Zeitoun is a nonfiction book written by dave eggers and published by mcsweeneys in 2009. About this guide this guide is intended to enhance your groups reading and discussion of dave eggers s zeitoun, a harrowing nonfiction account of what happened to one man, and his family, in the chaotic aftermath of hurricane katrina. When hurricanekatrina struck new orleans, abdulrahman zeitoun a prosperous syrianamerican and father of four chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. Zeitoun book club discussion questions by shelley blanton.
Dave eggers treads extremely carefully around zeitoun protagonist abdulrahman zeitoun, whose life puts him astride several contemporary american preoccupations, but his remarkable tale needs no such protection. Read zeitoun by dave eggers for a truly engrossing and enraging narrative of one mans experiences during and following the 2005 flooding of new orleans. When we chose it last month we could never have foreseen how timely a selection it would be in light of the antiislamic hysteria springing up over the alleged mosque at ground zero which is not a mosque and is not at ground zero. Discussing dave eggers zeitoun earlier this month my book group discussed dave eggers zeitoun. Its basically a horatio alger story for the 21st century. Maybe we can knock eggers for the simplistic style he chose to write this book. We get to know zeitoun and his family intimately, and his nightmare treatment by our government in the wake of hurricane katrina is a cautionary tale of a justice system run amok. Eggers characterizes this book as being chiefly about the american dream, which is very much alive and very much under threat. It tells the story of abdulrahman zeitoun, the syrianamerican owner of a painting and contracting company in new orleans, louisiana, who chose to ride out hurricane katrina in his uptown home.
Zeitoun summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Dave eggers in his new nonfiction book zeitoun, new york times bestselling author dave eggers tells a hurricane katrina story unlike any written before when hurricanekatrina struck new orleans, abdulrahman zeitoun a prosperous syrianamerican and father of four chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. When hurricane katrina struck new orleans in 2005, one of the residents who chose to stay and protect his house and business was a. Not surprisingly, my book clubs discussion of zeitoun was very tinged y the controversy surrounding the main subject and his family. Jonathan demmes animated film based on eggerss book might have. Writer and philanthropist dave eggers nonfiction book zeitoun is very much a story set among one group of us havenots, namely, those citizens of new orleans that were either unable or unwilling to leave the city at the time of hurricane katrina during 2005. His father had been a ship captain, but after a neardeath experience had decided to settle down. Zeitoun had grown up in a coastal town called jableh in syria with many brothers and sisters. Abdulrahman zeitoun, owner of a painting contractor business, lives in new orleans, louisiana with his wife kathy and their four children. In the monk of mokha, dave eggers tells mokhtars truelife. Based on some reality, the story helps a nonlouisiana native understand the true impacts of the hurricane, not only on. Still, both ahmad and zeitoun would end up being seamen themselves. Friday, august 25, 2005, is a normal day for the family. When hurricanekatrina struck new orleans, abdulrahman zeitoun a prosperous syrianamerican and father of fo.
Zeitoun would travel around for nearly a decade on ships before settling in baton rouge. Mar 20, 2010 dave eggers s latest book, zeitoun, patiently unravels the harrowing tale of how kathy zeitoun, a louisiana native who grew up in a southern baptist family in baton rouge, came to be on the other. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Kathys son from her first marriage, zachary, is already there.
This 40page guide for zeitoun by dave eggers includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 15 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expert. Told with eloquence and compassion, zeitoun is a riveting account of one familys unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and water. Of, or at least it was one of the best books id never heard of until it was recommended as the next read for our book club. An interview with abdulrahman and kathy zeitoun was included in a publication called voices from the storm and it was something about their story that struck home with dave eggers and he decided to turn it into a stand alone book.
Eggerss riveting nonfiction book, three years in the making, explores zeitouns roots in syria, his marriage to kathy an american who converted to islam and their children, and the surreal atmosphere in new orleans and the united states generally in which what happened to abdulrahman zeitoun was possible. Dave eggers born march 12, 1970 is an american writer, editor, and publisher. I could smell it, taste it, and my back hurt thinking of sleeping on wet cement caged up like an animal. I also think dave eggers is a great writer doubly biased, perhaps. In his new nonfiction book zeitoun, new york times bestselling author dave eggers tells a hurricane katrina story unlike any written before. Eggerss riveting nonfiction book, three years in the making, explores zeitouns roots in syria, his marriage to kathyan american who converted to islamand their children, and the surreal atmosphere in new orleans and the united states generally in which what happened to abdulrahman zeitoun was possible. The couple bickers, with kathy growing frustrated by zeitouns stubbornness about everything, but they clearly have a. About zeitoun, by dave eggars abdulrahman zeitoun is a. It is a brilliantly crafted, powerfully written and.
