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thinkbot 's review for:
Let the Great World Spin
by Colum McCann
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.