Let The Great World Spin

McCann's book mostly takes place in August 1974, when Philippe Petit tightrope walked between the Twin Towers in NYC, although the event is not at the forefront of each narrative. Although it's called a novel, I would prefer to classify this book as a series of vignettes that are connected by a handful of characters you would not expect to be in the same circle. McCann has done a beautiful job of telling each narrator's story: a monk who has unexpectedly found love with a Guatamalan nurse, the...more 2009's National Book Award winner is poignant, lyrical, and spellbinding. McCann's book mostly takes place in August 1974, when Philippe Petit tightrope walked between the Twin Towers in NYC, however the event is not at the forefront of each narrative. Although it's called a novel, I would prefer to classify this book as a series of vignettes that are connected by a handful of characters you would not expect to be in the same circle. McCann has done a beautiful job of telling each narrator's story: a monk who has unexpectedly found love with a Guatamalan nurse, the mother who has lost her son in Vietnam, an older woman who takes two young girls into her home. Ten chapters, separated by descriptions of Petit's walk, make up the book, and eight of them are excellent. Two, "Tag" and "Etherwest", didn't seem to fit in as well, and I found myself skimming the pages quickly to get to the next chapter. Don't let that deter you from picking up this gorgeously written novel; not only will you look smart reading an award-winning book, you'll want to devour every word on McCann's page.

Two lines in the book stuck with me: "All respects to Heaven, I like it here" (the title of the first chapter), and "I gave them all the truth and none of the honesty" (p. 303).