Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (2012-02-01)

With the recent controversy over the Ground Zero Mosque, it is crucial that teachers incorporate literature into the curriculum that highlights the fact the Muslim religion is not equated with terrorism; terrorism is not a religion.

Eggers successfully documents the trauma of the Zeitoun family following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The novel is based on a series of in depth interviews of the Zeitoun family, friends, and relatives, as well as, other central figures who share Zeitoun's fate. About two thirds of the book is spent focusing on the bond between Zeitoun and his family, which extends to his community at large; a community that Zeitoun, even after Katrina, finds value in, from the disabled to the able-bodied, to the animals left behind. It is within this post-Katrina community, however, that Zeitoun is falsely accused, tortured, and degraded by the U.S. government because he is thought to be associated with terrorist activity. Although Zeitoun's imprisonment is one of the defining characteristics of the book, Eggers also touches upon what it means to be a Muslim woman in America today. Through Kathy, Zeitoun's wife who is an American woman that converted because she felt the religion gave her power and control over her own life, we learn that the hijab, which is often seen as a sign of suppression by a patriarchal culture, actually becomes one of liberation.

It is within the pages of Eggers narrative that educators will find the opportunity to teach students how to embrace and understand other cultures beyond what is reported by media outlets. By not including this book in our curriculum, or a work that confronts the same issue, we are doing our students a disservice, which will eventually become extensions of further ignorance and intolerance. Making students aware of how 9/11 has changed what it means to be American will only foster the knowledge of real situations, situations like Zeitouns that forever altered a man and his family; a situation that forever altered Americans.

An interesting aspect about this book is the title because Zeitoun represents the man, the family, as well as, the extended network of friends and relatives of Zeitoun's (the man) around the world. It may be an interesting aspect to bring up in class discussion after reading the book.

This book also contains a comprehensive list resources on rebuilding New Orleans, support for, and education about the Muslim community. Utilizing these sources in the classroom would be excellent an way to get students involved in the reality of the text they have just read.

I riveting true account about a Syrian man named Zeitoun and his trials before, during and after Hurricane Katrina. It is hard to imagine that this is a true story, and atrocities like this take place in the US.

Honest in its revelation of events that the press failed to report because of their compliance to political correctness. The lack of accountability and responsibility by those in command is astounding. What can we all learn from this account....that compassion for the most vulnerable of us is the duty of all who stand under the flag of the United States of America.

A little scattered but a fairly good read. True story of the struggle of one family divided through the clutches of hurricane Katrina. Somewhat disturbing to read about the behaviour of both some of the citizens and also those who purported to be 'helping' out the situation during this time.

Although the experience Abdulrahman Zeitoun suffered is distressing and outrageous, this chronicle of it seemed just a little too slanted. I feel as though Mr. Eggers became a little too emotionally involved to tell an objective story. Still, to learn about the atrocities committed by so-called law enforcers is mind numbingly horrifying. I thought we as a nation were better than this.

I started reading this book believing it was fiction and that it was great fiction and then there were photos.

The book is great at showing how sometimes our focus on the immediate problem and doing as we are told can lead to really bad things happening to people. It makes you wonder what kind of society we have created when we arrest and deny the rights of law abiding citizens.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans resident Abdulrahman Zeitoun decided to stay behind and care for his properties as well as those of his many clients. After immigrating to the United States from his native Syria, Zeitoun founded a successful painting and home repair company, married an American, and was raising four children in New Orleans. After a series of unfortunate events Zeitoun was arrested by the Department of Homeland Security and denied many rights during the chaos following the storm. Being Muslim post September 11, Zeitoun was confronted by officers he thought were approaching him to help, but instead found himself led at gunpoint, profiled as a terrorist and put into a makeshift prison until he was transferred to the local Federal Prison. Dave Eggers' national best selling depiction of this hardworking man's mistaken identity and his wife's commitment to get him back are a must-read.

A deep dive into one of the most appalling periods of recent American history. I hate reading about the massive failures after Hurricane Katrina, but I need to remember and I need to keep vowing never to let it happen again.

A gripping account of one family's horrific experience of Hurricane Katrina. The aftermath, an almost unbelievable account of man's inhumanity to man in an atmosphere of chaos during the break down of normal society. In the final issue, what happened after was far worse than the hurricane.
This is one of the two best books I have read this year - the other, similar in some ways, is The Lizard Cage by Carol Connelly

Riveting story of what can happen when all systems break down in an American city, as they did in New Orleans after Katrina. I am blown away by the incivility of the military towards these innocent civilians who, right or wrong, stayed behind and tried to protect their property. Scary stuff!

I just bought this book for a friend after having read it with shock , sorrow and increasing disquiet about civil liberties , xenophobia , abuse of power , cruel indifference to the suffering of others and the way in which fear and opportunity allowed the inflated expression of the preexisting racism of the USA. In contrast to this ugliness the beauty and dignity of Zietoun as he tried to make his way back to normality after his mistreatment was heartening ; a good man in bad circumstances . Dave Eggers has done his country proud by writing this important book . He has also left with me an indelible image of a city which seems to be the equivalent of a third world zone within the USA. This impression has been strengthened after seeing the aftermath of the BP pollution. If you saw and liked Treme this book will suit you very well.

