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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
"Kaleidoscopic view of the lives of New Yorkers, told as a series of interwoven vignettes. Beautiful character detail, especially through McCann's technique of describing the same event through multiple narrators. The uniting figure is Philippe Petit, the man who crossed a high wire between the Twin Towers in 1974. All of the stories intersect with his performance, and the act is a lens for the events of the time: Vietnam, race and class relations, pop art, the spread of heroin, arpanet, and liberation theology. However, the first 25 pages or so are tortured, wannabe Frank McCourt, so skim them quickly."
This book is a wonder. Colum McCann drew me in from the very first page. The book centers around Phillippe Petit's actual high-wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974, but the fictional lives of those who witness the event and just barely miss the event are captivating. I wanted to read it all over again as soon as I finished. Each chapter is told from a different character's perspective, but the ways the stories intertwine caught me off guard. Strong recommend.
An affecting story, and the vivid characters will stay with you for a long time. The unique structure adds to the emotional heft. This one seems to get even more impactful the longer I sit with it.
After the first 80 to 100 pages, I figured out what was going on in the book. However, it is well worth the effort. Everything comes together in the end. It's an amazing book.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
See my commentary called "Novel Fragments."
http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/book-blog/novel-fragments/
http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/book-blog/novel-fragments/
Myriad grief filled characters revolve in and out of the story while connecting them is the real life event of the French acrobat who walked the tightrope between the Twin Towers in 1974 and who seems to be looking down on them figuratively and almost literally. Enjoyed some portions of the novel.
Well-crafted web of characters in New York, 1974 -- just saw someone compare it to "Crash" (for better or worse), and I'd wholly agree with the comparison.