Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - A Book Review - Profound and Poetic

Profound. Colum McCann, author of Let the Greatstory, he takes the reader on a journey. A journey
World Spin should take a bow. One of my favouritethat genuinely moved me. Why was I moved?
authors, Frank McCourt, has described this work 'aMcCann shows great sensitivity for his characters
symphony of a novel'. I agree with this descriptionand for humanity.
whole-heartedly. I felt like applauding when I reached'Everything falls into the hands of music eventually.
the final page.The only thing that ever rescued me was listening to
McCann presents New York City in 1974, at the timea big voice. There are years accumulated in a sound.'
of the Vietnam War as a single living breathingThe symbolism used in this novel is brilliant. Each
organism and then deconstructs that into disparateindividual, the city, the country, the world - all on a
parts through the intertwining stories of itsmetaphorical tight-rope. This novel epitomizes why I
inhabitants. At the epicentre is a single man, aenjoy literary fiction. At its worst literary fiction can
tightrope walker, between the twin towers of theprovide a stage for an author's self-indulgence; at its
World Trade Centre.best, it is a form of artistic expression that has the
The character development achieved by McCann inpower to influence thinking. In my opinion, Let the
less than 400 pages is impressive to say the least.Great World Spin is the latter.
These characters are gritty and real - McCann showsYou do not need to have lived through the Vietnam
us this through their flaws. The characters individualWar to be able to connect with this novel. If you
stories are each in themselves compelling, and theappreciated the movie Crash, this novel is for you. I
way their stories intertwine poetic.cannot recommend this work more highly. I look
But McCann's skill as an author does more than tell aforward to reading more from this author.