Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
In Extremis
In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin | Lindsey Hilsum
The devastating biography of Marie Colvin, the foremost war reporter of her generation, who was killed in Syria in 2012 When Marie Colvin was killed in an artillery attack in Homs, Syria, in 2012, at age fifty-six, the world lost a fearless and iconoclastic war correspondent who covered the most significant global calamities of her lifetime. In Extremis, written by her fellow reporter Lindsey Hilsum, is a thrilling investigation into Colvins epic life and tragic death based on exclusive access to her intimate diaries from age thirteen to her death, interviews with people from every corner of her life, and impeccable research. After growing up in a middle-class Catholic family on Long Island, Colvin studied with the legendary journalist John Hersey at Yale, and eventually started working for The Sunday Times of London, where she gained a reputation for bravery and compassion as she told the stories of victims of the major conflicts of our time. She lost sight in one eye while in Sri Lanka covering the civil war, interviewed Gaddafi and Arafat many times, and repeatedly risked her life covering conflicts in Chechnya, East Timor, Kosovo, and the Middle East. Colvin lived her personal life in extremis, too: bold, driven, and complex, she was married twice, took many lovers, drank and smoked, and rejected societys expectations for women. Despite PTSD, she refused to give up reporting. Like her hero Martha Gellhorn, Colvin was committed to bearing witness to the horrifying truths of war, and to shining a light on the profound suffering of ordinary people caught in the midst of conflict. Lindsey Hilsums In Extremis is a devastating and revelatory biography of one of the greatest war correspondents of her generation.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
BarbaraBB
post image
Panpan

Well this is a bit of a cheat. I am going to use this one for #Tunisia only because Marie Colvin stayed in Tunis to interview Arafat. Now that I‘ve come this far I‘ve had enough of the book. So much information, so fast, so boring. #ReadingAfrica2022 🇹🇳

Pic: Zen Musuem, Kanagawa, Japan

Librarybelle That‘s a shame! But your scenery is gorgeous! 2y
squirrelbrain I haven‘t read it but I expected this book to be really good 🤷‍♀️ 2y
Liz_M For Tunisia, maybe see if this Europa title is available? 2y
See All 6 Comments
Liz_M Or this book: 2y
BarbaraBB @Liz_M Thanks! I‘ll look them up! 2y
Megabooks Well, at least the trees are pretty… 2y
73 likes6 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Mehso-so

I expected more about Marie Colvin's work as a war correspondent. When the book focused on Colvin's work and the regions where that work took place, it was interesting, informative, and compelling. However, I couldn't have cared less about her dating life, bad habits, eating disorder, etc. The audiobook narration was uninspiring. #timorleste #readingasia2021

BarbaraBB I bought this book for Timor too but ended up reading another book. I just couldn‘t pick this one up 😂 2y
Librarybelle That‘s disappointing! 2y
50 likes2 comments
blurb
JGadz11
post image

For the first third of the book, I admired Colvin. The middle third, I felt sorry for her. The final third, I not only disliked her, but came to the realization that her self-destructive behaviors not only killed her but many of the innocent people around her. At the end of the day, she did the job she thought she was meant to do, but actually did more harm than good. Well written biography, though; can‘t blame the author for Colvin‘s faults.

blurb
JGadz11
post image

Creative way to social distance: hide in the greenhouse with a good book.💝 #Thanksgiving2020

review
Cinfhen
post image
Pickpick

Marie Colvin was quite a force/ fearless & reckless in both ordinary & extraordinary situations. She partied hard, ran towards danger and sought to be heard. Reporting from the most treacherous regions, Marie craved the chaos & thrilled at delivering the news to the world.
My only quibble, author Lindsey Hilsum spent too much time on Marie‘s complicated love life/personal life, which I felt took away from the real story.
#Kosovo #ReadingEurope

8little_paws I friggin loved this book
4y
Cinfhen I wish I LOVED it / I liked it a lot but some parts niggled me @8little_paws I was definitely in awe of Marie‘s fearlessness ♥️ 4y
BarbaraBB Good job! I‘ll use it for Georgia I guess. Unless I do buy that chunkster. 4y
See All 14 Comments
Librarybelle I keep seeing this cover at the library, and it intrigued me. A good shot of her! 4y
Cinfhen The cover IS FABULOUS/ Marie looks like a rock star @Librarybelle I think you‘ll like this @BarbaraBB but I‘m leaning towards buying the #chunkster myself!!! My curiosity has been peeked 4y
8little_paws @cinfhen I actually liked the contrast with her personal life; she was such a professional force, so confident, but then her personal side wasn't reflective of the person she was professionally I found. So for me it added a lot to see her personal info. 4y
Cinfhen Yes, that‘s a great point @8little_paws but for me, it was more of a distraction.... her tumultuous love life 4y
ReadingEnvy My aunt! 4y
Cinfhen Wait, what????? Marie Colvin is your aunt?????? @ReadingEnvy That is some powerhouse badass genes. 4y
Cinfhen That‘s incredible @ReadingEnvy what a legacy 🙌🏻❤️ 4y
ReadingEnvy Nah just joking. I like to claim people with my last name. 😂 4y
Cinfhen Well ....you still have those powerhouse badass genes @ReadingEnvy 💕🙌🏻 4y
JGadz11 Except her life and love life demonstrate her self-destructive behaviors, which actually led to the deaths of many others. Not a hero, after all, but a flawed, selfish human. 3y
Cinfhen @JGadz11 I will definitely agree that she was flawed, but I‘d say all humans are. She doesn‘t meet my own personal criteria for a hero but I think she wanted to fight for the underdog. Unfortunately she had many personal demons. It was an interesting read. 3y
68 likes2 stack adds14 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

