nyc #3
Today's pick is The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein, the true story of a french street performer named Philippe who had a dream of walking between the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Sound familiar? A documentary about Philippe and his famous walk was released this summer entitled Man on Wire. (You should check it out if you haven't already).
"Once the idea came to him he knew he had to do it! If he saw three balls, he had to juggle. If he saw two towers, he had to walk! That's how he was."
He comes up with a plan (involving construction elevators, a reel of thick cable, and a bow and arrow) and with the help of his friends, he makes his dream come true.
The end of the book addresses in a simple way that the towers are no longer there, except in our memory. "And part of that memory is the joyful morning, August 7, 1974, when Philippe Petit walked between them in the air."
11.19.2008
Reader Comments (3)
That movie, Man on Wire, was crazy. I can't believe they pulled it off! Neat book commemorating his story.
I love this one, too. My mom gave it to my kids several years ago, and we still marvel at home Phillippe did it.
oh my goodness, i loved man on wire (the documentary)! i had no idea there was a book about him. awesome.