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A review by nglofile
The Submission by Amy Waldman
5.0
This, my friends, is a breathtaking book. As a matter of fact, I am still so much under its spell that I doubt my ability to do it justice in articulating why it has such impact. As such, I may well edit my comments when I have achieved a bit more thought and distance.
Addressing 9/11 and its aftermath is always a tricky proposition, and many readers (myself among them) actively avoid the works that try. I won't go into the usual reasons here, but I will say that I am incredibly grateful that I was asked to read this book. Otherwise, I would have missed a masterpiece.
In lesser hands, the premise might seem contrived: an open, anonymous competition to design the 9/11 memorial is held, and the winning artist is revealed to be a Muslim American. The reactions and debates that follow are authentic and conflicted, and different views are represented in a way that avoids - for the most part - being reductive. What impressed me most is that there isn't an obvious right answer to questions posed, and I found myself purposely slowing my reading so as not to miss any nuance. This is one of those rare books that I couldn't help but think about even when I set it down. It made me uncomfortable, but in the best possible way.
The last note I'll mention for now is the grace with which the author threads the characters, story, and theme. The last pages in particular underscored what an important (but not self-important) work this could be, and I drew a surprised breath when I realized the artistry with which Waldman plays on her title.
re-read (audio): December 2012
audiobook note: I admire Bernadette Dunne's voice talent, but previously I had so associated her with Shirley Jackson's literary horror that I was wary. My fears were completely unfounded, as Dunne does every word justice. Another perfect pairing.
Addressing 9/11 and its aftermath is always a tricky proposition, and many readers (myself among them) actively avoid the works that try. I won't go into the usual reasons here, but I will say that I am incredibly grateful that I was asked to read this book. Otherwise, I would have missed a masterpiece.
In lesser hands, the premise might seem contrived: an open, anonymous competition to design the 9/11 memorial is held, and the winning artist is revealed to be a Muslim American. The reactions and debates that follow are authentic and conflicted, and different views are represented in a way that avoids - for the most part - being reductive. What impressed me most is that there isn't an obvious right answer to questions posed, and I found myself purposely slowing my reading so as not to miss any nuance. This is one of those rare books that I couldn't help but think about even when I set it down. It made me uncomfortable, but in the best possible way.
The last note I'll mention for now is the grace with which the author threads the characters, story, and theme. The last pages in particular underscored what an important (but not self-important) work this could be, and I drew a surprised breath when I realized the artistry with which Waldman plays on her title.
re-read (audio): December 2012
audiobook note: I admire Bernadette Dunne's voice talent, but previously I had so associated her with Shirley Jackson's literary horror that I was wary. My fears were completely unfounded, as Dunne does every word justice. Another perfect pairing.