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Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist

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Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist, is a taut, well-paced exploration of a key episode in contemporary history. Suspenseful and illuminating, Marwan is brilliantly balanced between the compelling narration of known facts and an imaginative response to unanswered questions. Who are these people who found themselves attracted to the suicide mission of flying American airliners into the towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and, if all had gone according to plan, the Capitol building? What shaped them? What made their destinies inevitable? How did they relate to one another? How did they form their opinions about the United States and its purposes? How convinced were they of the holiness of their martyrdom? How pure was their Islamic faith?

Schefrin gives us an intimate portrait of his title character's thoughts and feelings - and his frequent stretches of ambivalence and confusion. Sure-handedly, Schefrin mixes action, densely-textured setting and atmosphere, and characterization. He fashions a convincing world filled with sensory detail, that lends credence to the more speculative and abstract dimensions of the novel. Clearly, he is one of those self-published writers who deserves the status of a traditional publisher and a prestige imprint.

The author does a remarkable job of keeping the reader engaged, especially considering the fact that the story's outcome is known from the beginning. Along the way, we come to appreciate (or more likely be stunned by) the brilliant simplicity of the terrorist plan and the ease with which a series of interim goals were accomplished, leading to the ultimate objective.

An engrossing novel that leads up to the worst attack on United States citizens on American soil, "Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist" is difficult to read, but also difficult to put down.

Marwan doesn't worship Allah and he certainly isn't ready to die for him, so how did he get involved in a plot that would hijack planes with the intent of crashing them into strategically chosen buildings on American soil? From that first meeting in Hamburg, Germany until the moment the planes take off, Marwan has doubts about the plan that is meant to cripple America, tear at its belief system, and return people to the one true God. But in the end, those doubts aren't enough to keep him from doing what must be done.

I approached "Marwan" with a fair amount of trepidation. I wasn't sure I was ready for it, having not been able to watch a single documentary or read one book about September 11th since it happened.

Schefrin does an excellent job of approaching this controversial topic. He mixes known facts with fiction and comes out with a balanced look at how the events of September 11th could have unfolded.

There were moments when this reader was disturbed by the thoughts and dialogue, but those moments are countered by the moments of doubt that Marwan and Jarrah experience. You're dealing with complex and conflicted men whose internal battle is a struggle for what they want versus what is good for Islam.

"Marwan" begins in New York City in June 2000 and then travels back and forth in time to provide the reader with the necessary backstory to bring them to the final days leading up to the attacks on September 11th. Another book that used this format is Carole Whang Schutter's September Dawn--an equally controverisal title with strong religious ties. In both instances, I found this time traveling format challening to follow, and in "Marwan" it is further complicated by the changing point of view--which fluctuates between first person and third. This challenge was removed when the time line began to constantly move forward from July 2001 up to the moment when the planes took off.

Schefrin's attention to detail and knowledge of the facts lends much to this novel. And I do believe that the author achieved his objective: "you have to understand your enemies if you want to defend yourself."

In "Marwan" readers will find a fair and well-researched novel that sheds light on one of the worst moments in American history.