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Thirteen Ways of Looking
Thirteen Ways of Looking: Fiction | Colum McCann
23 posts | 23 read | 28 to read
NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review NPR Los Angeles Times The Boston Globe The Seattle Times The IndependentIn such acclaimed novels as Let the Great World Spin and TransAtlantic, National Book Awardwinning author Colum McCann has transfixed readers with his precision, tenderness, and authority. Now, in his first collection of short fiction in more than a decade, McCann charts the territory of chance, and the profound and intimate consequences of even our smallest moments. As it was, it was like being set down in the best of poems, carried into a cold landscape, blindfolded, turned around, unblindfolded, forced, then, to invent new ways of seeing. In the exuberant title novella, a retired judge reflects on his lifes work, unaware as he goes about his daily routines that this particular morning will be his last. In Shkhol, a mother spending Christmas alone with her son confronts the unthinkable when he disappears while swimming off the coast near their home in Ireland. In Treaty, an elderly nun catches a snippet of a news report in which it is revealed that the man who once kidnapped and brutalized her is alive, masquerading as an agent of peace. And in What Time Is It Now, Where You Are? a writer constructs a story about a Marine in Afghanistan calling home on New Years Eve. Deeply personal, subtly subversive, at times harrowing, and indeed funny, yet also full of comfort, Thirteen Ways of Looking is a striking achievement. With unsurpassed empathy for his characters and their inner lives, Colum McCann forges from their stories a profound tribute to our search for meaning and grace. The collection is a rumination on the power of storytelling in a world where language and memory can sometimes falter, but in the end do not fail us, and a contemplation of the healing power of literature.Praise for Thirteen Ways of Looking The irreducible mystery of human experience ties this small collection together, and in each of these stories McCann explores that theme in some strikingly effective ways. . . . [The first story] is as fascinating as it is poignant. . . . [The second] captures the mundane and mysterious aspects of shaping characters from the gray clay of words, placing them in realistic settings and breathing life into their lungs. . . . That he makes the story so emotionally compelling is a sign of his genius. . . . The most remarkable [piece] is Shkhol. . . . Caught in the rushing currents of this drama, you know youre reading a little masterpiece.The Washington Post McCann is a writer of power and subtlety and beauty. . . . The powerful title story loiters in the mind long after youve read it.Sarah Lyall, The New York Times [McCann] unspools complex and unforgettable stories in this, his first collection in more than a decade.The Boston Globe McCann is a passionate writer whose impulse is always toward a generous understanding of his diverse characters.The Wall Street Journal Powerful, profound, and deeply empathetic, McCanns beautifully wrought writing in Thirteen Ways of Looking glides off the page.BuzzFeed McCann weaves the magic that made Let the Great World Spin so acclaimed.The Huffington PostFrom the Hardcover edition.
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Anna40
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Pickpick

I loved the story Treaty, about a nun who sees her tormentor after 30 years on TV then decides to find and confront him. It‘s impressive how McCann can write thoughts and feelings from the perspective of a woman who has experienced torture and rape.

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sherrisilvera
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February #bookspin is a favorite author!!

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

Finally finished this. 🎧

#audiobook

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Tamra
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed the title novella, such wonderful writing! I loved the brutal honesty, questioning, and reflection of the main character who is an old man living the last day of his life. I have never read anything by McCann before, but I‘m going to be looking for more.

Leftcoastzen Way up on my all time favorite book list 7y
Leftcoastzen But I haven‘t read tagged title 7y
Tamra @Leftcoastzen I‘ve seen that one around for ages, but haven‘t picked it up. 7y
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Libby1
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Pickpick

This man is a virtuoso.

The writing reeks of quality.

Some people may love it but I found it felt like a task, and McCann was being a hard task master.

That being said, the sheer quality of the writing necessitates a Pick rating. For enjoyment it would definitely be a So-So.

BookishMe I like that double rating! Exactly how I feel about some well-written books. I recognize the skill but it doesn't necessarily appeal to me ;)) 7y
Libby1 @BookishMe - it looks like we‘re on the same page! 😉 7y
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KarenUK
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#NuYear Love all these collections of short #stories .... 💕👍📚

Cinfhen That Lauren Groff cover is gorgeous (edited) 7y
TrishB Not read any of them! 7y
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KarenUK
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#🍀 #emojinov One of my favorite short story collections.... Highly recommend the audio read by the author... he has a lovely voice 😍🎧

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Suet624
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I‘m still marinating in the images/experiences left behind by some of the stories in this book. One passage outlines the difficulty of an elderly man attempting to cross a busy New York City street before the light turns green. The impatience/anger of the drivers and the challenge/frustration of the senior citizen is haunting me still. May we all be gentle with folks who are just a little bit slow and wobbly.

saresmoore Yes. 7y
Kaye Amen. I‘m heading in that direction myself. Not quite as slow and wobbly as this little guy, but he might beat me across the street on a good day. 7y
DocBrown Are you insinuating that I am slow and wobbly? Or that I should be gentle with those who are? 7y
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SilversReviews Kindness never goes out of style. 7y
Suet624 @mdhughes72 Hahaha. I tagged you because you said you loved this book. Or was it my review you liked?? 7y
Leftcoastzen Love McCann ,stacked 7y
DocBrown @Suet624 Oh okay! Now it makes sense. I loved the book and your review both. 7y
Cathythoughts Great picture! My father had a cane like that ❤️ 7y
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Suet624
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Pickpick

This is a short book of four stories. I didn‘t rush the reading of it because .... it‘s McCann. I love his writing. The stories - some so filled with rich descriptions of the West Coast of Ireland that I felt I could hear and see it - did not disappoint.

