Claire Harwell hasn't settled into grief; events haven't let her. Cool, eloquent, raising two fatherless children, Claire has emerged as the most visible of the widows who became a potent political force in the aftermath of the catastrophe.
She longs for her husband, but she has found her mission: she sits on a jury charged with selecting a fitting memorial for the victims of the attack. Of the thousands of anonymous submissions that she and her fellow jurors examine, one transfixes Claire: a garden on whose walls the names of the dead are inscribed. But when the winning envelope is opened, they find the designer is Mohammad Khan—Mo—an enigmatic Muslim-American who, it seems, feels no need to represent anyone's beliefs except his own.
When the design and its creator are leaked, a media firestorm erupts, and Claire finds herself trying to balance principles against emotions amid escalating tensions about the place of Islam in America. A remarkably bold and ambitious debut, The Submission is peopled with journalists, activists, mourners, and bureaucrats who struggle for advantage and fight for their ideals. In this deeply humane novel, the breadth of Amy Waldman's cast of characters is matched by her startling ability to conjure individual lives from their own points of view. A striking portrait of a city—and a country—fractured by old hatreds and new struggles, The Submission is a major novel by an important new talent.
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"Excellent book about a blind contest to create a 9/11 Memorial. A Muslim wins, having the best design, and the books moves pretty quickly into the fallout after it leaks to the press that the winner was Muslim. Really good book that presents all sides, and very realistically detailed characters."
— Leah (5 out of 5 stars)
" This novel started out as a strong read but fell apart for me as the story went on. There were too many unbelievable twists to the characters and it weakened the plot. The ending felt rushed. "
— Diane, 2/13/2014" The Submission plays on your concience surrounding the 9/11 tragedy. You want so bad to like the book, so you don't feel "un-American". However, the characters are written like cardboard cutouts, and the plot itself is thin at best. There is no explanation for why each person digs themselves into their position for the battle, and how they became the way they are. I felt as if the author just flipped through a magazine, found a few blurbs about those affected by the 9/11 tragedy and said, okay those are my characters, and you never get more than the brief paragraph of insight into what makes them tick. I am sure there will be plenty of people who like the book just because of it's subject matter, but I was not one of them. "
— Jenee, 2/5/2014" extremely interesting,weave of characters and thought-provoking situations. i doubt I would have chosen this myself but I am grateful someone else chose for me. "
— porchreader, 1/24/2014" Great book - lots to think about regarding our treatment of Muslims in America. "
— Lauren, 1/20/2014" Very interesting book on what could have happened after September 11th. Definitely makes you think and understand both sides of the controversy. "
— Stefanie, 1/3/2014" Just go read this book already "
— Alex, 12/9/2013" A good look into the lives of many different people with different viewpoints of the 9/11 tragedy. I was shocked by the response of some, disgusted by the response of others, and deeply saddened by the general realization that this event in our history really did tear a country apart. "
— Jenn, 12/5/2013" Beautiful depiction of how post-9/11 we all lose. This lack of reconciliation continues to play out in current politics. "
— Michaela, 4/20/2013" It was a pretty good book. It was all about choosing a designer to construct the memorial at the WTC after 9/11. I read this book because it was one of the Library's Readers Choice books, since I have a goal to read at least 3 or 4 of them before the time period is over. "
— Heather, 3/13/2013" Did not hold my interest. "
— Nancy, 3/2/2013" I've added this to my all time favorites and it's a very short list. I started to wait and read it again, but I'm sure. Excellent. Thought provoking. Fiction is my favorite way to explore a complex non-fiction issue. LOVED IT. "
— Loreldonaghey, 2/12/2013" I really liked the plot of this book, it really makes you think how we treat people in this country. My only gripe is that I really didn't connect with any of the characters. "
— Rebecca, 9/11/2012" I'm struggling with this book, but being that it's highly rated and listed as one of the top best books in 2011, I'll do my best to stick it out! "
— Sonrisa, 8/22/2012" Worth reading but left a sour taste in my mouth. "
— Maggie, 8/6/2012" Lots to talk about in this book, good pick for a book club. Frankly I just didn't enjoy reading. Very few redeeming characters just to disappointing to read about them. "
— Kelly, 6/23/2012" Fantastic book. Beautifully written and thought provoking. "
— Kris, 6/9/2012" I found it interesting, but it should have ended without the last chapter. "
— Jackie, 3/3/2012" A reimagining of what could have happened if a Muslim won an open competition to design the Ground Zero memorial. Smart about the architecture world - but also hellaciously good on post-9/11 New York, immigration and identity. And What America Is and Ought to Be. "
— Alex, 3/2/2012" WOW - very powerful - excellent "
— Julia, 11/6/2011" Bonfire of the vanities with heart...extraordinary feel for the politics and emotions in NYC after 9/11 "
— Patricia, 11/4/2011" <br/>I really liked this book. It was engaging and thought provoking. The characters were complex and not predictable. A lot to think about. "
— Jpread, 11/2/2011" This book was not a quick read for me. It was hard to get through because of how probable the story is. Well worth it. "
— Jess, 11/1/2011" I really like this book. It is an important read for our time. At first I couldn't stand the writing...but then I realized it was just outside of my comfort zone & I grew to like it, even be influenced by it.<br/><br/>I am dying for someone I know to read it so we can discuss!<br/> "
— Maggie, 11/1/2011" Provocative with expertly drawn characters. You should read this book. <br/> "
— Kim, 11/1/2011" Outstanding. Powerful. It makes you look inside at your own experiences and yes, your own prejudices. <br/> "
— Susan, 10/28/2011" Probably closer to a 3.5. Very interesting, nuanced look at contemporary politics w/r/t race, religion, terrorism, and class. "
— Brad, 10/27/2011" Couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. A masterful work - thought provoking and not easy. Highly recommend. "
— Stephanie, 10/23/2011Amy Waldman was co-chief of the South Asia bureau of the New York Times. Her fiction has appeared in the Atlantic and Boston Review and is anthologized in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2010. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.