Rare universal acclaim for a novel : Let the Great World Spin

Surprising unanimity @ book group last night regarding Colum McCann's "Let the Great World Spin," albeit there were only 8 present only 6 of whom had read the book, but still, we usually find some area of disagreement but not this time - in fact, discussion was rather tepid and ultimately got waylaid into speculation about the actual event - Philip Petit's crossing between the two World Trade Center towers - that forms the symbolic center of the novel. We agreed that the tightrope metaphor was both an analogue for the role and stance of the author - taking the risk of embarking on a novel, making connections between the seemingly unrelated - and that it was an inspiration to all to look up to the sky, to aspire; that it brought about a unity of feeling among New Yorkers (and others, given the hacker phone call from California) that we rarely experience, and it hauntingly foreshadows the attack on the World Trade Center of 2001 that brought all together in an entirely different way, and in a different media age. All were impressed with the range of themes and styles and with the precision and beauty with which McCann conveys each of the elements. We all were a little but off by the onrush of coincidence, especially toward the end of the novel, and we all felt the novel had a turning point (I would say the moment when Gloria was mugged) that led to a softening and sentimentality in the end that the hard and severe material earlier in the novel does not properly lead to or justify. I was the only one who spoke about Tillie, arguing that we shouldn't necessarily beatify her - she was an irresponsible mother who once imprisoned speaks about how much she misses her "babies," when it's far too late and she's done nothing to help them in her life - I admit I sounded like a Republican, but did feel she bears some responsibility for her life and her misfortunes. All told,not a great discussion but we all thought Let the Great World Spin was an excellent novel, deserving of its award and acclaim.