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What Members Thought
The most amazing books I've read this year. The weaving together of stories just blew me away. The story begins with a beautiful description of New Yorkers catching sight of Phillipe Petit as he walks on a wire between the Twin Towers. Gorgeous writing. I remember a friend, Peter, saying that this book reminded him of why he loved literature. It felt that way to me as well. Also, how glibly we assume we know who someone is, what their story is. This is done so perfectly. Not an easy read but an
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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
Did not live up to all the hype. The first few stories/characters were really kind of a drag. The writing was . . . too detailed. You know, where you can skip over the description of how the plastic bag slowly wafted down from the sky, and find that you didn't miss a thing and that the story is still in the same place as before you skipped and that the plastic bag was absolutely inessential to the story.
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One of the best books I've ever read (and I've read a lot). McCann gives readers richly composed characters, emotional depth, and fascinating stories interwoven within the story of one amazing day in New York City history.
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I don't know what to say about this book that will capture how much I love it. It is beautifully written, and deftly structured in a way that underlines and brings together the viewpoint of the novel. It is exciting, in a visceral way, to read a book this well crafted.
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One summer day in 1974, Philippe Petit walked across a high wire between the World Trade Towers in New York City. Thousands watched from below, and word spread through a crumbling and gritty city of the mid-70s. McCann has created a fictional story that hinges on the day of Petit's walk. The variety of characters vary from prostitutes, Irish brothers, Park Ave types, Petit's judge, mothers of Vietnam dead, and a Central American nurse. Told from different view points, this story was beautiful, i
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Feb 21, 2010
Miquela
marked it as to-read
Mara gave 4 stars.
Let the Great World Spin is, by far, one of the best books I have ever read. Personally, I love pretty much everything about NYC; especially its 'real' side that is portrayed in this book. This book sucked me in, plucked my heartstrings, and tickled my brain. I look forward to reading more by Colum McCann.
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"Let the Great World Spin" takes you back and makes you think. The narration had an easy flow as did the interconnecting stories. I absolutely loved this book!
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Jan 05, 2010
Ching-In
marked it as to-read
Feb 09, 2010
Teri G
marked it as to-read
Apr 06, 2010
Aimee
marked it as to-read
Jul 04, 2010
Julie
marked it as to-read
Dec 27, 2010
Rita Wright
marked it as to-read
Jan 03, 2011
Bradley
marked it as to-read
Jul 11, 2011
Amanda
marked it as to-read
Jan 10, 2012
Melissa
marked it as to-read
