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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Change of pace from my usual reading. It is a very well written snapshot of New York City in the 1970's. The event tying multiple lives together is the spectacle of a tight rope walker between the twin towers. The author does a wonderful job in capturing the very varied characters, their life circumstances and their voices. It is eerie how this diverse group is connected, reminding us that we are all inter-connected whether we realize it or not.
I'm so glad this book turned around towards the later chapters; I didn't realize the bleakness of the original characters' fates had been so heavily depressive for me until the moment when Gloria stepped out of her car to take the twins under her wing. The sense of relief that came over me - overwhelming. An emotional roller coaster of a story, especially for those who claim even the smallest part of New York as home.
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Of all my petty grievances in life, my strong feelings about the inability to assign half-star ratings on Goodreads is surely one of the pettiest. And yet here we are.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed some of the stories in the book, especially in the first half (Claire, Corrigan, Petit's training story). I also liked the idea that they all involved the tightrope walker in some way, even peripherally.
Some of the stories I found flawed. The one about the judge (wanted to do good, but now feels like a paper pusher) and especially the one about the prostitute (life has been tough, but she is smarter than she looks!) especially one dimensional. I think the trouble with short character pieces is that you run into trouble if you try to share everything about their emotions and lives in such a short space, which he did with these two.
Not sure if I will read anything else by him. But it would also be interesting to see him progress as a writer, since this had a lot of great stuff and a lot of promise .
Some of the stories I found flawed. The one about the judge (wanted to do good, but now feels like a paper pusher) and especially the one about the prostitute (life has been tough, but she is smarter than she looks!) especially one dimensional. I think the trouble with short character pieces is that you run into trouble if you try to share everything about their emotions and lives in such a short space, which he did with these two.
Not sure if I will read anything else by him. But it would also be interesting to see him progress as a writer, since this had a lot of great stuff and a lot of promise .
This is one of my new favorite books!! The book offers so many different perspectives, all coming from the residents of a single place, New York City. It was really such a pleasure to read, and I enjoyed every second of it. It was eye opening, and I now feel like I personally know all of Mr. McCann's characters because they left such an impression on me. Can't wait to read more of McCann's work (:
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A beautiful weaving together of stories from a moment in time.
Where is comfort? in division of the records of the mind?
—Lord Alfred Tennyson
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No