captainhotbun's review against another edition
challenging
informative
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
sonygaystation's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Extremely harrowing. There really are no words.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide, Blood, Hate crime, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Cancer, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
meltingpages's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
How could I give this anything less than a 5 star? I will never forget reading this book, it's obviously a very heavy read, and I did have to take a break for a little bit so I didn't overwhelm myself. I was in elementary school when 9/11 happened, but I still remember seeing it on TV and not understanding what was happening. This book was devastating and put me into the shoes of the people who suffered one of the most tragic days in history, and made me feel anxious, uncomfortable, and overwhelmingly sad. I don't think there is really anything else I could say about this book, other than if you feel like you can handle it, definitely give this one a read because this is something that we should never forget.
kschmehl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
andrew_russell's review
4.0
Almost exactly a year ago, I read Garrett M. Graff's widely acclaimed oral history of 9/11, The Only Plane In The Sky and found it (as expected) to be deeply moving. It's terrifying and gut-wrenching immediacy was achieved through the use of first-hand testimony from those involved in the events of that day.
Mitchell Zuckoff's Fall and Rise has a contrasting approach - successfully filling in the gaps that an oral history such as The Only Plane In The Sky leaves in the mind of the reader. Detailed backstories of a large number of victims, the construction and safety failings of the World Trade Center and the activities of the terrorist hijackers in the lead-up to the devastation of four plane crashes (three of which struck major symbols of US power and potency) provide a richer and more textured approach to what took place. Where Graff's work acts as a sledgehammer to the skull in terms of it's brutal proximity to what actually happened, Zuckoff's is more measured. Although still brutal, it is at the same time informative. At times, the authorial voice of Zuckoff extends a little too deeply into the narrative, but these moments are rare enough that they do little to detract from the book.
9/11 is a difficult topic to read about, of that there is no doubt. It was unique in that a very detailed record of the precise moments leading up to the deaths of individuals is available. An example of this would be the final call of Kevin Cosgrove. Stranded on the 105th floor of the South Tower, he had already informed his wife that he was okay. But that was before the plane struck. Now, blinded and choked by smoke, he grew ever more frustrated as he spoke to an emergency services operator on the phone. Then, just as he was describing where he was, there was a deep rumbling noise, a desperate cry and the sound of the tower collapsing. The call cut off, leaving an eerie silence in place of Kevin's voice.
I sometimes have to remind myself why I would read a book such as this. One that details unbearable desperation, the brutal deaths of individuals and devastating loss on a scale that is still hard to envisage over twenty years later. But then I reach the answer - it is over twenty years since this happened. It's beginning to pass from something that affected everyone to some extent or other, to something that is a piece of history. Young men and women are alive today, going about their lives, whilst being perhaps completely unaware of just how it felt to be wrapped up in what happened that day. Or even to realise just how shitty and depressing a day it was, even for those thousands of miles away from NYC. Difficult as they are too read, books like this go some of the way towards providing that insight.
Mitchell Zuckoff's Fall and Rise has a contrasting approach - successfully filling in the gaps that an oral history such as The Only Plane In The Sky leaves in the mind of the reader. Detailed backstories of a large number of victims, the construction and safety failings of the World Trade Center and the activities of the terrorist hijackers in the lead-up to the devastation of four plane crashes (three of which struck major symbols of US power and potency) provide a richer and more textured approach to what took place. Where Graff's work acts as a sledgehammer to the skull in terms of it's brutal proximity to what actually happened, Zuckoff's is more measured. Although still brutal, it is at the same time informative. At times, the authorial voice of Zuckoff extends a little too deeply into the narrative, but these moments are rare enough that they do little to detract from the book.
9/11 is a difficult topic to read about, of that there is no doubt. It was unique in that a very detailed record of the precise moments leading up to the deaths of individuals is available. An example of this would be the final call of Kevin Cosgrove. Stranded on the 105th floor of the South Tower, he had already informed his wife that he was okay. But that was before the plane struck. Now, blinded and choked by smoke, he grew ever more frustrated as he spoke to an emergency services operator on the phone. Then, just as he was describing where he was, there was a deep rumbling noise, a desperate cry and the sound of the tower collapsing. The call cut off, leaving an eerie silence in place of Kevin's voice.
I sometimes have to remind myself why I would read a book such as this. One that details unbearable desperation, the brutal deaths of individuals and devastating loss on a scale that is still hard to envisage over twenty years later. But then I reach the answer - it is over twenty years since this happened. It's beginning to pass from something that affected everyone to some extent or other, to something that is a piece of history. Young men and women are alive today, going about their lives, whilst being perhaps completely unaware of just how it felt to be wrapped up in what happened that day. Or even to realise just how shitty and depressing a day it was, even for those thousands of miles away from NYC. Difficult as they are too read, books like this go some of the way towards providing that insight.
jenmat1197's review
5.0
This book recounts almost minute by minute what happened on 9/11 with many people involved. Back stories of people on the planes, in the towers, part of the rescue effort come alive in this book to paint a picture of who the people we lost truly were. We get to hear many of their last words, and how ordinary people became extrodinary on a beautiful sunny day in September 20 years ago.
This book was incredible. After 20 years I cannot watch a single story or documentary, or read a single book without bursting into tears. This book delves into details I never knew before, and brings to life the people who were lost. We hear about their last days, their lives before 9/11, and what happened to them and their families on that day. I was captivated by every word.
This book will rip your heart out. You will mourn for the people who were lost and the families who continue to mourn them. But you will also celebrate the people they were. Don't miss this one.
This book was incredible. After 20 years I cannot watch a single story or documentary, or read a single book without bursting into tears. This book delves into details I never knew before, and brings to life the people who were lost. We hear about their last days, their lives before 9/11, and what happened to them and their families on that day. I was captivated by every word.
This book will rip your heart out. You will mourn for the people who were lost and the families who continue to mourn them. But you will also celebrate the people they were. Don't miss this one.