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| Review: Let the Great World Spin |
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| Arts and Entertainment - Literature |
| Written by Katina Williams | Thursday, 29 July 2010 - 18:56:23 |
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Set in the 1970’s, the novel opens with a death-defying tight rope walk across the World Trade Towers. The funambulist is loosely based off of the captivating feats of Philippe Petit. Petit performed a successful tight rope walk between the World Trade Towers in the summer of 1974. McCann uses this character as a literary centerpiece for the convergence of a dozen characters of life, love, and friendship. Each story intertwines into the fabric of the city bringing a bit of Park Avenue flavor, the city streets, and the immigrant experience with beautiful endearment. The novel quickly unfolds as the reader is introduced to two brothers growing up in the rich, Irish countryside. Upon its introduction, the story centers on younger brother Corrigan. Corrigan is described as an affable and good natured boy who possesses a spiritual light and reverence. His dedication to his faith leads him down the path of priesthood before diving into the solitary lives of monks. He accepts a spiritual assignment in New York, and he is thrust into the buzz and grime of city streets. Tensions mount high as cops, shady characters, and gunshots fill the atmosphere. Yet, Corrigan believes there is something good and salvageable amidst the chaos of the city. His values, at first glance, could be misconstrued as naivety.
But when he befriends a group of streetwalkers on the Deegan, he transforms into an earthly angel.
His story also intersects the tale of a mother and daughter subjected to prostitution. They personify the pain and struggle of two generations of drug addiction and abuse. Yet, both lives possess a powerful pride and beauty. Grieving mothers from the Vietnam War, a pair of visionary artists, and a group of computer hackers are among the diverse characters woven into McCann’s novel. Their lives evolve into an enriching story endlessly spinning in the big city. At times, the narrative reads like a chocolate cake. It is layered, dense, and slow to digest. Sometimes, the sentences are chopped up and read like a poetic verse. The city itself develops as a character on the narrative landscape for the reader’s enjoyment. McCann artfully constructs his novel in 1974 New York when the World Trade Towers graced the city skyline, the country was licking the wounds of Vietnam, and the world rode on the waves of cultural and social change. His characters are not mere spectators or props in a large city. Rather, they are dynamic performers with stories and secrets to bear. New York is the perfect setting for diverse backgrounds and experiences to collide, creating a collage uniquely fresh and inviting. In the author‘s concluding remarks, McCann reveals an inspiring memento that sits in his writing room: the dust covered shoes of his father-in-law from 9/11. Thankfully, his father-in-law survived, and the shoes have become a reminder of the past. As McCann was grappling for the concept of his novel, his pen dipped into New York’s former glories. Today, the city possesses the vibrancy and excitement that existed in the 70’s. Yet, the reader is most captivated with the power of voice and storytelling. Our lives are narratives still unfolding, and the world will keep on spinning
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| Last Updated on Monday, 01 March 2010 18:14 |
New York is the city that never sleeps, pulsing to its own time and rhythm.
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