Colum McCann (b. Ireland 1965) won the Nat'l Bk Award for "Let the Great World Spin." In his newest work "Thirteen Ways of Looking," this masterful Irish writer chose NYC for the location of 2 of the 4 stories in this collection. Surprisingly and quite cunningly, "13 Ways…" is written from the vantage of an elderly, widowed Jewish man living on the UES. (This story sounded more like Philip Roth.) The title story from this collection is the most intriguing. McCann captures the ravages of aging along with the contemplative reflections on one's life & legacy. "The years don't so much arrive, they gatecrash, they breeze through the door and leave their devastation." Before the story becomes complacent with the ramblings of an old curmudgeon, the novel takes a swift spin into a fractious family drama & a baffling murder mystery. Ominous & solemn poetic stanzas eerily preface each chapter." McCann's writing is in a class with Joyce and Updike. He utilizes the happenstance of individuals from vastly different backgrounds colliding with one another. McCann has received critical acclaim & numerous literary honors. In "13 Ways…" he captures convincingly a broad spectrum of characters that evoke strong response from the reader. McCann muses "We probably remember things as more beautiful than they actually were." McCann is an exceptionally gifted writer who knows how to spin a great yarn. "The past emerges and re-emerges. It builds its random nest in the oddest places."
No comments:
Post a Comment