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The Submission by Amy Waldman

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Official Kiwi Families review by Emma Bassett

The setup:
Post 9/11, the city gathers to commemorate the space with a memorial. In a carefully choreographed (and blind) process the committed panel realise they have chosen a design submitted by a Muslim. The grief, and confusion, and vulnerabilities of a recovering city are concentrated in this group already coming to terms with the implications of this changed place.

I’m liking:
This book could easily segue into a cliche but instead it’s reasoned, assured and confronts scary angles of the divide. It focuses on the core memorial panel and gives the reader time to empathise and understand each character, not in a teachy way but in realising the perspectives of those involved. It questions whether it is ultimately dividing (and still dividing) and how we can recover enough to unite.

Extra for experts:
This is Waldman’s first novel and powerful at that. She’s earned her writing stripes working for The New York Times in the US and abroad, as well as for the Atlantic.

The conclusion:
Read it. It’s a brilliant book with heart.You’ll find yourself thinking about it and rolling scenes over in your head for days afterwards. Enjoy.

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This information was compiled by the Kiwi Families team.

1 Comment

  1. Rgribble Reply

    Official Kiwi Families review by Emma Bassett

    The setup: Post 9/11, the city gathers to commemorate the space with a memorial. In
    a carefully choreographed (and blind) process the committed panel
    realise they have chosen a design submitted by a Muslim. The grief, and
    confusion, and vulnerabilities of a recovering city are concentrated in
    this group already coming to terms with the implications of this changed
    place.

    I’m liking: This book could easily segue into a cliche but instead it’s
    reasoned, assured and confronts scary angles of the divide. It focuses
    on the core memorial panel and gives the reader time to empathise and
    understand each character, not in a teachy way but in realising the
    perspectives of those involved. It questions whether it is ultimately
    dividing (and still dividing) and how we can recover enough to unite.

    Extra for experts: This is Waldman’s first novel and powerful at that. She’s earned her
    writing stripes working for The New York Times in the US and abroad, as
    well as for the Atlantic.

    The conclusion: Read it. It’s a brilliant book with heart.You’ll find yourself thinking
    about it and rolling scenes over in your head for days afterwards.
    Enjoy.

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