Let the Great World Spin

Let the Great World Spin

By Colum McCann

2009  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

I picked up this book last month, drawn to the interesting title and, I must say, the contortionist cover. Is it wrong to judge a book by its cover, as the saying goes?

Winner of the National Book Award, Let the Great World Spin is 349 pages of high quality drama following a number of fictional characters living in and around New York City in August, 1974. Each character’s story is anchored on a real-life event: Philippe Petit tight roping across the World Trade Center.

For those of you who don’t know, a digression...

On August 7, 1974, Philippe Petit snuck up to the roof of the World Trade Center and, with the help of a few loyal friends, hung a steel cable between the North and South Towers. He proceeded to walk, run, dance and lie down on the wire for 45 minutes before deciding he was finished. Petit crossed the cable eight times in total.

 Further reading: Man on Wire by Philippe Petit and for the kid’s, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gerstein.  

Now, back to the book...

While there are a variety of people portrayed in this book, five or six stand out to me as thought provokers.

Always a good thing.

The book begins with Corrigan, a fresh New Yorker and a transplanted Irishman.  From a very early age, Corrigan feels the strong pull towards the plight of others. This leads him to move and live among the prostitutes and drug dealers of the Bronx. Here he opens his door, his bathroom, and his life to help those around him.  What adds tension to Corrigan’s altruistic lifestyle?  He is part of a religious order that prevents him from marrying the love of his life and, consequently, prevents him from truly living.

What struck me about Corrigan was that he knew his life’s calling. Do I know my life’s calling? Do you know yours? 

Corrigan’s story struck another chord with me. It also led me to consider grace, a free and undeserved gift from a loving God. Corrigan’s god is described as angry and demanding (not necessarily in those words), but this is so far from the truth. God, the one true God, is slow to anger and a perfect gentleman.

Not demanding in any sort of way.

Next to be introduced is a wealthy, Park Avenue mom, named Claire, who has lost her only child to the war in Vietnam. She grieves over tea and donuts with several other grieving ladies, yet their grief is really the only thing they have in common. Thanks (with a touch of sarcasm) to this bunch of mourning mothers I got to thinking about what it would be like to lose a child.  

Something not as uncommon as I wish it might be. 

I can never really know what it is like (and I did keep a healthy distance between my emotions and my thought process in this little brain exercise) unless I experience it, and it is something I never, ever, ever (can I stress this enough?) want to experience. But, I can imagine that not having the comfort and hope of seeing my child again in Heaven would only make a devastating situation even worse. Death would have even greater finality.

Blaine and Lara, a couple of free-living artists, have the unfortunate role of causing a fatal car accident then make the unfortunate choice to run. Lara wanted to own up to the tragedy, but Blaine figured it wasn’t their fault, so why should they accept the blame?

Why should they accept the blame?

Why should anyone accept the blame when they truly can get away with their misdeed? That is a question many people grapple with, on some level, when they make a mistake that impacts others. I toyed with that very question this past winter after backing into a parked car. For a very brief second I thought, no one saw, I could just drive away and be done, but the fact is, when we just “drive away”, it’s not done. Our actions stay with us and, depending on how sensitive our consciences are, they may stay with us for a very long time. They may even haunt us.  In my case, I did own up to my driving error, I did pay for the repairs, and it was done. Life was in balance once again.  Doing what is right isn’t always easy, but as I have learned, the truth will set you free.

Another character that set my mind to work was Tillie, a career prostitute. Her mother was a hooker and her daughter was a hooker; it’s kind of the family line of work. As Tillie reflects on her life and the choices she made as a mother, she considers: Was it really a good idea to introduce her daughter to prostitution? Or help her take drugs? Or take the rap for her mistakes?

While I might not introduce my children to life on the streets, what choices do I make as a mom? What influences do I allow into their lives? What am I teaching my sons and daughters? What do I fix when I should allow for natural consequences?

What legacy am I leaving behind?

Hmmm.

And, finally, there is Gloria.

Gloria made a couple of bad marriage choices leaving her to raise three sons alone. Then grieve three sons, alone. At the end of the book, Gloria is faced with a difficult and unexpected decision requiring great self-sacrifice, but by stepping out in faith, she impacts lives in dramatic fashion.

