It’s Day 4 of my 30 Days of Writing project and today I’m writing a book review of my latest 5-star non-fiction read.
Last week I read The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede. The reason I picked it up is because my mom told me that her book club was considering reading it for their September selection. I placed it on hold at the library and then the e-book and audiobook came in at the same time!
The audiobook was only 6 hours and was narrated by Ray Porter, who also narrated Project Hail Mary. It was done so well!
I had no idea about the town of Gander and everything the residents did for the folks who landed there on September 11th. I teared up multiple times while reading from the pride I have in humanity. When I finished, I wanted to talk about it with whoever would listen!
As I was discussing with friends, I learned that I should watch the musical Come From Away.
Book summary from the publisher:
When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. The citizens of Gander met the stranded passengers with an overwhelming display of friendship and goodwill.
As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Local bus drivers who had been on strike came off the picket lines to transport the passengers to the various shelters set up in local schools and churches. Linens and toiletries were bought and donated. A middle school provided showers, as well as access to computers, email, and televisions, allowing the passengers to stay in touch with family and follow the news.
Over the course of those four days, many of the passengers developed friendships with Gander residents that they expect to last a lifetime. As a show of thanks, scholarship funds for the children of Gander have been formed and donations have been made to provide new computers for the schools. This book recounts the inspiring story of the residents of Gander, Canada, whose acts of kindness after the 9/11 attacks have touched the lives of thousands of people and been an example of humanity and goodwill.
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