A review by stevienlcf
The Submission by Amy Waldman

5.0

A literary "ripped from the headlines" finely crafted novel about the fictional events surrounding a memorial intended to honor those who died in 9/11. The story opens with a high-profile committee debating the merits of various designs that were submitted anonymously. The design which is ultimately selected, a walled garden with spare geometry, is championed by Claire Burwell, a beautiful and wealthy 9/11 widow. When the designer is revealed to be a young Virginia-born and Yale-educated architect, Mohammad "Mo" Khan, one of the committee members blurts out, "It's a godamn Muslim" and, within hours, an ambitious journalist leaks the news to the public. Special interest groups, such as the Memorial Support Committee, that is against a "Muslim memorial" or a "martyrs' paradise," spring up across the nation. Handscarf pullings and mosque descecrations follow. Even the governor uses the competition as an opportunity to pursue her quest for a national forum. Waldman does a masterful job of juggling a diverse cast of characters. She seems as comfortable in an apartment of Banglasdeshi immigrants as she is in an Upper Eastside private club. Waldman gives voice to both Islamic zealotry and misguided patriotism, resulting in a painful, but gripping, read.