Made it to #Kosovo #ReadingEurope2020 It took me awhile to get into this book but now I‘m down for the ride. What a life Marie Colvin led. I think you‘re gonna like this one @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle 😁 4y
BarbaraBB You entered Kosovo. I just bought another book for Kosovo, I was so doubting this one. 4y
Cinfhen This one glosses over Albania and Georgia both very briefly but I think you could use it for one of those @Barbarabb 😉 4y
BarbaraBB Thanks, Georgia might be a good one. Instead of that chunkster everyone else is reading 😉 4y
58 likes4 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#BookMail These books have been lingering at my brother‘s in NYC for months but today they finally found their way home to me ♥️ He found a friend who was willing to lug them in his carry-on 🙏🏼 🧳 😁

Megabooks Yay! New books!! 4y
Cinfhen I know!!! Very exciting 🤗🤗 @Megabooks ❣️❣️❣️❣️ 4y
TrishB Cool 😁 4y
99 likes3 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#DearDecember I did some online Black Friday book shopping 🛍 and picked up a few potential books for #ReadingEurope2020 #SettingInEurope I can‘t resist #BookOutlet with a 30% discount 🤑🛒 Anyone else pick up some #BlackFridayDeals????

Crazeedi Great buys Cindy! Look like some great books! 4y
Cinfhen Thanks @Crazeedi 🤞🏼🤞🏼 4y
BarbaraBB Great buys. What countries are they for? 4y
See All 21 Comments
BarbaraBB And how does it feel without the photo challenge? Relaxed or empty? 😘 4y
Cathythoughts 👍🏻❤️nice one 4y
Cinfhen @BarbaraBB Kosovo tagged book Belarus 👉🏾 4y
Cinfhen It‘s strange @BarbaraBB !!! 4y
Cinfhen Both tagged book and Ivan will work for #Pop20 too @BarbaraBB and of course I‘ll happily share the books with you ❣️❣️❣️ 4y
arlenefinnigan In Extremis is excellent. Marie Colvin lived quite a life. 4y
BarbaraBB Wow, these are both countries I hadn‘t options for yet! Looking forward to your reviews. And how convenient that they work for #pop20 too!! 💕 4y
Cinfhen I was searching for obscure countries @BarbaraBB 😘 4y
Cinfhen I‘ve heard great things about the above tagged book @arlenefinnigan I‘m looking forward to reading it 💚 4y
Librarybelle I also bought books from Book Outlet for Black Friday! I need to write down the book for Belarus. I‘ve wanted to read Death In the Air - another UK book in the running! 4y
Cinfhen I can‘t resist those #BookOutlet Deals @Librarybelle I ordered 11 books for $36.08 📚💚🙌🏻a few were for hubby & daughter because I‘m generous that way 😉 4y
Eggs Nice haul! No Black Fri deals for me .... time to work on Mount TBR again 4y
Kalalalatja Interesting haul! 4y
Cinfhen I can‘t even remember what else I ordered @kalalalatja 4y
Reviewsbylola I scored a lot on BF and CM but sadly no books. I was almost desperate to score some major book deals but I really was on the lookout for super nice books (ie Folio or similar) so I skipped BO. 4y
8little_paws In Extremis is fantastic. 4y
Cinfhen I‘m super excited for that book @8little_paws 4y
86 likes21 comments
blurb
Oryx
post image

Obligatory trip to Foyles (can't go to London without a visit). Picked this up, and immediately ditched my current read too start this one

TrishB I didn‘t get to a single book shop!! 4y
Oryx @TrishB shocking! luckily Foyles was on our way to the theatre. 4y
TrishB We did Houses of Parliament tour- I managed to buy 2 bookmarks! 4y
eraderneely I can‘t go to London without visiting Foyles either! I have this ebook on my library wishlist, so I‘m anxious to hear what you think. 4y
Oryx @eraderneely I'm enjoying it - what an interesting life she led. I almost want to go on adventures in war zones but then I realize I'm quite happy on the sofa. 4y
45 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
kaysworld1
Pickpick

Well that was disappointing.
Not what I was expecting at all.

Again the only thing I learnt about her was apart from smoking, drinking and can't hold a man is she is a good story teller and a adrenaline junkie!
I am very sorry she was assassinated but sometimes you do see the warning signs and maybe you should listen to them.

