I'd recommend it – and particularly this new edition, as the new forward takes on board things Hitchens never knew because at that time he had no access to her private letters, which have been released now and reveal a great deal.