This is an amazing book that will challenge people's thinking about the strength of America and our political, military and police programs. Like Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the real life "good guy" is the islamaphobic's worst nightmare. A Muslim that does all the right things. The behavior of the police and military, including mercenaries, was horrific. A well written and provocative presentation that raises significant questions about America and assumptions of our moral high ground.

Based on the true events of Abdulrahman Zeitoun and his family in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Dave Eggers has written a book so compelling that I nearly read it in one sitting. I hesitate to write too much in this review for fear of spoiling key plot points that really kept me turning the pages.

This story will make you angry. However, I found it difficult to focus the anger. The book highlights so many areas that completely fell apart with Katrina and so much chaos, that it's difficult to place the blame on one area. It's scary to think that a similar situation could occur again with a different disaster or perhaps a terrorist attack. This story made me anxious, sad and upset, but nonetheless, it is an important read. Eggers does a great job at telling the Zeitoun family story with care, but also maintaining a distance to give a fair journalistic style account.

The book also makes you feel that even during terrible tragedies, there are still good people in the world. The story has many examples of people that are just doing their best to help out strangers without expectation.

[...]

This story opened my eyes to Katrina and to American Muslim citizens by looking thru the eyes of Zeitoun. Smart and funny and sad and often idiotic when the government makes an appearance. My heart bursts with hope and makes me root for compassion and trust to triumph over suspicion and selfishness. This book shouldbe required reading!

A compelling account of the struggle of a New Orleans couple, Zeitoun immerses readers into the wrath of the impact of Hurricane Katrina and its terrible effects. Continuously making reference to Zeituon's past life in Syria, the American government is compared, exposed and critiqued for their many failures. This memoir clarifies many myths and assumptions and justifies the confusion and unpreparedness shown by FEMA and the US government. Within the context of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the importance of family is also seen in this memoir. Family, preparedness, US government and humanity are all factors addressed in Zeitoun. So before you flip to page 1, ask yourself, "Am I fully prepared to immerse myself in the lifestyle and experiences of Abdulrahman Zeitoun and take on Hurricane Katrina the way he did?"

I read this book while visiting New Orleans and was deeply moved by the story . I learned on the internet about the recent troubles of the family and my heart goes out to them, they have suffered a lot. Eggers does a great job of filling in the back story and keeping the narrative flowing along. His mistreatment by the authorities is a dark tale, and it is no wonder both Zeintoun and Kathy have dealt with PTSD.

gripping. downloaded it on the plane while we were taxing on the runway, finished the download just before I was instructed to turn it off. Didn't get out of my seat, or eat the meal, finished it in 6 hours.

Zeitoun is a heartfelt and sobering account of a Muslim immigrant, his wife, family and friends before, during and after Katrina. This engrossing story (I read it in two sittings!) tells the expected story of the industrious newcomer and the selfless generosity of Zeitoun and his friends during the aftermath of the storm. What happens when the government gets involved left me wondering about the basics of our country. Oh, and the book includes the first normalized phrasing of "his husband" in referring to one of Zeitoun's friends; so quietly that it made this gay reader look twice to check his eyes.

I bought this book in Kindle format choosing it under the store's advice, and after browsing a lot of alternatives.
In my opinion, excellent work as it brings a true story to literature, expoloring each character's feelings and emotions and bringing them to the reader with a sense of objectiveness which makes them universal.
I would also underline the value for foreign readers as I am: a better knowledge of American society we think we know because it's widely publicized and discussed on our televisions and newspapers but not well known in his complexity and values.

Eggers has produced an interesting account of the drama's surrounding the floods in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina. Written in the style Truman Capote described as the 'non-fiction novel', the book is divided into 3 parts; before the flood, events during the flood, and the authorities reaction to the citizens that decide to stay.
Well worth a read.

Very well written story of a real family, the tragedy of their plight and the abominable unpreparedness of the government to respond to Katrina and the disaster that ensued. The humanity and insight into the family was very well done.

This great story tells a little-known side of the effects of civilization coming unraveled; of what happens when chaos ensues. Beautifully written, this story tells of the heroic deeds of a man of faith, the unintended consequences of his deeds, and the struggle of so many families in New Orleans. Sobering, chilling, sad and at the same time, uplifting.

This book gave me a totally different perspective of the event. I came away with a huge respect for Zeitoun and his Muslim family. What an injustice was done to these people. I understand how one might become radicalized.

Superb, powerful, emotional work by one of America's best writers. Simply must be read by any thinking citizen. A book that had me in tears at some points and wanting to shout out in anger at others. I will not offer any analysis of the plot, as that would do more harm than good: please just read the fifth Eggers book!

