The Day the World Came to Town

 

I belong to a couple Facebook groups dedicated to books and reading. One particular book came highly recommended. It’s The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede. It’s a compilation of true stories of what happened in Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001 and the days that followed. These stories express the fear and confusion that were felt on 9/11 as well the goodness in humanity demonstrated by the people of Gander in the days after it. It was inspired by the Tony nominated Broadway Musical Come From Away.

On that day, the air space over the United States was shut down due to terrorist attacks using airplanes. Thirty-eight jetliners headed for the U.S. were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, a town whose existence is based on the aviation industry. Approximately 12,000 passengers, or the “plane people”, converge there creating what would seem to be a logistical nightmare regarding how to accommodate these unexpected visitors. This book spells out in some detail how the basic needs of the plane people were met during their unplanned stay in Gander.

To understand how it was accomplished, I think you have to know what the citizens of Newfoundland are like. They are friendly, cooperative people who are always willing to lend a helping hand. Specifically, Gander is the type of small town where residents keep their doors unlock and think nothing of it. The hospitality illustrated in The Day the World Came to Town was simply amazing - just an extraordinary effort by the citizens of Gander. Reading about it was fascinating and fabulous.

As for the author’s writing style, DeFede describes the events and colorful characters captivatingly and with a bit of humor when appropriate. There is also an edifying discussion on aviation and the unique challenges that were faced on 9/11 as well as the art of air traffic control.

However, the most important lesson from these stories is the importance of kindness, community and genuine human connection. At a time when there is so much emphasis on maintaining good mental health, these 3 simple things are often overlooked. If you're looking for a book that will restore your faith in humanity. I suggest you take a gander at this one. Do you see what I did there?

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know that too.