DocBrown Loved this! 7y
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KarenUK
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A few of my favorite #shortstories collections...... #30daysofreadathon
 @DeweysReadathon @Liberty

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GirlWellRead
Pickpick

This novella is so rich, I wanted it to be a full-fledged book! I was instantly drawn in and devoured every page of this mystery. McCann's character development is outstanding. The story draws heavily on culture/literary references, daunting to some, but really worked with the character.

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KarenUK
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#day13 #junebookbugs #attractiveauthors This man's voice is just so lovely.... He narrates the audio of this collection of his short stories and a novella, and it's sooooo good... 🍀

BooksForEmpathy I love this book! 7y
emilyhaldi I own this but still trying to get to it 😄 7y
KarenUK @BooksForEmpathy @emilyhaldi It's really great... 💕 7y
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BooksForEmpathy
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Pickpick

Book Club today! I made a giant fattoush salad w/ homemade crispy pita. We also had halloumi/dolmas/hummus/yogurt/chickpea salad/falafel/fruit! And tea.

I have not gushed about this book enough! It was one of my favorites so far that we have read. The writing is playful & deeply moving; he is gifted at showing the many sides of the human experience. Things are never as they appear & we can be mindful that everyone has a story. A real treat.

451Degrees Ooooo the food looks tasty! 8y
ValerieAndBooks That food looks great! Book sounds good too. 8y
Cortg Are you the only book club host??? Looks great, as always! 8y
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Bookchipmunk That looks so yummy! 8y
minkyb Looks and sounds great! 8y
mcipher So now I'm craving fattoush salad! I have a decent recipe, I should make it again soon. Yours looks beautiful!! 8y
Laalaleighh Um can I come eat at your book club sometime? Please? 8y
BooksForEmpathy @Cortg Hah! Yes I am. I prefer it that way since I am also the facilitator of the conversation. But everyone brings food 😊. 8y
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BooksForEmpathy
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Pickpick

San Francisco today ❤️.

Finished this one in less than 24 hours. I loved every story in here (there's 4). Each word is intentional and his sentences can be playful and haunting. There are so many ways to look at a person, a story, a relationship. Rarely is it what you think it is. Colum McCann always made me look again.

He also said this ??:

"I don‘t know of a greater privilege than being allowed to tell a story, or to listen to a story."

shawnmooney I did this on audio early last year and really really liked it a lot! 8y
Laura317 Beautiful, artsy photograph! 💜💜💜 8y
Suet624 I love his writing so much. 8y
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KarenUK Loved this one 💕 8y
GatheringBooks perfect shot along with the perfect quote 8y
kspenmoll Photo makes me want to read right there too. 8y
BooksForEmpathy @Suet624 What else is good??? This was my first one! I need more :). 8y
Suet624 Let The Great World Spin was the first one I read by him. It was a number of years ago and yet so many images remain n my mind from that book. I loved it. I liked Transatlantic too. There was a lot in that one about Ireland that I had never known and will now always think about. 8y
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BooksForEmpathy
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Homemade chicken orzo soup tonight (garnished by a 12 year old 😂) with my book and a longggg night of studying ahead of me. Any study tips you have!?

And I have to finish this book for book club! Ahhhh!!!!!

DebinHawaii The soup looks delicious and your notes are very colorful! 😀👍 8y
ApoptyGina69 Massive note-taking was always my way. Looks like you have the same style. Writing helps me memorize, so I would re-write and organzine lecture notes and then distill key phrases and buzzwords on to index cards by subject category. I worked so hard on my notes that I have saved a whole banker's boxful still in my garage! Good luck. I've added the book to my #TBR. 👍📚 8y
NovelGirl82 My best trick was always notecards. After reading the material, and the writing the flash card, it was much easier to memorize. 8y
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shelf-improvement Adlerian therapy? Good luck! 8y
minkyb Like all the colored pens! 8y
tjwill Papermate felt tip pens are my favorites! 8y
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KarenUK
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#day17 #marchintoreading #irishauthors Colum McCann is a favorite of mine, all of these are so good.... If you get a chance to check out the short story collection 'Thirteen Ways of Looking' then maybe try it on Audio.... He narrates it himself, and his voice is just gorgeous 💚💚💚

BriKie I plan to read Let the Great World Spin very soon. It will be my first McCann book! Seeing your enthusiasm makes me more excited to read it! 😀 8y
KarenUK @Cinfhen @BriKie it's so good! 8y
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Thekelburrows
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Colum McCann is a freaking genius. Oh my God.

susanw I have to get around to reading this! 8y
Thekelburrows @susanw stop what you are doing and get on it! So good. 8y
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JDHawkins
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Day 15 of #angiebookishnovember is #whitebooks. I had no idea I had so many on my shelves! And good ones, too. Many of the books in this pile are books I truly loved.

#photoadaynov #novemberphotochallenge

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SharonGoforth
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Readily available books with numbers in the titles . Of these, I've read Fahrenheit 451, Slaughterhouse-Five, and The 39 Steps - all excellent books. The rest are on my TBR 📚 #somethingforsept #numbersintitles

Litlady Beautiful stack! 💜👍💜 8y
SharonGoforth @Litlady Thank you 😊 8y
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SaraBeagle
Pickpick

The emotion, especially in the last two stories, is staggering.

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BrittanyButler
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Word.

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LitHousewife
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My next #ArmchairAudies listen will finish out the Narration by Author category for me. I have high hopes now that I've heard McCann's accent.

shawnmooney I loved the audio, narrated by McCann! 9y
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