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littletaiko's review against another edition
4.0
Very excited that McCann had a new book out as he is one of my favorite authors. This book is actually a novella and three short stories. Loved the title novella with it's stream of consciousness narrative, especially when we are spending time with the judge. Another of the stories shows the inner workings of an author's mind as they contemplate what to write next - found this one to be completely fascinating. All of the stories were quite good and are recommended.
annevoi's review against another edition
5.0
A novella and three short stories: about an old man's death, a soldier in Afghanistan thinking of her lover back home, an Irish woman whose deaf adopted son goes missing, and a nun finding salvation from a decades-old horror. Exquisite prose; beautifully wrought characters and emotions. Very impressed. Yes, I will be reading more McCann.
A passage in the novella that I liked: "Poets, like detectives, know the truth is laborious: it doesn't occur by accident, rather it is chiseled and worked into being, the product of time and distance and graft. The poet must be open to the possibility that she has to go a long way before a word rises, or a sentence holds, or a rhythm opens, and even then nothing is assured, not even the words that have staked their original claim or meaning. Sometimes it happens at the most unexpected moment, and the poet has to enter the mystery, rebuild the poem from there."
A passage in the novella that I liked: "Poets, like detectives, know the truth is laborious: it doesn't occur by accident, rather it is chiseled and worked into being, the product of time and distance and graft. The poet must be open to the possibility that she has to go a long way before a word rises, or a sentence holds, or a rhythm opens, and even then nothing is assured, not even the words that have staked their original claim or meaning. Sometimes it happens at the most unexpected moment, and the poet has to enter the mystery, rebuild the poem from there."
carabee's review against another edition
3.0
Though Colum McCann is indisputably a talented writer, I have to say I had a hard time getting through the novella. I just didn't find the characters that engaging and somehow, despite how preposterous this sounds, the investigation of the judge's death didn't generate enough conflict for me. However, I'm glad that I made it through because the short stories were excellent. I was amazed at how quickly the characters became real in my mind, even in "What time is it now, where you are?" where McCann shows his hand. So, to be the dissenter, I didn't find the novella all that compelling but the three stories have lingered in my mind for two weeks due to the beautiful prose, and the ethical questions raised.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
amycrea's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 really, except for one story that was maybe somewhat overwritten. But the title novella is fantastic.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Random House for providing me with an advanced copy of Colum McCann’s Thirteen Ways of Looking, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT – Colum McCann’s short story collection, Thirteen Ways of Looking, includes four stories, all involving a different type of violence or trauma. In a short afterward, McCann explains that while he was writing this collection, when he was sucker punched and knocked unconscious, while trying to help a woman who was being assaulted in New Haven, Connecticut. Although some of the stories were written prior to the incident, the assault inevitably had an impact on his stories in Thirteen Ways of Looking.
LIKE – This is my first time reading McCann, and I was caught off-guard by the way that his stories have been following me. I can’t get them out of my mind, which is a bit of a disaster, since the content is disturbing and weighty.
I was affected by all of the stories, but the one that packed the biggest punch, was Treaty. Told in close third person, Treaty is the story of an aging nun named Beverly. When Beverly was in her early twenties, she was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and raped. She escaped, but so did her rapist. Fast forward to the present, when Beverly sees him on television. He is now in politics, in London brokering a peace deal. Shocked and unsure how to handle this revelation, Beverly heads to London to confront her attacker. Treaty is a raw, gut-wrenching story that left me entirely surprised.
Another highlight is Sh’khol, the story of divorced mother Rebecca, and her thirteen year old son. Tomas. Tomas has mental and emotional disabilities, and he is prone to violent outbursts. He cannot be left on his own. Overwhelmed, but doing her best to care for him, Rebecca’s Christmas gift to Tomas is a wetsuit, so that they can swim together in the ocean, just steps from their home. Rebecca has a cocktail and goes to bed on Christmas, only to discover that Tomas and the wetsuit are missing the next morning. Filled with self-blame, Rebecca must deal with suspicious police and her ex-husband, while desperately searching for her son.
I admire McCann’s crafting. He manages to create compelling plots without sacrificing emotion or character development. He writes at a level to which every writer should aspire.