#readingthelibrary #librarybook #warjournalist #mariacolvin #reading #lifestory

24 likes1 stack add
blurb
kaysworld1
post image

Lazy day off 👍
Dragged everything from the bed to the sofa and all I have done is the dishes and read.
#catsoflitsy #rudi #lazydayreading #dayoff #librarybook 🐾🐈♀️☕📚

jenniferw88 Gorgeous 🐱 5y
Gaylagal2 Me too! Feeling like a total sloth today, but loving it🤙 5y
kaysworld1 @Gaylagal2 Absolutely 🤟♀️ 5y
43 likes3 comments
blurb
kyraleseberg
post image

Thrilled my local library purchased a copy, I've been curious about this book!

8little_paws It's excellent 5y
kyraleseberg @8little_paws I'm excited to hear that, I'm really looking forward to it! 5y
20 likes2 comments
blurb
kaysworld1
post image

85 pages in and the only thing I have learnt is she likes to drink, party and have sex... Oh and she can't hold a man and has daddy issues!
Does this get any better?

#readingthelibrary #librarybook #warjournalist #mariacolvin #reading #lifestory

review
Weaponxgirl
post image
Pickpick

#booksandvinyl it‘s mentioned her listening to patsy cline and the title three cigarettes in a ashtray seemed to fit.
This is the best kind of biography, when the author obviously loves who they are writing about but also isn‘t afraid to show their flaws.
Marie‘s life was amazing as was her outlook on why she reported. Whilst she was competitive about getting the story she always wanted to centre the everyday people who were caught up in war in

Weaponxgirl Her journalism. This gave her writing real heart. 5y
Weaponxgirl I found the last chapter when she was in Syria really hard to read as you know what‘s coming. If you are like me and cry at the end of biographies then This one will be particularly gut punchy. 5y
Weaponxgirl But it was an amazing read and i think that even people who don‘t normally enjoy biographies would probably enjoy reading this one too. Hell one of her assignments is enough for a book on its own for most people. 5y
64 likes3 comments
review
8little_paws
post image
Pickpick

Outstanding. I didn't know who Marie was but her life sounded fascinating so I picked this up. The author balances her personal and professional life well, you end the book feeling you have a good sense of her as a person. What a life! I hated putting it down, I will have to pick up the collection of her writing that was published posthumously. I'll read just about anything regarding war reporting, and I'm so glad I learned about her.

Crazeedi Never heard of her, but has to tell of a courageous woman 5y
Tanisha_A Sounds very interesting! Nice review! 5y
Weaponxgirl I‘m reading this atm and whilst I knew about her I wasn‘t aware of just how amazing she was. 5y
54 likes3 stack adds3 comments
blurb
8little_paws
post image

I'm halfway through this, and it's FANTASTIC, get it on your radar folks!!!

Weaponxgirl I‘m reading this too and I completely agree! She is amazing! 5y
62 likes6 stack adds1 comment
blurb
shmreads
post image

Drinking boba and catching up on my very-late-delivered issue of Bookforum!

review
arlenefinnigan
post image
Pickpick

This is a brilliant book. An amazing life, described beautifully. Unflinchingly honest without being salacious.

Cinfhen This looks like a really intense read. Thanks for sharing #stacked (edited) 5y
arlenefinnigan @Cinfhen yeah, intense is definitely the word! 5y
37 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
arlenefinnigan
post image

#ReadHarder challenge 4: a book by a journalist or about journalism

23 likes1 stack add
blurb
shmreads
post image

I'm lucky as I managed to get some reading done while on a "holiday" with the boys. Even if it meant reading late at night when the kids are sound asleep and I'm dead tired.

blurb
shmreads
post image

This is just sad. Profoundly, sad. I had to tag a book. So I tagged my currently reading book.

gradcat I agree 😢 5y
Crazeedi Very sad 5y
wordzie 😯😭 5y
5 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
shmreads
post image

I miss her.

blurb
shmreads

I'm currently reading In Extremis by Lindsey Hilsum. Anyone else read/reading it? 18% through and quite appalled with the personal anecdotes revealed (her diary entries). Some may think it's necessary to get to know Marie Colvin better but for those who followed her journalism (and maybe, read On the Front Line), might disagree. Thoughts welcome.

blurb
shmreads

Amazon's got some Book Dash deal. I think it ends today. I got two books! This, and Small Fry.

blurb
shmreads

Lindsey Hilsum, war correspondent and author of Sandstorm (2012, on Libya), has released a new book, titled "In Extremis". The book is about Marie Colvin's life and death.

review
Twocougs
post image
Pickpick

A bit overwhelmed to be honest. Marie was a woman of passions and demons, yet with a heart the size of the Middle East. Marie‘s reporting allowed us to see the dangerous places of the world in simple human terms. Our loss is not only her journalism, but the complicated and loved woman that was part of the whole package.

33 likes3 stack adds
blurb
Liberty
post image

Morning reading. 🔥📚❤️

HardcoverHearts My heart breaks just looking at this cover. What a phenomenal force she was. 5y
92 likes11 stack adds1 comment