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What Members Thought
Mar 14, 2010
Shasta
marked it as dnf
Every now and then there is a book that, despite overwhelming critical adoration, I just hate. This is one of those books. I wanted to love it. I read about half way through. But I found the story boring, the writing pretentious, and I could never lose myself in the narrative -- I was always conscious of the writer's voice, making a wall between me and his characters. I'm giving up on this one.
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It's hard to rate this book, as it is a fictional collection of stories that weave together around two main events - a man walking a tight rope across the Twin Towers in NYC and a car crash. All the characters are interconnected in some way, and the perspective range from a judge living on Park Avenue to a hooker in jail.
I thought it well written and McCann did a wonderful job capturing the different voices, but I didn't particularly enjoy the book. ...more
I thought it well written and McCann did a wonderful job capturing the different voices, but I didn't particularly enjoy the book. ...more
I feel like a colossal idiot considering everyone I know gave this four stars, and it's been touted as one of the best books, but I thought the clipped, overly-descriptive prose was actually borderline unreadable. I've tried twice to start this book, and couldn't get past the first story. It's basically staccato. I had to abandon. I'm sure it's a wonderful story, but I prefer longer prose. Or at least longer prose mixed in.
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Read this for my book club - was recommended as "best book i ever read."
?? So not the best book i have ever read and i cannot imagine anyone saying this! numerous narrators, dismal setting, none of the excitement of NYC that i love... ...more
?? So not the best book i have ever read and i cannot imagine anyone saying this! numerous narrators, dismal setting, none of the excitement of NYC that i love... ...more
Okay, I feel bad because so many people really loved this book. I liked it, but didn't love it. I enjoyed the writing but had a real hard time wanting to pick it up again after I put it down. Not sure why. I would, however, try something else of his again.
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It had great potential, the first section hooked me, the second lost me, the rest ended up making it just ok.
I love this book. It's full of beautiful sentences, it captured the heart of New York City and its colorful sparks. The 1970s setting is also perfect for this book, and the twelve narrators are easy to be loved. Thanks Colum McCann for making me started 2014 in such wonderful feeling :)
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I had to return this to the library before I was finished and I think I'll return to it one day since every one who has read it loved it.
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Jan 28, 2010
Laurie
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2010
Carlie Van Amerongen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction
May 14, 2010
Jessica
marked it as to-read
Jun 30, 2010
Jamie
marked it as to-read
Dec 23, 2010
Ann
marked it as to-read
Sep 19, 2011
Deanna
marked it as to-read
Sep 29, 2011
Heidi
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
book-club,
on-my-bookshelf
Jan 10, 2012
Melissa
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Una
added it
Sep 17, 2014
Rachel
added it
Apr 08, 2015
Anne
marked it as to-read
Jul 27, 2016
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Oct 02, 2016
Jennifer
marked it as to-read
