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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I picked this as a book club selection be cause I had wanted to read it after hearing about it. I can't wait to hear what other members have to say; we are all very close and live in or near to New York City. We all have our own feelings about that day in September 2001 and while I enjoyed this a lot I felt that it was a little bit off. While I was not directly touched by the attacks, I always listen for 4 names during the roll call of victims. I wanted to like this book more; but I had a problem with Claire and a couple of other characters. I felt that they were how the author thought they were instead of how people actually were which is a small quibble on my part. I have read several of the post September 11 novels and I am still waiting for an author to "get it.". This one has come the closest.
Portrayal of how Muslims in the U.S. were treated and regarded by politicians and culture at-large in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Difficult to read because it's probably true. Excellent character development.
It's the fictional story of the controversy springing from a Muslim American winning a design competition to build the 9/11 memorial. The characters are complex, flawed, hypocritical, heroic, despicable, and noble - a picture of humanity under pressure - and it takes you on quite the emotional and moral journey. I finished the book not really knowing how I felt about what decisions I would have made and not had doubts because of their consequences.
It was an engrossing read for me, despite that fact that I knew beforehand that it paralleled the "Ground Zero" mosque controversy and my opinion in that case as well as my assumption as to the author's point of view. My two most likely predictions for the ending, thankfully, did not come to pass - this one was far more interesting. Like any good story, if left me wanting more without making my feel cheated.
It was an engrossing read for me, despite that fact that I knew beforehand that it paralleled the "Ground Zero" mosque controversy and my opinion in that case as well as my assumption as to the author's point of view. My two most likely predictions for the ending, thankfully, did not come to pass - this one was far more interesting. Like any good story, if left me wanting more without making my feel cheated.
In this "what if" novel, a jury is convened to decide on the design for a fictional memorial for the site of the Twin Towers after 9/11. As the anonymous submission is chosen, it is revealed that he is an American Muslim. When the result is made public, all sides weigh in on what becomes a national controversy. This is a fascinating look at American culture in the time after the attack, when all Muslims became suspect and the true nature of bigotry and religious division in the US is revealed.
This book really surprised me. I picked it up because I had seen so many positive reviews of it on book lists, but when I first started reading, it felt forced and artificial to me. I wasn't sure if I was going to finish it. I'm glad I did. The further I got in the book, the more deeply entwined I became. The characters went from being 2-D snapshots to fully dimensional and complex humans. The title, "The Submission," wove its way through with all its varied meanings and pushed me to constantly question myself, my assumptions and my perceptions - about people, about art, about architecture, about public opinion and what shapes it, about how we present ourselves and what dictates how much of ourselves we reveal and for what purpose. Lots of great food for thought! I think this book is highly relevant given the times and reminds us that how we use our imagination - not just having it but really how we use it - can tell us a lot about ourselves.
Better than I thought, esp. after hearing the premise. Good character weaving.
Stunning novel, beautifully written. Could this be THE 9/11 novel?
This was a frustrating read for me because of the content. I didn't really enjoy it until the end of the story & then I didn't want it to end. The writing was particularly beautiful at the end.
Waldman weaves together a tale that reveals what it is to be a post-9/11 American in a fictional world as much as in the real one. People are good, bad, messy, (un)trusting, acting in their own self-interest, acting on behalf of others. At times I was frustrated by ever more characters being introduced and a somewhat slow pace, but the book is, overall, compellingly constructed. Its final page is searing. These characters made me think prismatically—who’s right? Whose views on a 9/11 memorial should win? Why? What to do with conflicting points of view from the same person? How do we untangle culture from religion, citizenship from belonging, status from identity, or person from ideology? The questions this book makes one ponder are real and visceral and complicated and annoying and necessary.
I really liked this book, even though a lot of the characters are unlikeable people. The exploration of people's prejudices against Islam is really interesting and made me so angry, but that's a good thing in the case of a book, since any time I'm reading something and it makes me really think or feel strongly, that means the writing is really good.
