What readers think of Twist, plus links to write your own review.

I am a huge fan of Colum McCann’s fiction -- I've read almost every single one -- but this one left me feeling disappointed. The subject of African workers who repair the cables that lie on the deep ocean floor, carrying almost all of our internet messages, sounded fascinating. But the narrator, a middle-aged, alcoholic, failing Irish writer, divorced and with no relationship with his 16 year old son, instead becomes obsessed with the other Irishman on board, a ”mysterious” younger man, Conway, in charge of finding and repairing the cables.

The narrator, Fennel, seems to sense a younger version of himself in Conway. Fennel also becomes obsessed with Conway’s potentially broken relationship with a rising South African actress, performing in Waiting for Godot in England, and spends much of his time on board trying to learn about it over the internet. As he narrates, we are subjected to Fennel’s mediocre writing and often pretentious prose and endless literary allusions, too – how many times can he use the metaphors of “brokenness” and “repair” and “turbulence” without our wanting to shout “Enough! We get it!” I honestly was not compelled to care that much about either of these Irishmen.

I was most absorbed by the scene when, back on land, outside of Accra, Fennel’s maid, a scientist in her own right who has chosen to stay in her impoverished village, takes him to a dump where villagers are melting down the metals in the broken sea cable to resell, in hopes make a meager living. Those are the kinds of people and stories that Colum McCann is usually so wonderful at relating, with careful observation and great compassion. But here, we are stuck with two Irishmen who won’t do the hard work of really trying to solve their own personal issues with meaningful, long-lasting relationships – perhaps try a therapist?

Instead, Fennel returns to his obsession with Apocalypse Now. Heart of Darkness, Conrad, Conway, get it? Oy. The mysterious Conway and his puzzling actions remain cloaked in mystery, and the book ends with Fennel having a revelation that perhaps he can repair his broken relationship with his son by taking a selfie with the famous South African actress and sending it across the ocean in a cable.