Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

I over thought this book in the beginning - wanting a direct connection between the lives of each of the individuals whose stories are shared and Petit's walk between the twin towers. Instead each of these very different lives are connected to each other in a very six degrees of separation way. We know only a small part of each individuals story - an Irish priest, street walkers from the lower east side, women mourning the loss of their sons in battle, and many others. Some saw the wire walker - some did not. But all are a part of the much bigger story of life on the streets below Petit's defiant act - all walking tightropes of their own making. Each story shared, a defining moment in a life - much like Petit's walk in his own life. No need to make a connection in the end but it is interesting to think that this is how we would tell the tale of our lives - defining moments - connected by years of trying not to fall off the rope.