As Let the Great World Spin opens on a summer day in 1974, New Yorkers have their eyes cast skyward as an aerialist makes his way back and forth across a tight wire strung between the Twin Towers. Something surreal, almost magical is in the air. In the streets below, the ordinary folks in the Bronx are carrying on with their lives. The self-proclaimed Irish monk John Corrigan administers to the prostitutes in his neighborhood, providing a safe haven from the streets. A group of mothers who have lost their sons in the Vietnam War meet in an uptown apartment to share their grief and honor their boys. A young artist is involved in a seemingly innocent car accident that takes two lives, and sends hers out of control. A mother works the streets, alongside her daughter putting in motion a saga that goes on for several generations. Author Colum McCann weaves each of these lives into an intricately connected story that focuses on the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of the human condition. He captures the hope and determination of those who devote themselves to making lives better. He brings grace to those whose lives are the most gritty. And he does that most incredible of things—he connects seemingly disparate lives in a totally believable way.

Let the Great World Spin earned McCann the 2009 National Book Award for Fiction, and though I don’t normally let awards dictate my reading, I certainly think this is an award-winning novel. If your book group is looking for its next selection, let me recommend Let the Great World Spin. You’ll have enough to discuss for several gatherings. ~Wendee