“Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann – The Grandeur of New York
It’s August 1974, and the summer has been very hard for the people of New York, not only melting them alive but also bringing the Watergate scandal as well as the unforgettable and senseless Vietnam War. However, on one day the entire city stood still, as Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker, performed his craft on a cable suspended between the World Trade Center towers.
In Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, Philippe Petit’s apparition in trial marks the point where we are taken on a sort of odyssey through New York, looking into the lives of ten different people, including a Priest, heroin-addicted prostitutes and grieving mothers.
Though my summary of the plot really doesn't do the book justice, it is all I can offer for fear of spoiling the book. This is one of those works of writing that wants you to actually become the characters, see what they see, and feel what they feel, instead of just sitting on the sidelines and watching them.
As you can imagine, Colum McCann’s portrayal of 1970s New York is nothing short of breathtaking and riveting; he makes it feel as if every single person living in that town has an interesting story to tell, one that shouldn't be ignored. He truly breathes life into the city and makes it look like an isolated place in the world, one where life is filled with wonders despite all the troubles.
Though my summary of the plot really doesn't do the book justice, it is all I can offer for fear of spoiling the book. This is one of those works of writing that wants you to actually become the characters, see what they see, and feel what they feel, instead of just sitting on the sidelines and watching them.
As you can imagine, Colum McCann’s portrayal of 1970s New York is nothing short of breathtaking and riveting; he makes it feel as if every single person living in that town has an interesting story to tell, one that shouldn't be ignored. He truly breathes life into the city and makes it look like an isolated place in the world, one where life is filled with wonders despite all the troubles.
Naturally, Colum McCann remains very mindful of his readers and does a great job at weaving a complex and enthralling story. Though it may appear at first that the characters are not related in any way whatsoever, as things progress, storylines intersect and even converge at certain instances.
It would be a bit hard to describe the pace here; though the big picture progresses slowly, the importance of every single event and line of dialog makes it feel as if important events are constantly occurring.
All in all, it is a though-provoking journey through the unforgettable lives of the people of New York during the seventies, and it managed to make feel nostalgic for a time during which I wasn't even born yet. A sensational and heartwarming read I recommend to anyone who is a bit tired of all the thrillers and crime mysteries flooding modern bookshelves.
All in all, it is a though-provoking journey through the unforgettable lives of the people of New York during the seventies, and it managed to make feel nostalgic for a time during which I wasn't even born yet. A sensational and heartwarming read I recommend to anyone who is a bit tired of all the thrillers and crime mysteries flooding modern bookshelves.
 | Colum McCannPersonal site Colum McCann is an Irish author who now lives in New York. He is a notable professor of Creative Writing in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Hunter College in New York. His works have been translated into more than 35 languages, with his more noteworthy efforts as an author including This Side of Brightness, Let the Great World Spin and TransAtlantic. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, including numerous honorary degrees and literary prizes for best novel. |
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