Colum McCann's book, Let The Great World Spin centres on Philippe Petit's tightrope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. During the course of his career, Petit performed many high-wire walks in striking locations. This book opens with the New Yorkers, on the morning of Petit's walk, looking in astonishment at a figure balanced on a rope in the sky. McCann interweaves the lives of seemingly random New Yorkers in 1974 with Petit's. Their life seem connected by what happens in their lives in and around August 7. As the book progresses, we find out how their lives connect on much deeper levels. Filled with hope and strength, read it for an inspiring and engaging novel.
