It has been two years since the terrorist attack on 9/11. A jure debates the merits of two memorials submitted to the contest; one of these will be erected to memorialize those lost on 9/11. The jury member who represents the families who lost loved ones in the attack is strident in her defense of a garden memorial. She convinces other jurors to vote for the design. And when the garden design is determined to be the winning design, the name of the submission’s architect is revealed: Mohammad Khan. Can Americans/New Yorkers accept and embrace a 9/11 memorial designed by a man with a Muslim name? Even if he is an American? Can an American with such a name be treated in post-9/11 America? People from all sides of the issue will weigh in on the memorial and its architect. Obviously, there will be controversy. This novel received a lot of hype, but I’m just not impressed by it. I guess the plot could have been interesting, if it had not been so obvious. The characters are one-dimensional, and I just could not force myself to care about them.

June Library book group selection.

Vvery well written and described with great accuracy what might have happened had this scenario (a Muslim wins a contest to design the September 11 World Trade Center memorial) actually played out, but the characters were fairly flat, which made it hard to really get into the book. Still, it was an enjoyable read and, in case anyone is looking, one particularly well suited to book clubs. I definitely wouldn't mind having people to discuss this one with.

Well-written, good character development, and good plot. I got a bit bogged down in the morass of the prejudices, processes, egos, stereotypes and politics. I ended up skimming the second half. The rest of my book club was far more positive.

While it started a bit slower than other things I have been reading lately, after a bit I found myself engrossed. A thought provoking book about the prejudices and stereotypes we possess that we may not wish to acknowledge. A great read.

Interesting perspective on the 911 tragedy and what could have happened. Racially charged, interesting and worth a read. I agree with valency_sterling...good but not great.

A good book, but shy of "very good" or "great." Even with the twist of events and such, the material didn't feel especially compelling or new. It could definitely generate a lot of discussion and be good for book clubs, but there was some certain spark missing.

As the narrative develops we get a great description of the evils unleashed by the events of 9-11 and how these threaten the better angels of our nature. Hang on to the very end to get the full impact of this story.

Excellent thoroughly engrossing. I found it slow to start and the style was a little unusual but once it got underway it was a real steamroller of a story. It is the anti-ripped from the headlines book.

an important book, superbly written, with subtle and intrticate characterizations, a narrative that doesn't stop ever being compelling, the end is written for history, not to presently politically pander, a way more noble, and enduring,ambition, a book which should enter the canon of social anthropology, right up there with Saramago's "Blindness", Camus' "The Plague"