The Red Bandanna

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

so-so

As someone who was an adult on 9/11, who heard about the attacks at work in real time, it's interesting for me to watch the evolution of how my country deals with the trauma, but I'm conflicted about this book and this story. It's interesting hearing about what happened inside the towers and about the lives of a few individuals, but I'm uncomfortable with the way one person's heroism has become a focal point, his red bandanna a symbol to buy... ā¬‡ļø¸

ImperfectCJ I mean, here's a guy who lost his life leading people to safety and his story is used to inspire a college football team to beat another team, the red bandanna used by those he saved to identify him turned into a prop for fans to wave? This is just distasteful to me and so very United Statesian, combining the profound with the banal. So, I'm ambivalent about this one. 3y

ImperfectCJ This is the first I've read for #nywd22 and I feel a little bad it's not a more positive review. Thank you so much for the recommendations, though, @sblbooks ! I look forward to reading more from your list! @monalyisha 3y

monalyisha Honest & eloquent review! 3y

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sblbooks Sorry it didn't work for you. You made a valid point about the football team using the red bandana. Actually, I agree with you there, however I still loved it. Hopefully you will like the next one better. 3y

ImperfectCJ @sblbooks No need to apologize at all! Book preferences are so subjective, and this one just happened to hit a sensitive point for me with the football thing. It's tough to review books like this, I think, because it's difficult to separate the writing from the content. Your list has been pushing me outside of my usual reading, which I appreciate! 3y

megnews I read this book in September. I found it very moving until it got to the end and had all that. I still rated it high for the actual early part of the story and for his heroism that day. But I definitely felt similarly about the end. It felt exploitative. Not necessarily the book but the use of the bandana. 3y

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megnews

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

pick

Such a difficult read about one of 9/11‘s heroes.

SarahBradley This true story broke me! 3y

38 likes1 comment

sblbooks

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

pick

#neverforget š’”
Welles Crowther was a true American hero! He lost his life while trying to save others. I listened to the audio book and then watched the documentary. I highly recommend both of them.

32 likes

dcove979

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

pick

Excellent book, telling an amazing story.

Reviewsbylola

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

pick

Almost 3,000 people lost their lives on this day in 2001. They had #nothingincommon except that they are remembered as victims of one of the greatest tragedies we have ever known. This is the story of one of them.

Welles Crowther was only 24 years old when he lost his life on 9/11/01. TRB tells the story of his life and how it led him to the sacrifices he made that day as he put aside his own safety to save the lives of others. #septemberdanes

Cinfhen, Kalalalatja

Kalalalatja š’”š’”š’” 6y

tammysue š¢š’” 6y

Cinfhen š’”š’”thanks for this post š™š¸¼ 6y

JennyM Heartbreaking read but beautiful also. 6y

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Reviewsbylola

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

Every year around this time, I become obsessed with reading about September 11.

I decided to start this one today in honor of the 17th anniversary on Tuesday. I‘ve spent the morning in bed so far and @HotdogZanzabaar was sweet enough to go out in the rain and get me a Starbucks. š¨

mrp27 I do the same thing every year as well. My small way of never forgetting. 6y

JennyM Snap - I am reading this one today as well. 6y

Reviewsbylola I just got to the 9/11/01 portion. So visceral. @jennym 6y

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CouronneDhiver I just realized the other day that this year, it will be on a Tuesday again. I‘m not American but I remember that day quite well and it‘s among the short list of major world events I think of often 6y

emilyhaldi I didn‘t realize this book was about 9/11 (edited) 6y

CoffeeK8 Welles grew up in the town I live in now, and went to the same elementary school my son now attends. The kids are all encouraged to wear red bandanas to school on the 11th. It‘s amazing the strength some people have and how their legacy continues to live on in small ways. 6y

Mdargusch That sounds š’”š’”š’” 6y

Cinfhen How meaningful @CoffeeK8 6y

CoffeeK8 @Cinfhen yes, it really is lovely. 6y

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JennyM

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

9 | #ABBAInAugust

My latest library pickup is the ultimate #LayAllYourLoveOnMe - the heartbreaking story of Welles Crowther, a volunteer firefighter who‘s courage saved many lives on 9/11. He never came home.

Cinfhen, Reviewsbylola, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch

Cinfhen Sounds like a powerful read!! š’” (edited) 6y

Mdargusch This must be a tearjerker š¢ 6y

Reviewsbylola I have an obsession with 9/11 and I definitely remember reading multiple articles about the guy in the red bandanna. Must read this! 6y

emilyhaldi š’”š 6y

62 likes4 comments

Eggs

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

True story of selfless courage: Welles Crowther, 24 years old, worked on floor 102 of the south tower. He saved many lives that day, but perished when the building fell.

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BlueStockingReviews

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

pick

It took a little courage to actually open and read the book, but Iā€m so glad I finally did. Emotionally itā€s a difficult read, and I struggled with some of the writing, but as a story, itā€s beautiful. TOM RINALDI has woven Welles Crowtherā€s character, courage and choice into a powerful and memorable tribute to a fine young man, and a beacon for us all. https://lharvey250.tumblr.com/post/169627315354/the-red-bandanna-a-life-a-choice...

Suet624 Great review. š‘¨š¸¼ 7y

TNbookworm Great reviewāŗ 7y

BlueStockingReviews Thanks so much. Appreciate the feedback! 7y

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CareBear

The Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. | Tom Rinaldi

The well from which I am drawing my books this weekend!!! (Or my other shelves of books, you know how it goes) #deweysreadathon

Fortifiedbybooks I highly recommend Miss Peregrine's for the #readathon. It's a fast read and will suck you in. 8y

elemenopew I've got Norse Mythology lined up, too! 8y

CareBear @elemenopew Neil Gaiman is great for readathons!! And thanks, @Fortifiedbybooks, good to know. It was on my October readathon tbr too but I didn't get to it. 8y

alisiakae I didn't realize Gaiman's Norse mythology book is out now! šˇ‰ **off to find it on same-day Amazon prime** I just finished the first Game of thrones book, but I don't think I will pick up the second one until after #readathon. Great TBR pile! 8y

CareBear @4thhouseontheleft I agree a Game of Thrones isn't the best selection for a readathon lol but my husband is bugging me about finishing it so we can catch up on the show. I'll probably go back to it throughout the day! 8y

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