The_AT Soul_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 City_NN1 Philippe_NP1 Petit_FW ,_, the_AT French_JJ acrobat_NN1 who_PNQS in_II 1974_MC walked_VVD across_II a_AT1 tightrope_NN1 between_II the_AT twin_NN1 towers_NN2 ,_, was_VBDZ n't_XX on_II the_AT payroll_NN1 of_IO the_AT Port_NP1 Authority_NP1 ,_, but_CCB in_II retrospect_NN1 he_PPHS1 probably_RR should_VM have_VHI been_VBN ._. 
At_II the_AT time_NNT1 ,_, the_AT newly_RR opened_VVN World_NN1 Trade_NN1 Center_NN1 was_VBDZ shaping_VVG up_RP as_II a_AT1 huge_JJ mistake_NN1 ._. 
Not_XX only_RR had_VHD the_AT project_NN1 cost_VVN far_RG more_DAR than_CSN it_PPH1 was_VBDZ supposed_JJ to_TO ,_, but_CCB a_AT1 city_NN1 spiraling_VVG toward_II bankruptcy_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX exactly_RR need_VVI millions_NNO2 more_RGR square_JJ feet_NN2 of_IO office_NN1 space_NN1 ._. 
Worse_JJR still_RR ,_, the_AT towers_NN2 were_VBDR out_II21 of_II22 scale_NN1 and_CC utterly_RR unattractive_JJ --_NN1 "_" the_AT largest_JJT aluminum_NN1 siding_NN1 job_NN1 in_II the_AT history_NN1 of_IO the_AT world_NN1 ,_, "_" as_CSA one_MC1 critic_NN1 put_VVD it_PPH1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 were_VBDR the_AT ugly_JJ stepchild_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 's_GE skyscrapers_NN2 ,_, seemingly_RR destined_VVN to_TO be_VBI forever_RT denied_VVN a_AT1 place_NN1 in_II the_AT life_NN1 and_CC lore_NN1 of_IO the_AT city_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB in_II the_AT span_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 single_JJ summer_NNT1 morning_NNT1 ,_, Petit_FW gave_VVD the_AT towers_NN2 a_AT1 history_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE own_DA ._. 
His_APPGE stunt_NN1 represented_VVD nothing_PN1 less_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 symbolic_JJ passing_NN1 of_IO the_AT torch_NN1 :_: in_II the_AT remake_NN1 of_IO "_" King_NNB Kong_NP1 "_" two_MC years_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, the_AT furious_JJ ,_, lovelorn_JJ gorilla_NN1 takes_VVZ his_APPGE last_MD stand_VV0 not_XX astride_II the_AT Empire_NP1 State_NP1 Building_NN1 but_CCB atop_II the_AT World_NN1 Trade_NN1 Center_NN1 ._. 
For_IF all_DB the_AT hoopla_NN1 that_CST greeted_VVD Petit_FW 's_GE walk_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 was_VBDZ largely_RR forgotten_VVN until_CS 9/11_MF ,_, when_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ rediscovered_VVN amid_II the_AT sudden_JJ nostalgia_NN1 for_IF all_DB things_NN2 twin_NN1 towers_NN2 ._. 
There_EX was_VBDZ Petit_FW 's_GE own_DA memoir_NN1 about_II the_AT walk_NN1 ,_, "_" To_II Reach_NN1 the_AT Clouds_NN2 ,_, "_" as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 a_AT1 memorable_JJ New_JJ Yorker_NP1 cover_NN1 on_II the_AT fifth_MD anniversary_NN1 of_IO the_AT attacks_NN2 and_CC an_AT1 Oscar-winning_JJ documentary_NN1 ,_, "_" Man_NN1 on_II Wire_NN1 ._. "_" 
Now_RT Colum_NP1 McCann_NP1 has_VHZ repurposed_VVN Petit_FW 's_VBZ daring_JJ act_NN1 as_II the_AT leitmotif_NN1 for_IF "_" Let_VV0 the_AT Great_JJ World_NN1 Spin_NN1 ,_, "_" one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT electric_JJ ,_, profound_JJ novels_NN2 I_PPIS1 have_VH0 read_VVN in_II years_NNT2 ._. 
