Ten books to read before you go to New York City

Jessica Colley is a freelance travel and food writer. For Fodor's, she tagged ten books to read before you go to New York City, including:

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Irish author and New York resident Column McCann delivers a meticulous portrayal of life in New York City in this award-winning novel. Real events—like a tightrope walker strolling between the Twin Towers in 1974—are juxtaposed with the fictional lives of a variety of intriguing characters. This engrossing story brings together the tales of characters from all points in the social spectrum, all sharing the same city.

Read about the other books on the list.

Let the Great World Spin is one of Mickey Sumner's six best books.

--Marshal Zeringue