Had to read it for a college class. Overall, it’s a pretty good story but it shoves political messages in your face. It felt even more phony when I found out that Zeitoun beat his wife with a tire iron.

I ordered this book as a gift for someone because I really wanted them to have Michael Cera's first published short story "Pinecone." I, too, read "Pinecone", which, if you're a Mike Cera fan (or if you just like funny, Steve Martin-esque shorts), is well worth the price of admission, alone.

I only glanced through the rest of the book, which seemed interesting enough, but wasn't my primary reason for ordering, and I had to wrap it and give it away, anyway.

I will also say that the book is incredibly white. Apparently some sort of "throwback" design to commemorate both Barack Obama and some earlier McSweeney's editions, it sort of comes off looking very plain and bland. There are some small doodles running throughout the course of the book, but it mostly is very stark white paper with a shockingly abrupt and finesse-less black text font. It's just very boring-looking.

Zeitoun arrived quickly and in wonderful condition. I did not expect such quick and effeciant service.
The book is a must for those of us who were following the Katrina fiasco with bated breath. A very well written book, very hard to put down. I recommend this book to everyone to read. Compelling, discouraging,and still a must!

Was delivered earlier than promised & is an excellent under covered story of an American family, plus others so badly treated during Katrina in New Orleans. Will we learn from this & how Japanese American citizens were interned during WWII ??

Well, this book was required summer reading for my freshman year of college, and I can honestly say that the book choice was appropriate. I can understand why the professors at my college chose this book, but since I'm a fan of non-fiction, I wasn't too thrilled. The book itself READ like non-fiction, which was great, but I wasn't emotionally attached to the characters. Maybe it was because this was required reading haha. Anyway, it's a good read for anyone who's interested in finding out more about Katrina and the United States' reaction to Muslims. Happy reading!

I found Eggers' account of one family's experience in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina to be both engaging and thought-provoking. The account is well-paced, weaving together an immigrant's personal history, the catastrophe of hurricane Katrina itself, and the family's struggle to hold themselves and their world together. The account of the ways 9/11 affected the government response to Katrina will probably be news to most readers.

If you're reading this, you probably know that Zeitoun is no hero in real life. However, as far as I've seen, the events that happened 3 years after the book's publication haven't disproven Eggers' account. (Comparisons to Three Cups of Tea seem to be unfounded.) If anything, the family's troubles add an intriguing extra layer to this narrative, transforming it from a slightly rosy account of actual events into a story that shows how the Zeitouns apparently wanted to see themselves and their family a few years ago. Things have changed--and apparently with good reason--but I don't think those changes are grounds to dismiss their experience or Eggers' compelling account of it. An intriguing read. Recommended.

After reading 'What is the What' and 'Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,' I almost wanted to leave the Eggers books alone for fear of becoming disappointed in a writer with whom I had become so enamored. I was happy to finish Zeitoun feeling that it is another Eggers must-read. Props to the author for recognizing that this story needed no embellishment and for doing what he does best - relaying a beautifully tragic story in a sensitive yet gripping manner that leaves the reader feeling touched by something truly special, and maybe even a little changed for the better. In this case, the book gives the reader an on-the-ground perspective of the Katrina tragedy told through the eyes of a local, insights into the types of injustices suffered by US citizens in the backlash of 9-11, and an uplifting example of how the American dream can still be achieved.

This man came from Syria, worked hard and made some money, established himself, had a family and the good life. When tragedy came to New Orleans, he sent his family away and stayed to watch his property. Because of circumstances and the men he was with, (one man had $10,000 in cash on his person) he was arrested for looting. His wife stayed with him and fought for his release which did come as a result of her working. The main reason I would complain about this book is the minute he was accused (falsely) he turned on and complained about this country which had given him more chances than an American Christian would have received in his native country. What treatment would an American receive in a Syrian jail?

Eggers has a concise and engaging writing style. The plot is straightforward, and I didn't find myself lost in a parade of characters. No back-tracking required. It was so good, I finished it in a day.

Eggers pulls off something really neat - an explication of Islam (a very good one) by tracing the conversion of Zeitoun's wife. The book shows us, in a totally undidactic way, the appeal of Islam. It is through Islam that she finds herself and marshals the strength to endure what befalls her family.

A tidal tug of seascape imagery is woven into the story line, from night fishing on the Mediterranean to canoeing the flooded neighborhoods of post-Katrina New Orleans. A truly good and honest man, raised by the sea, falls victim to the confluence of two disasters - the Department of Homeland Security and a tropical hurricane of unprecedented proportion.

This book is engaging, thought-provoking, entertaining, and upsetting. This is a must read.

Government helpers that came to New Orleans were managed by their fear of what they thought was happening, not what was truly taking place. Sad that lives were lost due to this effort to tame New Orleans and teach"them" a lesson.
Many more guns were brought here than meals,water and boats,things that were needed the most.
The failure of the federal levees caused the flood. Four years later we are still "waiting for Godot".