Exquisite. A novel that is intricately plotted, but those intricate ways serve to illuminate the central tale by exploring its many facets. The parade of characters are wonderfully written. Sometimes it is not clear what role they play but McCann plays the role of both writer and director, shuffling folks on and off stage. This was the first novel of McCann's that I have read and I am eager to read more of him.
McCann is writing about the lives of New Yorkers on and around the day in August 1974 when Philippe Petit snuck a tightrope between the two World Trade Center towers and then walked between them. It is a moment of joy in the early days of the two buildings that go on to represent disaster, attack and horrible death in the world (9/11 plays no part in the novel). "Let the Great World Spin" does not glorify New York of 1974, instead it goes to the mean streets of The Bronx. Heroin and prostitution might as well be characters too considering the large parts they play.
If we understand the history of the World Trade Centre is one of hopeful to hopeless, this novel builds around people who largely have tales that go in the opposite direction. Of course the ones who fall from that arc will break your heart.
One quibble - it seemed as if too many pop culture references have been scrubbed from the story. Aside from two children watching Sesame Street and one character loving to attend the Metropolitan Opera, it seems a sterile environment. No Yankee scores, pretzels, bagels, pop music or fashion.
On my still to be fully hashed out rating system, I give this novel quadruple rejoices (with half a rant).
No comments:
Post a Comment