Apeirogon by Colum McCann

[Amy]

Cross Posted to Birthday Candle Tracking for Top Ten 2020

This was book, while briliantly done, was very hard to read. And equally hard to review. Apeirgon refers to a shape that has a infinite yet countable number of sides. Meaning you can look at a phenomenon from an infinite number of interconnected angles. Fragments that make a whole, and are interdependent on and with each of the other facets. Thats how the book is written. Its so original, and so compelling. It is a masterwork.

But the content is hard and complicated. Its also too much affect at once to handle - at least it was for me. There is only so much I can digest, and this was simply too great to bear.

The book is a hybrid of non-ficiton, based on actual events and people and their stories and interviews, its mostly non-fiction, but the author allows that there is a blend of storytelling, so its not straight non-fiction. Its hard because of just how real it is, that the beautifully written language even more poignantly pulls out the absolute horror. And yet, one reads on. The book does not have a clear ending point, and an apeirogon wouldn't. But that is also a reflection of the evolving situation and phenomena. There is no clear end there either. But what there is is a Bassam and a Rami, and an Amir and a Smador. And he shaping, slow shaping of violence towards what we hope is an eventual peace.

[Jen K]

Great review Amy! While I finished a bit earlier, I still haven't managed to put my thoughts together for a review.

It is a hard read though powerful and beautifully done. Such amazing people who are not perfect but real and still choosing peace.

[Booknblues]

Amy, you captured it.

It is a very hard book, which one can never say they enjoyed reading, but it is so powerful and impactful.