McCann_NP1 makes_VVZ little_DA1 effort_NN1 to_TO hew_VVI to_II the_AT facts_NN2 of_IO Petit_FW 's_GE story_NN1 ;_; he_PPHS1 does_VDZ n't_XX even_RR name_VVI the_AT wire_NN1 walker_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT author_NN1 appears_VVZ to_TO have_VHI remained_VVN faithful_JJ to_II the_AT stunt_NN1 's_GE larger_JJR truths_NN2 ._. 
Like_II Petit_FW ,_, McCann_NP1 's_GE acrobat_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX simply_RR focus_VVI on_RP safely_RR crossing_VVG 210_MC feet_NN2 of_IO braided_JJ cable_NN1 ,_, 110_MC stories_NN2 up_RP ;_; he_PPHS1 dances_NN2 joyously_RR among_II the_AT clouds_NN2 ,_, reveling_VVG in_II his_APPGE fleeting_JJ moment_NN1 of_IO human_JJ transcendence_NN1 :_: "_" He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ pureness_NN1 moving_VVG ...._... 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ inside_RL and_CC outside_II his_APPGE body_NN1 at_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, indulging_VVG in_II what_DDQ it_PPH1 meant_VVD to_TO belong_VVI to_II the_AT air_NN1 ._. "_" 
I_PPIS1 do_VD0 n't_XX want_VVI to_TO overstate_VVI Petit_FW 's_GE role_NN1 in_II this_DD1 book_NN1 ._. 
The_AT walk_NN1 is_VBZ really_RR little_DA1 more_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 cultural_JJ touchstone_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 literary_JJ conceit_NN1 ,_, the_AT event_NN1 around_II which_DDQ McCann_NP1 has_VHZ assembled_VVN his_APPGE cast_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT metaphorical_JJ possibilities_NN2 of_IO the_AT walker_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT paradox_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 innocent_JJ ,_, unsanctioned_JJ act_NN1 of_IO "_" divine_JJ delight_NN1 "_" being_VBG carried_VVN out_RP between_II two_MC buildings_NN2 that_CST would_VM one_MC1 day_NNT1 be_VBI so_RG viciously_RR and_CC murderously_RR destroyed_VVN --_NN1 are_VBR hard_JJ to_TO ignore_VVI ,_, particularly_RR in_II a_AT1 novel_NN1 so_RG concerned_JJ with_IW the_AT twin_NN1 themes_NN2 of_IO love_NN1 and_CC loss_NN1 ._. 
"_" Let_VV0 the_AT Great_JJ World_NN1 Spin_NN1 "_" will_VM sneak_VVI up_RP on_II you_PPY ._. 
It_PPH1 begins_VVZ slowly_RR and_CC quietly_RR on_II the_AT other_JJ side_NN1 of_IO the_AT ocean_NN1 ._. 
There_RL ,_, in_II a_AT1 seaside_NN1 town_NN1 in_II Ireland_NP1 (_( McCann_NP1 was_VBDZ born_VVN in_II Dublin_NP1 but_CCB now_RT lives_VVZ in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 )_) ,_, we_PPIS2 are_VBR introduced_VVN to_II two_MC of_IO its_APPGE central_JJ characters_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 budding_JJ monk_NN1 named_VVD Corrigan_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE aimless_JJ brother_NN1 ,_, Ciaran_NP1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 soon_RR find_VV0 their_APPGE way_NN1 to_II a_AT1 bleak_JJ project_NN1 in_II the_AT 1970s_MC2 South_ND1 Bronx_NP1 (_( "_" Kids_NN2 on_II the_AT 10th_MD floor_NN1 aimed_VVD television_NN1 sets_VVZ at_II the_AT housing_NN1 cops_NN2 who_PNQS patrolled_VVD below_RL "_" )_) ,_, where_CS Corrigan_NP1 informally_RR ministers_NN2 to_II the_AT prostitutes_NN2 who_PNQS peddle_VV0 their_APPGE wares_NN2 beneath_II the_AT Major_NNB Deegan_NP1 Expressway_NN1 while_CS Ciaran_NP1 tends_VVZ bar_NN1 at_II an_AT1 Irish_JJ pub_NN1 in_II Queens_NP1 and_CC tries_VVZ to_TO make_VVI sense_NN1 of_IO the_AT strange_JJ life_NN1 that_CST his_APPGE ascetic_JJ brother_NN1 has_VHZ chosen_VVN ._. 
From_II here_RL ,_, the_AT book_NN1 's_GE sweep_NN1 gradually_RR expands_VVZ as_II the_AT brothers_NN2 '_GE story_NN1 collides_VVZ with_IW those_DD2 of_IO several_DA2 others_NN2 ,_, among_II them_PPHO2 an_AT1 aging_JJ black_JJ hooker_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Guatemalan_JJ nurse_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 20-something_PN1 artist_NN1 ._. 
The_AT circle_NN1 continues_VVZ to_TO widen_VVI ,_, ,_, with_IW the_AT players_NN2 growing_VVG ever_RR more_RGR diverse_JJ ._. 
The_AT film_NN1 "_" Crash_NN1 "_" inevitably_RR comes_VVZ to_TO mind_VVI --_NN1 there_EX 's_VBZ even_RR a_AT1 fatal_JJ car_NN1 accident_NN1 --_NN1 only_RR without_IW the_AT reductive_JJ moralizing_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 had_VHD never_RR occurred_VVN to_II me_PPIO1 before_RT ,_, "_" one_MC1 character_NN1 says_VVZ ,_, "_" but_CCB everything_PN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 is_VBZ built_VVN upon_II another_DD1 thing_NN1 ,_, nothing_PN1 is_VBZ entirely_RR by_II itself_PPX1 ,_, each_DD1 thing_NN1 as_RG strange_JJ as_CSA the_AT last_MD ,_, and_CC connected_JJ ._. "_" 
Like_II a_AT1 great_JJ pitcher_NN1 in_II his_APPGE prime_JJ ,_, McCann_NP1 is_VBZ constantly_RR changing_JJ speeds_NN2 ,_, adopting_VVG different_JJ voices_NN2 ,_, tones_NN2 and_CC narrative_JJ styles_NN2 as_CSA he_PPHS1 shifts_VVZ between_II story_NN1 lines_NN2 ._. 
Inevitably_RR ,_, some_DD of_IO his_APPGE portraits_NN2 work_VV0 better_RRR than_CSN others_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 prostitute_NN1 ,_, boldly_RR rendered_VVN in_II the_AT first_MD person_NN1 ,_, feels_VVZ disappointingly_RR cliched_VVD from_II a_AT1 writer_NN1 of_IO such_DA imaginative_JJ gifts_NN2 ._. 
Far_RG more_RGR original_JJ and_CC nuanced_VVN are_VBR a_AT1 Park_NP1 Avenue_NNL1 housewife_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, the_AT judge_NN1 Solomon_NP1 Soderberg_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS are_VBR trying_VVG in_II different_JJ ways_NN2 to_TO cope_VVI with_IW the_AT death_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE son_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 mark_NN1 of_IO the_AT novel_NN1 's_GE soaring_JJ and_CC largely_RR fulfilled_JJ ambition_NN1 that_CST McCann_NP1 just_RR keeps_VVZ rolling_VVG out_RP new_JJ people_NN ,_, deftly_RR linking_VVG each_DD1 to_II the_AT next_MD ,_, as_CSA his_APPGE story_NN1 moves_VVZ toward_II its_APPGE surprising_JJ and_CC deeply_RR affecting_VVG conclusion_NN1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 loose_JJ sense_NN1 ,_, what_DDQ connects_VVZ everyone_PN1 in_II this_DD1 novel_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT high-wire_JJ walker_NN1 ;_; the_AT day_NNT1 of_IO his_APPGE stunt_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 pivotal_JJ one_PN1 in_II all_DB of_IO their_APPGE lives_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB they_PPHS2 are_VBR bound_VVN more_RGR powerfully_RR by_II something_PN1 else_RR :_: grief_NN1 ._. 
"_" Let_VV0 the_AT Great_JJ World_NN1 Spin_NN1 "_" is_VBZ an_AT1 emotional_JJ tour_NN131 de_NN132 force_NN133 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 heartbreaking_JJ book_NN1 ,_, but_CCB not_XX a_AT1 depressing_JJ one_PN1 ._. 
Through_II their_APPGE anguish_NN1 ,_, McCann_NP1 's_GE characters_NN2 manage_VV0 to_TO find_VVI comfort_NN1 ,_, even_RR a_AT1 kind_NN1 of_IO redemption_NN1 ._. 
Always_RR in_II the_AT background_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 time_NNT1 and_CC a_AT1 place_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT waning_JJ days_NNT2 of_IO Nixon_NP1 and_CC Vietnam_NP1 ,_, and_CC New_NP1 York_NP1 in_II the_AT 1970s_MC2 ._. 
McCann_NP1 gives_VVZ us_PPIO2 snapshots_NN2 of_IO the_AT decaying_JJ city_NN1 ,_, slipping_VVG in_II occasional_JJ references_NN2 to_II cultural_JJ landmarks_NN2 like_II Max_NP1 's_GE Kansas_NP1 City_NN1 and_CC Studio_NN1 54_MC (_( which_DDQ did_VDD n't_XX actually_RR open_VVI until_II 1977_MC ,_, McCann_NP1 might_VM like_VVI to_TO know_VVI for_IF the_AT paperback_NN1 edition_NN1 )_) ._. 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 also_RR finds_VVZ other_JJ vantage_NN1 points_VVZ from_II which_DDQ to_II gaze_NN1 at_II the_AT heaving_NN1 muck_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 ,_, most_RGT memorably_RR Manhattan_NP1 's_GE municipal_JJ courthouse_NN1 ._. 
"_" He_PPHS1 watched_VVD the_AT parade_NN1 come_VVI in_RP and_CC out_RP ,_, "_" McCann_NP1 writes_VVZ of_IO the_AT judge_NN1 's_GE job_NN1 processing_NN1 criminals_NN2 ,_, "_" and_CC he_PPHS1 wondered_VVD how_RRQ the_AT city_NN1 had_VHD become_VVN such_DA a_AT1 disgusting_JJ thing_NN1 on_II his_APPGE watch_NN1 ...._... 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ like_II surveying_VVG the_AT evolution_NN1 of_IO slime_NN1 ._. 
You_PPY stand_VV0 there_RL long_RR enough_RR and_CC the_AT gutter_NN1 gets_VVZ slick_NN1 ,_, no_RGQV31 matter_RGQV32 how_RGQV33 hard_RR you_PPY battle_VV0 against_II it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
Here_RL and_CC elsewhere_RL ,_, "_" Let_VV0 the_AT Great_JJ World_NN1 Spin_NN1 "_" can_VM feel_VVI like_II a_AT1 precursor_NN1 to_II another_DD1 novel_NN1 of_IO colliding_VVG cultures_NN2 :_: "_" The_AT Bonfire_NN1 of_IO the_AT Vanities_NN2 ,_, "_" Tom_NP1 Wolfe_NP1 's_GE classic_JJ portrait_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 in_II the_AT 1980s_MC2 ._. 
But_CCB McCann_NP1 's_GE effort_NN1 is_VBZ less_RGR disciplined_JJ ,_, more_RGR earnest_JJ ,_, looser_JJR ,_, rougher_JJR ,_, more_RGR flawed_JJ but_CCB also_RR more_RGR soulful_JJ --_NN1 in_II other_JJ words_NN2 ,_, more_RRR like_II the_AT city_NN1 itself_PPX1 ._. 
In_II recent_JJ years_NNT2 ,_, we_PPIS2 've_VH0 seen_VVN the_AT emergence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 new_JJ generation_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 novelists_NN2 led_VVN by_II Jonathan_NP1 Lethem_NP1 and_CC Colson_NP1 Whitehead_NP1 ,_, both_RR native_JJ New_JJ Yorkers_NP1 ._. 
McCann_NP1 brings_VVZ an_AT1 immigrant_NN1 's_GE refreshing_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO awe_NN1 to_II the_AT same_DA terrain_NN1 ._. 
"_" Every_AT1 now_RT and_CC then_RT the_AT city_NN1 shook_VVD its_APPGE soul_NN1 out_RP ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 writes_VVZ ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 assailed_VVD you_PPY with_IW an_AT1 image_NN1 ,_, or_CC a_AT1 day_NNT1 ,_, or_CC a_AT1 crime_NN1 ,_, or_CC a_AT1 terror_NN1 ,_, or_CC a_AT1 beauty_NN1 so_RG difficult_JJ to_TO wrap_VVI your_APPGE mind_NN1 around_RP that_CST you_PPY had_VHD to_TO shake_VVI your_APPGE head_NN1 in_II disbelief_NN1 ._. "_" 
