When the winning designer of the anonymous 9/11 memorial contest is revealed to be an American Muslim, a firestorm erupts among the media, politicians, victim families, artists and the jury panel. Midway through the novel I found myself not connecting with architect, the widow, or the detractors. I think this was the intention of the author, so that each argument and point of view would have equal weight. The novel really picks up when undocumented immigrant 9/11 widow Asma Anwar speaks at the public hearing. The action that follows is sad yet predictable. Nice epilogue. Powerful story. Great for a book club.
I've shied away from movies, fiction, etc. relating to 9/11; the subject just seemed too painful. But when this became my bookclub selection for May, I felt obligated to read it. I'm glad I did. We talked about this book for an hour before it was time to disband (this bookclub meets for one hour once a month and focuses solely on the book), and I think we could have gone longer.
The central premise is that there has been a blind competition for the design of a 9/11 memorial in NYC. The panel of 12 painstakingly reaches agreement that one design should be chosen. And then the designer's name is revealed: Muhammad Khan.
This is the author's first novel, and it is a remarkable work.
The central premise is that there has been a blind competition for the design of a 9/11 memorial in NYC. The panel of 12 painstakingly reaches agreement that one design should be chosen. And then the designer's name is revealed: Muhammad Khan.
This is the author's first novel, and it is a remarkable work.
