A review by ktoumajian
The Submission by Amy Waldman

3.0

3.5 stars...didn't end as promisingly as it started...but a very interesting, multi-faceted take on America, post-9/11. Set in 2003, an anonymous competition for the design of the 9/11 memorial ends when the jury of artists, critics and family members selects a design submitted by an American Muslim. I appreciated how well Waldman interweaves the stories and perspectives of so many characters who are invested in this memorial and the very real internal and external conflicts that result. As a former bureau chief for the New York Times in South Asia, Waldman certainly displays knowledge and nuance regarding Islam, memory, and ultimately, what the making of a memorial really means. She asks big questions that are never really answered but which are worthwhile to ask ourselves as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan finally come to a close. What is the purpose of a memorial...is it for us, in the present who grieve? Or is it for the generations to come? What kind of memorial would be most appropriate for our current wars? That was a question she asked during her talk at Literary Women & it stuck with me as I read this. I don't have an answer but I find the question intriguing.