In the Shadow of the Towers: Collected Works - Softcover

Stephanie Izarek; Dan Costa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0595243681 ISBN 13: 9780595243686

Publisher: iUniverse, 2002

Synopsis

For 30 years, a vibrant community in Lower Manhattan has thrived in the shadow of the towers. Drawn by excellent schools, green parks, Hudson river views, and relative quiet in a bustling city, thousands of people call downtown "home." On September 11th 2001 many things changed, but the community survived. It has also faced unique social, emotional, and physical challenges as it transformed overnight from a beautiful family neighborhood to Ground Zero.The poems, essays, and art presented in this book are the voices of this community-one that has struggled with the guilt of survival, the meaning of home, the push to rebuild, and fear. The contributions are from people of all ages and professions, from writers, architects, and teachers, to students, parents, and children. They wrote their stories as letters to friends or as private reflections, and they share them here in the spirit of healing, so that we can all better understand the legacy of 9/11.The proceeds from this book will be given to downtown schools and local charities.

About this title

Reviews

None of the books and articles about the attacks on the World Trade Center capture the deep sense of emotional loss and terror as do the words penned by the people who were directly touched by the event. Other than the families and friends of the victims, the residents of lower Manhattan, the neighbors of the now demolished twin towers, received a powerful blow that's forever altered their lives, write New Yorkers Izarek and Costa in this slender, poignant collection of poetry, essays and art by writers, students, artists and teachers from the area. Carrie Strauch's introspective essay, "Apartment 3S," recounts the disruption of her life by police barricades, toxic fumes from the site, media and overzealous tourists in the month immediately after the attacks. An e-mail written by Tracey Ceurvels accurately mirrors the kind of messages sent by many New Yorkers on September 11 to loved ones to lessen their concerns. Thirteen-year-old resident Jenna Fritsche compares the traumatized city to besieged Jerusalem in her haunting poem, "Never Ending Sirens," while Carol Mangis's intensely personal essay, "Caught Between Horror and Healing" wryly explains to a sympathetic nation that this tragedy remains a vastly different experience for those near Ground Zero than others living outside of the zone. With the market flooded with similar books, there's something extraordinary about this little book that not only engages the heart but speaks volumes about the spirited resilience of a city and its people.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0595243681
• ISBN 13: 9780595243686
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 162