Marilyn reviews The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede, HarperAudio, 2017, e-book narrated by Ray Porter.
Like all other passengers who boarded their respective flights, transatlantic passengers were also affected when heading to the United States from Europe on September 1, 2001. The entire world was changed on 9/11. One of the most devastating effects of this was when the United States air space closed, and many flights were rerouted to Canada.
Author DeFede recounts the true story of Gander, Newfoundland’s opening their hearts and homes to the 6, 122 passengers who could have been stranded on 9/11 at the Gander International Airport otherwise.
I enjoyed this book and was touched by the extraordinary gestures of hospitality and friendships that Gander residents and their surrounding communities displayed.
Most recently as October, 2021, our own Orpheum Theatre in Memphis presented the musical, Come from Away, based on this historical account.