This is the first book I've read in 2010 that I would recommend to almost anyone who asks. Colum McCann integrates the lives of characters from all walks of life in New York in a way that captures the essence of the city and left me wanting to read more.

The writing and style of the book often follow the same themes he attributes to the city. My instant favorite theme (liable to change with time): New York is a city that never looks back, doesn't concern itself with statues or monuments or celebrate formerly great men. It is constantly looking forward, toward the next day, the next idea, the next million dollars to be made. The book felt the same way--always moving forward toward some future point, with no particular beginning and no end in sight.

Writing in 2009 about New York at the moment the Twin Towers were nearing completion necessarily triggers thoughts of the 9/11 attacks and the current city. I would have been content to consider the connection between the creation and destruction of the towers without the book addressing it specifically, though McCann does a nice job of specifically addressing the tension as the book comes to a close.

If I have a complaint, it's that at times the connections between characters were a little to tidy, but I usually didn't see them coming and was consistently taken by surprise at the ways in which he developed the interactions.

Overall, a great read and highly recommended.