Gloria’s response made me think about the decisions I make. Not usually the life-changing sort, every now and then, an opportunity may present itself. The thought of that possibility made me realize that I need to be flexible enough to step out of my comfort zone and be ready when something out of the ordinary comes my way. After all, I never know what life might bring. Or who might need my help.

So, after all that...

Would I recommend this book? I’m not sure. I loved Colum McCann’s writing style, and there is great potential for “accidental change”, however, the language and sexual content is R-Rated. Not something I value in my reads.

Is it fair to say, “Read at your own risk?”

Reading on...

A List of Favourites

If I had been smart, I would have written down every book I’ve ever read starting way back in kindergarten.

Sigh. One cannot expect such foresight from a five year old.

If I had kept such a list, however, early reads would have included:

• A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban. Given to me when I was two years old in prep for the arrival of my lovely sister.
• How Fletcher Was Hatched! by Wende and Harry Devlin. A Christmas present at six.
• The Bobbsey Twins penned under the pseudonym, Laura Lee Hope. I know I haven’t read the whole series, but I certainly read much of it. I believe I was given my first Bobbsey Twins while in hospital getting my tonsils removed. Great kid mysteries.
• Nancy Drew also written by a number of authors under the name Carolyn Keene. I think I actually have read most of these books. One summer I made it my goal to read the whole series. I can’t remember how far I got. Great older kid mysteries.

Many of these books take up space on dusty shelves in our home library today. And I stress dusty due to a recent basement reno. While our family has read about Fletcher and his hatching abilities many times over, I am still trying to convince Boy #1 the Bobbsey Twins are a worthwhile read. He’s not quite there yet.

As for Nancy Drew and A Baby Sister for Frances, I am going to have to wait a few years until my girls are just a bit older. Or, a lot older.

Now, going back to my non-existent list... If it did exist I’m sure it would take up several volumes in itself. For as long as I can remember I have always been in the middle of a book and my hubby and I are encouraging the very same literary habit in our kids.

So, for fun, a few books that I have great emotional attachments to:

The Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg

by Bill Peet.

This picture book, published in 1963, is about a mother bird that experiences empty-nest syndrome (literally) and ends up raising a griffin, named Zeke, as her own. Not liked at first by the forest creatures, Zeke ends up saving the day which quickly redeems him to all. 

What is especially amazing about this book is that it’s written in rhyme. And not just attempted rhyme. Really good rhyme. This is extremely hard to do. I can speak from experience on this one.

The Fourth King

by Ted Sieger

There are reasons why this is my favourite Christmas book: the story is beautiful, it makes me cry, the illustrations are catchy, and it’s been brought to life as a Christmas Special.

Our family discovered this story a number of years ago in Christmas Special form and I ordered the book soon after. Basically, it’s about a fourth king who tries to catch up with his colleagues, “The Three Kings”, but keeps missing them because he stops to help others in need.

I believe this tardy, yet helpful, king truly reflects the heart of Jesus.

My unsolicited advice: If you ever buy a Christmas book or Christmas Special on DVD, buy this one.

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub

by Audrey & Don Wood.

For those of you who are well read in kid’s books, you are probably familiar with this husband and wife team. Audrey has written, and Don illustrated, a bunch of books including The Napping House and The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear. Also favourites!

The story of King Bidgood is basically that he is shirking his kingly duties because he is in the bathtub. Very cute. However, it’s the illustrations that are remarkable – detailed and unique. And just so you don’t have to take my word for it, this book won a Caldecott Honor award  in 1986. 

War and Peace

by Leo Tolstoy  

Phew! That’s all I can say!

This book took me six months to read and, at the end, I could recall absolutely nothing about what happened in the first 400 pages. To this day, I have no idea what this book is about, however, I can go by what the dust jacket says, “War and Peace is a vast epic centered on Napoleon’s war with Russia.”

Finishing the 946 pages of tiny print was the vast epic!

I have to say, it was with conflicting emotions that I shoved this book back on the shelf. After all, it had been a constant companion for half a year and, since waiting is always easier with a book, it came with me almost everywhere. Those, of course, were the days without kids – now reading while waiting rare and an almost negligible occurrence.

