It was purely by chance that I read this around the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but it did heighten the relevancy of the book. What would have happened if a competition to design the 9/11 memorial had been won by an American-born Muslim architect of Indian background? Mo (short for Mohammad) is both secular and about as American as can be imagined. His design, of a peaceful garden, is selected by a politically appointed committee, with an assortment of over-sized egos, and immediately becomes controversial when the identity of the winner is revealed. Many decry it as a stealthy way to sneak a Muslim concept, that of the garden as paradise (particularly for martyrs), into the World Trade Center site. Emotions are still very raw. Protest groups form and demonstrations are held. The controversy brings out some of the worst, and best, in people and in the country. The book succeeds best in making one think about the issues rather than in developing the characters as fully rounded individuals. The title seems to be a play on both the “submission” of the design to the competition, and the “submission” to the will of God or Allah. 320 pp.
No comments:
Post a Comment