I literally just finished the book this morning and this will most definitely be my least detailed review yet!
I loved the concept of Colm McCann’s book where all the charcters are entertwined around the tightrope walker and his amazing feat. Incidentally, have you seen Man on Wire - it’s really worth watching. My favourite characters are Claire and Gloria. Claire’s first chapter was so fast paced you could almost feel yourself going off to war with her son. Gloria’s story was fascinating and I absolutely loved how the friendship between Claire and Gloria ended up. My heart went out to Claire as the ladies were leaving her apartment and she desperately wanted to cling onto Gloria, so much so that she accidentally said the most offensive thing possible to the African-American lady. As for the other characters/stories, I couldn’t really identify with the Corrigan brothers at all, the monk was just a little bit unrealistic and I just kept wishing that the older brother would do something, anything really, he just seemed so aimless. Although, I loved how the artists and the Corrigan brothers stories ultimately came together and it transpired in the last section of the book that he obviously did acquire some get-up-and-go as he seemed to be a very successful business man.
There is a great little interlude in the middle of the book which tells the tightrope walkers story, this came at the perfect time as I felt there hadn’t been enough about him in the book. I am so tempted to watch Man on Wire again as it was a phenomenal accomplishment.
It is a really enjoyable book to read, each sentence seems crafted as opposed to merely written and the individual stories are weaved around each other and the walker in a way that really keeps you gripped. Now, off with you to enjoy a much better review from the other members, the links are at the side.
Update: Can anyone remind me what the next book is….I have the next two on my dresser but can’t remember which one is next?
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I agree, Gloria was one of my fav characters too and I was delighted when Corrigan was killed off, he irritated me so much!!
By Lorna on 06.06.10 7:40 pm | Permalink
Haha I didn’t really think about how annoying Corrigan was… maybe you’re right! I think I most liked the descriptions of the Bronx in his parts… my favourite character in the novel was New York City, which I don’t think i’ve ever read a better description of!
By Kirsty on 06.07.10 10:55 am | Permalink
Great review Marian. I liked the relationship between Gloria and Claire too. I thought that for a book based on 8 peoples lives somehow intersecting, it didn’t delve deep enough into the relationships.
By Jenny on 06.07.10 3:56 pm | Permalink
Your conclusion above ‘each sentence seems crafted as opposed to merely written’ rings very true for me also. I was glad to read that you enjoyed the book.
I will come back to you quickly re BBC book for June. I have it on my blog and will get access to it this week. I will post a BBC update also so everyone knows. It was a pain being blogless with the BBC.
Hope your wedding prep is going really well.
I’m laughing at Lorna’s comment above being glad that Corrigan was killed off!
By Lily on 06.07.10 4:46 pm | Permalink
Hi Marian - thanks for commenting over at mine - I think there were a lot of mixed opinion with the group being divided or ambivalent about it - I enjoyed it too but found it hard going as I wrote. I did enjoy the crafting of the prose you described, he is very lyrically descriptive and paints very vivid word pictures, interesting how some people found Corrigan irritating - he was a bit holier than thou I guess, though I just thought him a bit other-worldly and Jesus-like describes him well - and not in a life-of-brian way either! I too liked Claire and Gloria best,and her good heart won me over when she took in those kids and raised them. Corrigan was just plain confused and like many do-gooders was on a train to nowhere trying to rehab the girls without getting the pimps out of the way - I guess I saw a lot of single-minded do-gooding in development overseas a lot so I can see where he’s never going to succeed in his endeavours.
All the best, Catherine
By Catherine Rotte-Murray on 06.07.10 5:35 pm | Permalink
Marian, our June book is The Children’s Book by A.S. Byatt to post on the first Sunday in July. Our next book then is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Enjoy reading.
By Lily on 06.09.10 6:19 pm | Permalink
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