The Far Pavilions

by M.M. Kaye.

The Far Pavilions is an amazing book and a terrific read. It’s described on Wikipedia as a “storytelling masterpiece.”

First published in 1978, The Far Pavilions tells the story of an English officer in India during the 19^th century. Intrigue, romance, war, history - this book has it all. Truly, The Far Pavilions is probably one of the best novels I’ve ever read.

Despite all that good stuff, however, once I’d finished I couldn’t pick up another book for weeks. I was completely done.

Mark of the Lion series (A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure as the Dawn) 

by Francine Rivers.

This series consists of three books, though the third is almost a stand-alone. It is a great story beginning in A.D. 70 with the fall of Jerusalem then continuing on in Rome and Ephesus. The protagonist is a young Christian slave named Hadassah who suffers horribly at the hands of her owners yet conquers her fears and wins others to Christ. To make a very long and detailed story short.

I have read these books at least three times and am very tempted to start reading them again.

The Painted Veil

by W. Somerset Maugham

This book, written in 1925, has the distinction of making me so incredibly irritated! Likely quite provocative at the time, it tells the story of a bacteriologist who takes his wife to a cholera-ridden village in rural China as revenge for her unfaithfulness.

I actually watched the 2006 Hollywood movie, starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, first and found the plot to be full of forgiveness and redemption. I loved it. Needless to say, and without being a spoiler, I did not find the book to have the same endearing qualities.

Usually, I wish Hollywood didn’t rewrite endings when bringing a book to life on the big screen. However, in the case of The Painted Veil, I am ever so glad it did.

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

I have actually only read the book once, but it truly is my favourite of all time. What more can be said!

I do have to put a plug in for the six hour BBC movie version of Pride & Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. It is totally keeping with the book (unlike the more recent Hollywood version).

So there you have it, some recommended reading!

Confessions

Change can mean a lot of things, especially in today’s world.

However, the kind of change I’m talking about is: the grow-up-and-mature, fill-me-out-as-a-person, expand-my-view-of-the-world change.

Reading can do that.

And on that note, I have a confession to make. Two, in fact.

Confession #1: I haven’t always read books with the motivation for life change. I still don’t. Very rarely will I pick up a book with change as its main intent.  And, if I do, it’s not very likely I’ll read it.

When I read, I prefer “Accidental Change” - change that happens without intention. That’s why it’s accidental.

It just happens.

For me, accidental change comes when I consider how I’d react if placed in a similar situation as a favourite protagonist; or when I am confronted with long-held biases and stereotypes uncovered by an unwitting character; or reading about a different time and place and feeling a surprising need to dig deeper.

Confession #2: I gravitate towards fiction.

Several years ago I determined I was reading way too much fiction so made the decision to alternate between genres. Fiction followed by non-fiction. I certainly read a wider variety of books, but it almost killed me. Literarily speaking. The non-fiction books dragged and the fiction ended far too soon. That decision didn’t keep long!

Currently, I try to have a variety of books at my disposal and sometimes do give non-fiction a fighting chance, but it had better be good or at least a biography.

I should add a final note, which maybe I should have prefaced with. Books are a vehicle for personal growth and change. A great vehicle. 

Getting Lost in Someone Else's Story

I love getting lost in someone else’s story. 

It isn’t about forgetting my own life, as dull or crazy as it might be, and it isn’t about wishing away my present circumstances, good or bad.  Rather, it’s about trying on someone else’s shoes for a time then kicking them off again only to realize that something about those other shoes has changed me.

Good or bad. No matter how one looks at it, reading changes a person.  As soon as one picks up a book and starts to read, the transformation begins.

I believe that books have this transformative power when the reader moves beyond the syllables of the page and absorbs the ideas of the book into their own life.  When I laugh or cry or curse because of something I’ve read, that story has become part of me. When I’ve closed the cover for the final time, but the contents refuse to leave me alone, that story has become part of me.  And when what I’ve read compels me to hash it out with my hubby or a friend, that story has become part of me.

I am different than I was before.

I’ve changed.

And that is why I love to read.