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American Widow | 
 enlarge | Author: Alissa Torres
Creator: Sungyoon Choi
Publisher: Villard
List Price: $22.00
Buy New: $14.96
You Save: $7.04 (32%)
New (38) Used (12) from $9.75
Rating:  7 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0345500695
Dewey Decimal Number: 974.71044092
EAN: 9780345500694
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"At the heart of "American Widow" is the notion of Sept. 11 as a personal, rather than a national or political, tragedy, which, this achingly tender work reminds us, is exactly what it was." -- LA Times
Want to honor those who passed during 9-11? Turn off the stupid documentary glorifying all of those images we've seen over and over, and read this sincere account of how that fateful day effected one person that represents all of us.” — Aint It Cool News
“[A] raw, occasionally maddening, bracing graphic memoir… Unbearably moving.” — The New York Times Book Review
“Reading it, you feel that Torres could be your friend or neighbor; she makes an epic tragedy intimate.” — Newsday
On September 10, 2001, Eddie Torres started his dream job at Cantor Fitzgerald in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The next morning, he said goodbye to his 7-months-pregnant wife, Alissa, and headed out the door.
In an instant, Alissa’s world was thrown into chaos. Forced to deal with unimaginable challenges, Alissa suddenly found herself cast into the role of “9/11 widow,” tossed into a storm of bureaucracy, politics, patriotism, mourning, consolation, and, soon enough, motherhood.
Beautifully and thoughtfully illustrated, American Widow is the affecting account of one woman’s journey through shock, pain, birth, and rebirth in the aftermath of a great tragedy. It is also the story of a young couple’s love affair: how a Colombian immigrant and a strong-minded New Yorker met, fell in love, and struggled to fulfill their dreams. Above all, American Widow is a tribute to the resilience of the human heart and the very personal story of how one woman endured a very public tragedy.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Wishing it had more depth November 25, 2008
"American Widow" is the straight retelling of Allison Torre's short life with her husband Eddie, who had just started work at Cantor Fitzgerald at the World Trade Center on September 10, 2001, the day before the tragic 9/11 attacks. Allison recounts the events of that day, the details of her love affair and truncated marriage with Eddie, and of the child he was carrying that day who never will know his father. Allison's antagonists are not the terrorists who murdered her husband, but the mostly well-meaning people -- overbearing friends, intrusive grief counselors and the disorganized Red Cross workers. The financial aspects of the 9/11 families is touched on, mostly in the way that Allison and others were dogged by the painful indignity of answering questions about the worth of the deceased loved ones -- all this to collect promised money to pay the rent and feed their families.
Seven years after the attacks, much of their intrinsic sadness and shock value have worn off. Allison Torre's experience, searing as it was, is like that of many others. A focus on the personal might have helped. How did she work through (or not) her grief and depression? Why was she upset with her husband on the morning he died -- hormones? Immaturity? How has she incorporated that day into the fabric of her life?
I wish Allison well, and hope that writing the book was healing for her. And though I feel like a heel about saying so, "American Widow" did not draw me in.
 Heartbreaking, Powerful Book October 27, 2008
I happened to come across this book at a bookstore not too long ago. I opened it out of curiousity, and ended up reading it entirely in one sitting.
The subject of the book was very emotionally powerful for me, the story of a 8 month pregnant women whose husband is killed in the WTC on 9/11 and the ensuing struggle to cope with the tremendous loss despite the ongoing, stubborn everyday life that the world brings. Mixed in with the life story of her husband, it is a saddening yet powerfully revealing read.
The drawing and art of the novel are beautiful and extremely well done.
I am slightly amazed this book hasn't gotten more attention, which it is well deserving of.
I clearly remember the emotions of the actual day seven years ago. The ensuing turmoil of political situations over the years to now have been only too clear. But reading this marked the very first time tears have been brought to my eyes.
Graphic and Touching October 20, 2008
I'm not much a fan of graphic novels, but this one was engaging, informative and moving. Easy to digest in one sitting and rewarding as well!
THE BEAUTY OF TRUTH September 11, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
With time inexorably passing by, and amongst the far too many pointless narratives exploiting 9/11 to nobody's gain, here comes Alissa Torres' extraordinary book. The blessing of truth, unmitigated and at times scathing, as it emerges page after page in American Widow, does more for our collective and individual insight than any increasingly pale, and vain, anniversary celebration. And the splendid drawings make this book highly recommendable for any curious and intelligent child and for all New Yorkers, really.
American widow: Graphic grieving September 11, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The events of September 11, 2001 will go down as the day international terror began to rule the United States and an era of battle readiness gained prominence. For Alissa Torres, and those left behind by the deaths of the thousands in the towers, a painful chapter in life began.
On many levels, Torres bares her soul as she wades through the intense emotions surrounding the loss of Eddie Torres, her husband. Pregnant on September 11, 2001, the birth of her child by a dead husband put her into a situation even more intense. Betrayal, loss, anger, loneliness, and desperation ooze through in the sparse diary/dialogue laden narrative. The art by Sungyoon Choi is simple, and does not overwhelm the angst filled text.
Content wise, most Americans will never get a more honest education in the politics of humanitarian aid, whether Red Cross, or government based. The frustration the survivors must have dealt with are intimidating in lowpoint emphasis. The transformation from wife, to widow, to victim, to charity dependent, and finally to independence is compelling.
This will be a controversial book given the subject matter. Agree with Ms Torres or not, you will find yourself wanting to find out `the rest of the story'.
Tim Lasiuta
www.randomhouse.com
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