Book #119 |
Book: The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland | Author: Jim Defede | |
| Source: Library loan Format: Audiobook |
Pages: 271 | Duration: 12/01/25 – 12/02/25 (2 days) | |
| Rating: ★★★★★ | Genres: nonfiction, history, Canada, inspirational | ||
| 📕10-word summary: Small-town Canadians open their town and hearts to stranded strangers. 🖌6-word review: Poignant, inspirational, well-woven story affirms humanity. |
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| 💭An interesting quote: “They placed their lives on hold for a group of strangers and asked for nothing in return. They affirmed the basic goodness of man at a time when it was easy to doubt such humanity still existed.” | |||
| Description:* When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001, due to the closing of United States airspace, the citizens of this small community were called upon to come to the aid of more than 6,000 displaced travelers. “For the better part of a week, nearly every man, woman, and child in Gander and the surrounding smaller towns stopped what they were doing so they could help. They placed their lives on hold for a group of strangers and asked for nothing in return. They affirmed the basic goodness of man at a time when it was easy to doubt such humanity still existed.”*From goodreads.com’s synopsis. | |||
| Thoughts: This is a great, uplifting story of incredibly generous people pouring out their hearts, opening their homes, and spending money (much of it their own) just because, they said, “It was the right thing to do.” I wasn’t familiar with this aspect of 9/11, and I certainly didn’t know that there was a musical, Come from Away, made based on the story. It’s confounding to me how musicals are made based on some books and movies that seem to be pure drama. Bob reminded me, “Look at the musical made about Carrie, based on both the novel and the film!” I have no desire whatsoever to see a play based on this book. If you, like Anne Murray, could use “a little good news,” I couldn’t recommend this book more. | |||
See the rest of the books I’ve read in 2025 and previous years: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019.
