Middletown, America: One Town's Passage from Trauma to Hope

I was going to leave a comment instead of a review because I have not yet read this book. However, since several reviewers referred back to the supposed errors, I'm writing this general review. I grew up in Holmdel and Little Silver, two neighoring towns. The church noted is and always has been called Tower Hill 1st Presbyterian Church. They even call themselves by that name. It's a bit of a landmark in that area (though, I don't know if it's an official landmark). Riverview Hospital may now, in these metro times, be called Riverview Medical Center, but it was Riverview Hospital for all the years I lived there and, I believe, was built with that name. As well, Fort Monmouth was its own zip code and not in Eatontown. Historically, Middletown Township covers a very vast area. My guess is that the author, Sheehy, used historical data for her book. I don't know or have an affiliation with the author or her publishing co. I just saw these reviews and thought them to be erroneously unfair. For many years, I commuted via train to NYC with many of the people who perished on 9/11 and a dear friend's nephew (a Cantor Fitzgerald employee) was one of the first to be found. Those losses pain me to this day and I would not want anyone who might find solace with this book to be dissuaded by the negative reviews.

I finished reading this book around the same time the 9/11 Commission Report came out and am in awe of these women who, while still grieving and once considered "just housewives" to make the sure our country had ALL the facts and not just what the government or press wanted us to hear. That report is a result their preserverance and determination.

It was so interesting that I didn't let the electricity going off keep me from a fascinating book!I thought I knew a lot about 9-11 but learned much more reading this book.

As the second anniversary of 9-11 approached, I decided to purchase Middletown, America. Living in New Jersey, I thought it might be an interesting perspective of the events from those who lived near me. I had no idea how compelling, touching and truly rewarding this book would be and it actually changed my perspective on life. As many of us have "moved on" from the events of 9-11, Gail Sheehy brings into focus the broken lives of many who will never recover fully, and the enormous strength of all of these families to build a life again. After reading this book, I don't think I will ever want to complain about anything ever again!

Thinking that I really couldn't handle reading any accounts of September 11, yet knowing that I should in order to keep the memories alive, I chose to search out books that might offer more of a community perspective as well as leave me with a positive feeling. I chose well. The first one I read was Braving the Waves - Rockaway Rises... and Rises Again, by Kevin Boyle. It is the account of the community of Rockaway Beach, New York, hit hard by terrorism on September 11 only to be rocked again by tragedy on November 12 of that same year when a passenger jet nosedived into their small neighborhood. Some 260 people were killed that day - yet we hardly remember the incident. Boyle lives in Rockaway and honors his community with his thorough and loving account.Middletown is about community of a similar yet different sort. Sheehy wisely chose to live in Middletown (an edge Boyle already had in writing his book), in order to really get beyond the surface of the place and its people. An excellent view, and very much recommended!