I liked Mo and Asma the best. I really identified with Mo's position - that he had nothing to explain and that the questions he was being asked wouldn't have even crossed people's minds if he wasn't Muslim. The ignorance and prejudices of the other characters made me so angry, since I see that kind of ridiculous thing in real life. Asma was brave and spoke up for what was right, even though it cost her everything. I HATED Alyssa. She's manipulative and selfish, and had no redeeming qualities. I wish terrible things on her character.
Claire was also irritating. I have a huge problem with people who can't make up their own minds, who are always wanting something more or someone else to make their decisions for them. She was the kind of person that's impossible to please, because there's never enough information to get her to a decision. I find that personality type extremely annoying, because it's so wishy-washy and fearful. Every decision she makes is guided by fear - at first she's afraid of disappointing her dead husband if she doesn't back the design she lobbied so hard for, even though the architect is Muslim. Then she's afraid of the other families, who's bigotry is leading them to reject the garden because the architect is Muslim. She lets Alyssa, a woman she doesn't even know, manipulate her and sow unsubstantiated seeds of doubt and fear in her. She trusts Alyssa's word over Mo's - why? Because Alyssa is a fellow white girl, so she's obviously trustworthy. Her word doesn't deserve to be questioned, even though she's a tabloid reporter who is CLEARLY looking to make a story out of nothing, to stir up controversy. Mo, on the other hand, has done nothing but design a memorial that she adored and felt was the perfect representation of peace and healing, until she found out his religion. So, clearly, he's the one that should be mistrusted, right? Claire could have solved her own problems by taking the time to investigate and learn about Islam for herself, but did she bother? Nope. She's so busy being a pampered, rich, trophy widow that she can't be bothered to think for and educate herself. Like I said, it's up to everyone else to make decisions for Claire. She's so passive that she can't even bestir herself to do some research, even though she was supposedly a lawyer before becoming a trophy wife.
This book really draws out the things that are wrong with blind patriotism and jingoism. Especially the kinds of flag waiving, "USA! USA!" chanting, "if you're not with us, you're with the terrorists" attitudes that have become so prevalent in this country since 9/11. Hopefully, this book makes people question some of their own attitudes and beliefs.
I liked Mo and Asma the best. I really identified with Mo's position - that he had nothing to explain and that the questions he was being asked wouldn't have even crossed people's minds if he wasn't Muslim. The ignorance and prejudices of the other characters made me so angry, since I see that kind of ridiculous thing in real life. Asma was brave and spoke up for what was right, even though it cost her everything. I HATED Alyssa. She's manipulative and selfish, and had no redeeming qualities. I wish terrible things on her character.
Claire was also irritating. I have a huge problem with people who can't make up their own minds, who are always wanting something more or someone else to make their decisions for them. She was the kind of person that's impossible to please, because there's never enough information to get her to a decision. I find that personality type extremely annoying, because it's so wishy-washy and fearful. Every decision she makes is guided by fear - at first she's afraid of disappointing her dead husband if she doesn't back the design she lobbied so hard for, even though the architect is Muslim. Then she's afraid of the other families, who's bigotry is leading them to reject the garden because the architect is Muslim. She lets Alyssa, a woman she doesn't even know, manipulate her and sow unsubstantiated seeds of doubt and fear in her. She trusts Alyssa's word over Mo's - why? Because Alyssa is a fellow white girl, so she's obviously trustworthy. Her word doesn't deserve to be questioned, even though she's a tabloid reporter who is CLEARLY looking to make a story out of nothing, to stir up controversy. Mo, on the other hand, has done nothing but design a memorial that she adored and felt was the perfect representation of peace and healing, until she found out his religion. So, clearly, he's the one that should be mistrusted, right?
Spoiler
Finally, she's angry at and terrified of Mo because he points out to her how unfairly he's being treated, by her and the rest of the people who doubt him. So she takes the coward's way out and stabs him in the back, asking him to withdraw in a televised statement. She can't deal with the fact that she's just as bigoted as the families and Sean, so she hides her head in the sand and makes her problem Mo's fault. For shame, Claire. For shame.This book really draws out the things that are wrong with blind patriotism and jingoism. Especially the kinds of flag waiving, "USA! USA!" chanting, "if you're not with us, you're with the terrorists" attitudes that have become so prevalent in this country since 9/11. Hopefully, this book makes people question some of their own attitudes and beliefs.