I can recall the days of the internet's infancy, the sheer excitement at the possibilities it would bring to our world mixed with the skepticism that it would deliver on all that it promised. Hefty encyclopedias had long been our gateway to knowledge, but the internet threatened to upend that entirely. Even with its screeching dial-up tones, sluggish speeds, and frequent outages, it changed the world in ways we never could have anticipated. Now, with Wi-Fi considered a basic necessity and AI poised to disrupt our lives once again, we are still grappling with the consequences of our hyper-connected existence.
Our dependence on technology is becoming more prevalent each day, but are we actually more connected to each other? In his newest novel, Twist, author Colum McCann grapples with this question, forcing us to contemplate the fractures that have formed in our increasingly interconnected lives.
"Mine has been a lifetime of dropped connections."
At 47, Irish writer Anthony Fennell fears his life has plateaued. His novels saw modest success, his plays fared only slightly better, and his personal life is in shambles. Divorced, estranged from his teenage son, and drowning in self-doubt (and whiskey), he’s desperate for a break.
Most of the internet’s data travels through fiber optic cables lying deep beneath the ocean. Cables that, from time to time, snap. And when they do, someone has to fix them. Out of the blue, a magazine editor offers Anthony an assignment to cover the dangerous work of repairing these underwater lifelines. He’s less intrigued by the technicalities of the cables themselves and more by the deeper story they symbolize. He plans to tell a tale of connection, resilience, and restoration.
Joining a deep-sea repair crew led by the enigmatic John Conway, an expert free diver/engineer, Anthony embarks on a journey unlike any other. Isolated at sea with a diverse crew and miles of ocean in every direction, he finds himself drawn into their mission to reconnect the world. But as the cables pulse with the world’s conversations, they also carry news that will change the course of the journey and Anthony's life forever.
Twist is a fitting title for a novel that seeks to encapsulate the vastness of humanity within a relatively self-contained narrative. Colum McCann’s latest book explores the enormity of the world. There are the sprawling oceans, the cables running beneath them, and the intricate web of connectivity they sustain. Yet, at its core, this is a quietly intimate story.
Anthony is a man searching for purpose, and in John Conway, he encounters someone who, at least on the surface, seems to have found his. Conway is singularly skilled, excelling in his dangerous yet crucial work. But his past remains elusive. Even when Anthony meets Conway’s lover and learns more about his personal life, he is left with more questions than answers. The journey toward meaning is anything but straightforward.
As the novel twists through revelations and unexpected turns, certainty remains just out of reach. Twist becomes a meditation on connection. McCann urges us to seek it not just through technology but in the real world through conversations, experiences, and acts of love. While at times challenging and even frustrating, it is ultimately a novel that compels us to reflect on the bonds we have forged in our own lives and the path we traverse in finding our own sense of being.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 27)
What a thought-provoking book. I do agree that the more connected we become through technology, the less connected we seem to be with the people around us. It is a strange dichotomy.
ReplyDeleteI was really amazed at how well it worked in this narrative. Definitely something that makes you ponder deeper ideas.
DeleteSounds like the story provided plenty of food for thought. I appreciate that in a book.
ReplyDeleteI do, too. And even better, this one didn't get bogged down by all those big ideas!
DeleteGetting to go on site out in the ocean with a deep-sea repair crew sounds exciting and scary to me. I don't like being out on the ocean so that right there would be entertaining for me to read about. This sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI do love going on a cruise, but the ocean can be a bit creepy when you don't see anything else around you.
DeleteThis sounds fascinating! A friend and I were just talking the other day about how much technology has advanced in our lifetime and in what ways it might advance even further. It's hard to remember our lives without the internet. I'm going to see if my library has this book. Great review!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy to think about? Hope you enjoy!
DeleteYour review has me intrigued by what this book has to offer.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThought provoking. It has brought so much good...and so much bad
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteWhat a unique premise. Yes, I remember life before the internet. There are good and bad things about it and I'm sure this story is one that makes you think.
ReplyDeleteIt makes you reflect a ton on what's become of the world.
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