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Buddy Read for Let the Great World Spin
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Sure! Unless you want to bump it to January. I found another book for my Fly trip to New York, so I'm flexible. I think I can get it back from the library by the time I finish Lovers and Writers.
I am planning to finish it by the end of this year, since it is on my Trim List. I have just started it but will take me toward the end of the month to finish since I have others going on at the same time.
I started the book last night at bedtime, feel asleep, and woke up 5 hours later to a compelling chapter about a hit and run car accident. Now I'm back to the beginning meeting Keiran and his brother. I'm juggling three books right now, so if this is structured as short stories, that will be perfect.
I am not too far off from where you are...I am reading a bunch of books at once.
I left off with one of the stories about the two women in the grief group. At this point, the anxiety about status and race feels awkward but honest. What did you think? Do you think he portrays women well? I'm thinking about how I felt with power/status differences in my life. I've been on both sides of it. I don't think I'll get my audio back in time, so I picked up the LP book. I need to finish my Sky book first - History of Love to try to get home before Santa arrives. I've had a hard time sticking with it, and I can't keep the men straight. It doesn't help that I only have time to read at night, and I fall asleep too soon. The excerpts from the book-within-the-book are weird and beautiful, the rest isn't as appealing to me. I'm beginning to hate the out of sequence storytelling style as a way to create a sense of mystery or tension. I don't need a mystery, I'd rather wonder how it all turns out at the end, rather than try to figure out how it all began.
I don't mind this with the McCann book though.
NancyJ wrote: "I left off with one of the stories about the two women in the grief group. At this point, the anxiety about status and race feels awkward but honest. What did you think? Do you think he portrays wo..."I am usually more on the ball with buddy reads, so you will have to excuse me. I will chalk it up to the holidays - too much going on. I am behind you in the storyline. Still trying to finish my "Fly" book, too, before time runs out.
It's funny you mention it, but I was recently thinking about the portrayal of women in the McCann book. I can relate very easily to his portrayal of Lara. I very much enjoyed the first part of this book, but after (view spoiler), it took me a while to get back into the flow.
I like it but only slowly making my way through it. I hope to get finished by year-end but will be traveling soon. Happy Holidays, Nancy!
Joy D wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I left off with one of the stories about the two women in the grief group. At this point, the anxiety about status and race feels awkward but honest. What did you think? Do you think..."No worries at all. Once I finish History of Love I might just focus on holiday books and/or the new Ozeki book.
I have made a little more progress and now I am at the point where we are following the tightrope walker (which I thought was going to be the focus of the book). What do you think of the structure of the book? It seems like several loosely connected stories. Were you expecting that? Do you like it?
To answer your earlier question, I did not have an issue with any of the portrayals of female characters during the (view spoiler) Were you thinking of something in particular? I guess I have no idea how a group of prostitutes would think (other than similar to the rest of us, but how can that not affect one's worldview).
I was thinking more about the women in the grief group. At first the woman's anxiety felt overdone, but then again, I remember obsessing over conversations like that too. I don't usually mind separate stories and multiple characters, but they do slow my momentum. I had two at the same time, and I was already distracted by the holidays. I ended up rereading large portions of History of Love because of it. I'll start this one again in the New Year. I had two other books about books that I really wanted to read, but nothing was sticking. I started a holiday book that I might manage to finish, but tonight is Wine & Movie night on the couch.
NancyJ wrote: "I was thinking more about the women in the grief group. At first the woman's anxiety felt overdone, but then again, I remember obsessing over conversations like that too. I don't usually mind sep..."
Oh, I see your point, but I have been known to obsess/ruminate like that, so I did not find it unusual.
I will pick this one up after the new year, too. I had been trying to finish it for the PBT Trim, but the beauty of the unofficial trim is that it is so flexible. I've been finishing reviews for books I had already read and needed to post before year-end to complete other groups' challenges.
Have a nice cozy time.
I am back to reading this. To be honest, I am not enjoying the second half. I think it is a matter of not matching what I thought this book was going to be about....the wire walker is only tangential, the main character disappears, and now we are focusing on the prostitutes, which is definitely not my preferred reading material. Too much cussing and sex talk. Just not my thing.ETA - So, after I made it past the part with Tillie, it got a little better, but it's not my favorite of McCann's books. I liked Apeirogon and Dancer much more.
I had to push through, but I finally finished this one, Nancy. Thanks for reading it with me. Next time I will try to be a better reading buddy.Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - 3* - My Review
I read this so long ago, but it got me started reading Colum McCann. When I read Apeirogon, I was struck with the recurrent characters and themes and thought it made Apeirogon even more brilliant. He also has characters from TransAtlantic in it, so I have grown to thinking that they all form a sort of loose unit.I really loved Let the Great World Spin. Oddly the story I remember being less fond of is the tight rope walker practicing in Colorado (I think).
I am planning to read TransAtlantic at some point. I will probably read anything he writes. I am not a fan, in general, of linked short stories. I much prefer a more in-depth novel with deeply drawn characters. I would love an entire novel based on Corrie and Ciaran (one in which Corrie doesn't (view spoiler)).
If anyone wants to join in, please feel welcome!