The Submission by Amy Waldman

The Submission

Amy Waldman

The plot of this debut novel is the commissioning of a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 disaster. The resultant conflicts of interest among the families and government officials is very well described as is the wave of anti-Muslin feeling which engulfed America. The characters are rather stereotypical and are secondary to the overall message of tolerance. An interesting novel which illuminates the prevailing social and political background.

Extract
'Entitlement? Was that the word you used?' ... 'Was I entitled to lose my husband? Was I entitled to have to explain to my children why they will never know their father, to have to raise them alone? Am I entitled to live knowing the suffering my husband endured? This isn't about greed. Do your homework: I don't need a penny of this compensation and I don't plan to keep it. This isn't about money. It's about justice, accountability. And yes, I am entitled to that.'
Parallels
  • The Poet Game by Salar Abdoh
  • Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
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Violence