The narrative is simple, but sends a strong message. In this way the author succeeds in putting in context events from the far, and recent, past and show us how sometime insignificant events might have large consequences, and people who pay a very personal price.

McCann tries to put the tragedies, not excuse them, in historical context along with tangents which are somewhat related to either the personal stories, or overall themes. The narrative is not straight forward, but is symmetrical, you can read the book forwards or backwards and still get the story. Some parts of the book are not for the faint of heart, there are graphic descriptions of what happens when you stand next to a suicide bomber, get shot in the head with a rubber bullet, or detonate a suicide vest on your person. McCann uses the real-life tragedies of the Elhanan and Aramin families to review a history of this age old conflict, and the unexpected and innocent casualties it collects along the way. Nothing I write can do justice to this book.Īpeirogon by Colum McCann is an extraordinary book, it’s different in narrative and structure, yet poignant and able to make its point. McCann is an award winning and bestselling author. Apeirogon by Colum McCann is the contemporary –historical-fiction (I don’t know how else to describe it) of the path crossed by an Israeli man and a Palestinian man, both who lost young daughters.

Book review apeirogon