"The Wednesday Sisters" written by Meg Waite Clayton

The Wednesday Sisters is the story of four young women/mothers who meet at the playground and form a lifelong friendship. Set in Palo Alto, circa 1968, Frankie, Brett, Kath and Linda navigate together the fast moving and often turbulent changes in the world around them. The women form a unique friendship when they begin to meet on Wednesdays and grow into a sort of writer's support group. How the "wednesday sisters" react to and explore changes in social mores, the roles of men and women, technology, civil rights & politics while dealing with their individual lives and issues, makes for a somewhat entertaining read but not meaty enough for a great book club discussion.

Overall, I found it a bit tedious and was not very attached to the characters - they just weren't fleshed out enough and at times I found myself confusing them. In fact, I couldn't even remember their names when I sat down to write this review shortly after I finished reading the book. The plot was too contrived and while the book touches on many possible themes, I am hard-pressed to find one that unified all the elements of the novel. I think perhaps The Wednesday Sisters tried hard to be a grand, sweeping epic but didn't quite succeed. Save this one for a beach read - not great book club material.

"Let The Great World Spin" written by Colum McCann

One moment in time - New York City, 1974 - New Yorkers stop to look up at a man walking across a tightrope strung between the twin towers. A poignant foreshadowing of another moment in time that will come decades later on September 11th. A time when all New Yorkers (and all the world) will look up at the towers and have their innocence shattered. We are all connected in this life and our actions (or lack thereof) have an impact on the delicate balance that keeps this great world spinning.

Underneath the tightrope walker the great world continues to spin, yet time seems to stand still while everyone watches him. McCann carefully sketches several seemingly discordant vignettes that will ultimately intertwine as tightly as the wire strung between the towers. The threads of each story slowly spread across the city and are masterfully woven into one tapestry that becomes a true moment in time. Let The Great World Spin captures the essence of New York City through every character and subplot - from the gritty south Bronx neighborhood of drug addicts and prostitutes (and the Irish brothers who try to save them); to the debilitating sadness of Claire, a wealthy Park Avenue mother/wife who lost her only child to the war in Viet Nam and her support group; to the free-wheeling artists whose irresponsibility sets off an irreversible chain of events that will link all of the characters and stories together.

I was engrossed in each vignette and grew very attached to all of the characters but what I loved most about this novel is the way McCann captures the soul of New York City. He engages all of the reader's senses so we can see, hear and smell 1974 New York. The city becomes the central character of the book. There is plenty of tragedy in this novel, but there is also sweetness and beauty in all the characters and their stories. Let The Great World Spin is a loving tribute to the heartbeat of New York City and the spirit of its people.