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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I liked the idea behind the stories, and the writing itself is good. but it took awhile for me to really get into it... in fact this one took me months to finish.
The first few sections of this book are a little long, but in the end, it is beautifully written and an enrapturing story about life and fate and humanity.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I picked this book up on a whim, and I quickly realized it was One of Those Books about people who would have no reason to know each other but are somehow connected to one another through a series of extraordinary events. It's inspirational, comforting, and decidedly not the type of book I normally read. To my surprise, it was better than I expected... McCann does seem to have done his research (though some characters work considerably better than others). His writing style is not bad either--sometimes even quite good.
Unfortunately, then there are the flaws. Some parts felt as over-sentimental and nostalgic for the "good old days" as I expected, especially because he admits in an interview (located at the back of the book) that he holds cynicism in fairly low regard. Thus when he does include some small degree of it in his book (this is set in New York after all), it feels like a forced imitation of cynicism by someone who has never really seen or understood it before.
Lastly, I have a huge issue with Lara: Why did McCann barely address Lara's responsibility to Jazzlyn and her family? Maybe Ciaran forgave her and Blaine, but that was his informed decision that he chose to make. Trillie, Jaslyn, and Janice never seem to have been given that chance to choose. And, for that matter, how the hell did Lara and Ciaran end up together? If this is supposed to be a lesson on forgiveness, then give me context to make it believable instead of shoving it off-screen, so to speak. As it is, I really find it hard to believe.
In conclusion: probably good for its genre but not really my thing.
Unfortunately, then there are the flaws. Some parts felt as over-sentimental and nostalgic for the "good old days" as I expected, especially because he admits in an interview (located at the back of the book) that he holds cynicism in fairly low regard. Thus when he does include some small degree of it in his book (this is set in New York after all), it feels like a forced imitation of cynicism by someone who has never really seen or understood it before.
Lastly, I have a huge issue with Lara: Why did McCann barely address Lara's responsibility to Jazzlyn and her family? Maybe Ciaran forgave her and Blaine, but that was his informed decision that he chose to make. Trillie, Jaslyn, and Janice never seem to have been given that chance to choose. And, for that matter, how the hell did Lara and Ciaran end up together? If this is supposed to be a lesson on forgiveness, then give me context to make it believable instead of shoving it off-screen, so to speak. As it is, I really find it hard to believe.
In conclusion: probably good for its genre but not really my thing.
Not everyone in my book group agreed with me, but I loved this book. Ate it up. I loved that the chapters were in different characters' voices. Only one voice didn't seem to ring true, but I loved these intertwining stories of New York City and hope and the Twin Towers.
Wonderful book and interwoven stories. Highly recommend.
This is one to read slowly and savor. McCann's words don't roll quickly away...you have to work for it. But the threads this man weaves together. My word. Glorious.
wonderful, delightful and insighgful. life teaches so many things most imp of all is its never over
Just as some cinematic performances seem specifically engineered to win Oscars, and consequently become less enjoyable to watch, some literary fiction seems specifically engineered to win literary awards. How do you know? At first you're enjoying the story, suspending disbelief right and left, absorbed in the world, and then... for some reason you can feel the author TRYING. Too hard. And it's a little nauseating. Oh, you realize, this is all something somebody made up, and it's a little too forced to feel real. Somebody wants a Pulitzer. Good luck to them, but I don't have to suffer through this anymore. I came here to escape, not to watch somebody's desperate striving for literary honors. Oy.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes