Location, Location, Location...

**Spoiler Alert** 

McCann's use of imagery provides images of the impoverished conditions of the Bronx. Corrigan's older brother, who is the narrator of book one, never neglects the run down streets. He mentions, "Traffic lights were stuck on permanent red. At fire hydrants there were huge puddles of stagnant water...A burned neon sign stood upright"(48). The funny thing is initially Corrigan never wanted to go to the slums of New York, he thought they would be too sophisticated for his purpose as a monk. However as I read on it is clear life is not easy in the decaying city surrounding the brothers. Besides the actual place, McCann notes the danger of the people. Corrigan often mentions having run-ins with the pimps just because he lets the prostitutes use the bathroom in the apartment. Also his older brother, mentions malevolent men standing in the doorways of the bodegas and a man in Corrigan's building who is teaching his dog how to bite and almost attacks him. In the end, the Bronx itself is its own damaged character which adds to the story of the two brothers. 

The older brother moved to the Bronx with very little, in a rush to get away from the war in Ireland. However he finds himself living in an impoverished area in the city and he's worried about his brother. Initially he's worried about Corrigan using smack  but instead he learns Corrigan's got TTP. I really feel bad for the older brother, he left Ireland seeking refuge in the Bronx trying to get away from the horrors of the war. Conversely, the poor guy finds himself with more problems.

Let the Great World Spin (Spoiler Alert)

Recently I started reading Let the Great World Spin by  Colum McCann. At first I was a little worried, as beautiful as McCann's writing is the first three pages described entirely the anticipation of the crowd watching the tightrope walk across the Twin Towers in the 70s, but nothing about the actual walk. However, the novel took its own direction completely moving from New York City to Ireland and back. Immediately the characters Corrigan and his older brother are introduced and Corrigan is everything a protagonist should be. Corrigan reminds me of Jesus, since he was a young boy he would spend time with the drunks in his town. He would hang out with them on Fridays and listen to their stories and help them as best he could in a way he tried to absorb and understand their pain. Even without his generous acts he is described as lovable by his brother; being that he is able to brighten anyone's day, it is a gift of his. 

On the other hand, his brother seems less great. Unlike Corrigan, he would stay after school and play rugby, his actions and character are less admirable but more easily understood. As an older sister, I expected his older brother to be more jealous. As siblings its hard not to compare yourself sometimes, and standing next to Corrigan is not a place a lot of people would want to be when it comes time for judgement. So far the only time he mentions any of his jealousy is when he see his saintly brother cannot forgive their father for what he did to them, he mentions, "It pleased me a little to think that he had a flaw  and that it went so deep that he couldn't deal with it." However he isn't malicious he's ashamed, he knows he shouldn't feel that way about his brother. As much as I admire Corrigan, I identify better with his older brother but I am interested to keep reading and see where their relationship and the plot goes.