Let the Great World Spin

After breakfast, I spent time sharpening a set of colored pencils. I’m making a daily sketch of each of my 52/52 outfits, which of course makes a good excuse for fresh art supplies. As I twirled each pencil around and around in the sharpener, aiming for the crispest point imaginable, I also turned my first finished book of 2012 around and around in my head.

Colum McCann’s Let the Great World Spin won the 2009 National Book Award. I read it for my book club’s January discussion, and it may be one of my favorite books our group has read.

The novel is set in New York City in 1974, at the time of the infamous tight rope walk across the Twin Towers. Every time I think the scar from 9/11 is fading, it rips open anew, which is what happened when I read this beautifully-crafted novel. McCann employs a large cast of characters who are entwined in each others’ lives, sometimes in surprising ways. Each character has a unique voice and personality–there is no lumping together of prostitutes, for instance, although that would be easy for any writer to do. While I am still puzzling out the choices of point-of-view shifts (between third and first), I’m confident that when I create a chart to analyze these changes (oh, yes, I shall be creating a chart; how else will I understand?), I’ll find clarification that resonates with the novel’s theme.

Foremost, though, is McCann’s use of language. He is subtle in his writing, yet over and over, he selects words that keep the Towers in front of the reader. Central image prevails, and this novel is an excellent reminder of how it may be effectively used.

This is a novel written by an author who deeply loves his characters. While bad, even horrific, things happen to some of them, he writes with love and understanding of human frailty. This book may tear at the 9/11 scar, but it also soothes the pain.

What have you read lately with language that you admire?

7 thoughts on “Let the Great World Spin”

  1. Good review- I totally agree. My bookgroup read it too, although we are clearly underachievers as no one made a chart. OTOH tomorrow night is our 20th anniversary of meeting, and we decided it was amongst our fave books. (although some from earlier years are harder to recall).

  2. I have to say that seeing Man on Wire caused all kinds of heart pangs and teary reflections – I am not sure I am up for McCann’s novel yet. Books always hit me so much harder than films!

    Every year I read one of my favorite books, The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. I find the author’s use of language so beautiful, and her words are carefully chosen but not artificial. Yes, it is a fantasy book, but it is the 1985 Newbury Award winner. It falls in the ‘Coming of Age’ genre quite nicely, but does have its fair share of heartache.

  3. I just picked up this book at barnes and noble while shopping today. Wasn’t even sure what it was about but it grabbed me at the store. I love the first sentence. it hooked me. I am currently reading a Year in Tuscany by Frances Mayes. Beautiful writing , as usual from her, but i love how she phrases thoughts and she uses words i constantly have to look up; so i’m always learning something from her. Pretty writing, beautiful language, I highly recommend it.

  4. I am reading it right now. I loved the opening and the early part in Ireland, but really struggling staying engaged currently. I am also partially through “Rabbit, Run”, which is my first Updike. I find the language really stunning, although the protagonist is, thus far, unloveable.

  5. The book club I belong to read this book in 2010. It exemplifies use language. I love the intertwining and overlapping of stories and love other books that do the same.

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