DISLIKE - Thirteen Ways of Looking, the title story, ran long and it was the only story in the collection, where I found my interest waning. Thirteen Ways of Looking is a nod to Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, using a close third perspective while following multiple characters, each giving their version of the events leading to a murder. The suspense is kept until the very end, which is left open for the reader to determine the truth of the incident. From a technical standpoint, all of the parts of the story are well crafted and the shifting perspectives creates an interesting dynamic, however, I didn’t find it to be as affecting or haunting as the other stories. Thirteen Ways of Looking is ambitious in scale, but doesn’t have the same impact. I appreciated it, but didn’t invest in it.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Even if you don’t read the entire collection, make sure to get your hands on Treaty. It’s stellar. I look forward to reading more stories by Colum McCann. As a reader, I’m hooked, and as an aspiring writer, I want to learn from his talent.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT – Colum McCann’s short story collection, Thirteen Ways of Looking, includes four stories, all involving a different type of violence or trauma. In a short afterward, McCann explains that while he was writing this collection, when he was sucker punched and knocked unconscious, while trying to help a woman who was being assaulted in New Haven, Connecticut. Although some of the stories were written prior to the incident, the assault inevitably had an impact on his stories in Thirteen Ways of Looking.
LIKE – This is my first time reading McCann, and I was caught off-guard by the way that his stories have been following me. I can’t get them out of my mind, which is a bit of a disaster, since the content is disturbing and weighty.
I was affected by all of the stories, but the one that packed the biggest punch, was Treaty. Told in close third person, Treaty is the story of an aging nun named Beverly. When Beverly was in her early twenties, she was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and raped. She escaped, but so did her rapist. Fast forward to the present, when Beverly sees him on television. He is now in politics, in London brokering a peace deal. Shocked and unsure how to handle this revelation, Beverly heads to London to confront her attacker. Treaty is a raw, gut-wrenching story that left me entirely surprised.
Another highlight is Sh’khol, the story of divorced mother Rebecca, and her thirteen year old son. Tomas. Tomas has mental and emotional disabilities, and he is prone to violent outbursts. He cannot be left on his own. Overwhelmed, but doing her best to care for him, Rebecca’s Christmas gift to Tomas is a wetsuit, so that they can swim together in the ocean, just steps from their home. Rebecca has a cocktail and goes to bed on Christmas, only to discover that Tomas and the wetsuit are missing the next morning. Filled with self-blame, Rebecca must deal with suspicious police and her ex-husband, while desperately searching for her son.
I admire McCann’s crafting. He manages to create compelling plots without sacrificing emotion or character development. He writes at a level to which every writer should aspire.
DISLIKE - Thirteen Ways of Looking, the title story, ran long and it was the only story in the collection, where I found my interest waning. Thirteen Ways of Looking is a nod to Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, using a close third perspective while following multiple characters, each giving their version of the events leading to a murder. The suspense is kept until the very end, which is left open for the reader to determine the truth of the incident. From a technical standpoint, all of the parts of the story are well crafted and the shifting perspectives creates an interesting dynamic, however, I didn’t find it to be as affecting or haunting as the other stories. Thirteen Ways of Looking is ambitious in scale, but doesn’t have the same impact. I appreciated it, but didn’t invest in it.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Even if you don’t read the entire collection, make sure to get your hands on Treaty. It’s stellar. I look forward to reading more stories by Colum McCann. As a reader, I’m hooked, and as an aspiring writer, I want to learn from his talent.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of four stories (I believe the first is considered a novella, but a story nonetheless).
The first story moves slowly at first, but becomes more engaging once we realize the fate of our narrator.
The second story is about a writer (seemingly McCann) attempting to create a story to meet his deadline. An interesting entry into a creative mind. I did like all of the questions the author must ask about the characters he is creating.
One story is about a woman that has adopted a son that is deaf. She gives him a wet suit for his birthday and he ventures into the ocean in the middle of the night.
The final story is about a nun that has been kidnapped and tortured many years back. She sees her attacker on television speaking on a panel about peace. She sets out to find him - for what reason we aren't sure.
All in all, I breezed through these stories and realized that I really do like the style of writing employed by McCann.
The first story moves slowly at first, but becomes more engaging once we realize the fate of our narrator.
The second story is about a writer (seemingly McCann) attempting to create a story to meet his deadline. An interesting entry into a creative mind. I did like all of the questions the author must ask about the characters he is creating.
One story is about a woman that has adopted a son that is deaf. She gives him a wet suit for his birthday and he ventures into the ocean in the middle of the night.
The final story is about a nun that has been kidnapped and tortured many years back. She sees her attacker on television speaking on a panel about peace. She sets out to find him - for what reason we aren't sure.
All in all, I breezed through these stories and realized that I really do like the style of writing employed by McCann.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent title novella + 3 stories. Brilliant construction, words.
emjay2021's review against another edition
4.0
This book was my introduction to Colum McCann, and it has definitely made me want to read more by him. I loved the opening novella so much. The other short stories were good, but didn't grab me as much as the novella did. McCann's writing is beautiful and his characters are drawn so memorably that I almost started thinking of them as real people.
sarahbreeze's review against another edition
5.0
McCann is, I think, my very favorite, still alive author. If you're not reading his work, get to it.