Jun 15, 2010 abdulrahman and kathy zeitoun run a housepainting business in new orleans. David eggers s zeitoun represents one such confrontation, for both the reader and the family on which it centres. Jonathan demmes animated film based on eggerss book might have to be put on hold, considering zeitoun. A work of nonfiction, zeitoun takes a look at hurricane katrina and how one syrianamerican man and his family are swept into a terrible storm of a different kind in. Disturbing, surprising, leaving questions and headshaking over the governments treatment of its citizens in an emergency, this book. Dec 09, 2012 eggerss zeitoun is a loving family man peaceful, calm, and devoted to his wife. Eggerss zeitoun is a loving family man peaceful, calm, and devoted to his wife.
Dave eggers, zeitoun honestly, i didnt expect this from dave eggers, though i should have. Here he chronicles the kafkaesque tribulations of syrianamerican abdulrahman zeitoun in the wake of hurricane katrina. These discussion questions were developed by the class that read zeitoun by dave eggers in spring 2012. I enjoyed the book and hadnt realized how many horrible things happened in new orleans besides the actual impact of the hurricane. Zeitoun by kayvr see profile 101416 disturbing, surprising, leaving questions and headshaking over the governments treatment of its citizens in an emergency, this book is really a personal story of one man, one family, surviving katrina. Mar 12, 2020 a week later, on september 6, 2005, zeitoun abruptly disappeared. This 40page guide for zeitoun by dave eggers includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 15 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Ive read several issues of mcsweeneys quarterly concern, and im a regular visitor to mcsweeneys internet tendency, so im familiar with the jocularity, bathos, and mockheroic diction of same. Zeitoun by dave eggers reading guidebook club discussion.
It was good to talk about it with some other people but this was a delicate discussion to have so i didnt take notes on all things that were said in. Great nonfiction doesnt always start with a great subject, but it helps. His story is a moving testament to the resilience of the. But you will have to read the book to see what thats all about. In the days following the storm he travels the city by canoe, feeding abandoned animals and helping elderly neighbors. He wrote the bestselling memoir a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. Zeitoun summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Zeitoun eggers litlovers book club recommendations. I found much of it plodding and poorly written disappointing in light of eggers considerable literary talent. Half the sky by nicholas kristoff on may canceled. Featured content includes commentary on major characters. Zeitoun is certainly a notable book and deserving of all the praise its received, but its not flawless. Although eggers didnt witness hurricane katrinas devastation. Dave eggers, zeitoun there is something bold and yet quiet about zeitoun the book and zeitoun the man.
Eggers is also the founder of mcsweeneys, a literary journal, a cofounder of the literacy project 826 valencia and the human rights nonprofit voice of witness, and the. Instead, he allows the story to tell itself while imbuing zeitouns tragedy with deep sympathy and emotion. Like zeitoun, eggers latest is a politically timely tale featuring the doordie exploits of an unlikely but uplifting hero. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for zeitoun by dave eggers. Zeitoun is set in new orleans, louisiana, and begins with the protagonist abdulrahman zeitoun known by his last name and his wife kathy preparing to send their children nademah, aisha, and safiya to school. This story needs to be told to a large audience and mr. Eggers interviewed zeitoun and his wife for an earlier book in the mcsweeneysaffiliated voice of witness series of firsthand accounts on katrina, but he seems hesitant to let anything upstage their story here. About this guide this guide is intended to enhance your groups reading and discussion of dave eggerss zeitoun, a harrowing nonfiction account of what happened to one man, and his family, in the chaotic aftermath of hurricane katrina. Not surprisingly, my book club s discussion of zeitoun was very tinged y the controversy surrounding the main subject and his family. More than that, though, was the feeling that i was being overtly manipulated into having certain opinions or feelings toward the main character and his situation. Zeitoun by dave eggers too many books, too little time. Ive got a little book club catch up to do with you all. David eggerss zeitoun represents one such confrontation, for both the reader and the family on which it centres. Zeitoun by dave eggers posted on october 18, 2017 october 18, 2017 by wordsforsolidarity dave eggerss account of one mans ordeal at the hands of us military officials in the wake of hurricane katrina is a grim indictment of the bush regime.
About zeitoun, by dave eggars abdulrahman zeitoun is a syrianborn entrepreneur who runs a busy. Aug 21, 2010 zeitoun is my book club s reading selection for september. The book club i belonged to several years ago selected zeitoun and we had a week to read it. The postkatrina trials of abdulrahman zeitoun would have baffled even kafkas joseph k. Our book club, babes under the covers meets every other month. Zeitoun is the result of nearly three years of interviews and research, it makes a compelling account of the. Zeitoun by dave eggers zeitoun is my book clubs reading selection for september. A heartbreaking work of staggering genius by dave eggers 25 taking on a world of words july 23, 2019. This guide is intended to enhance your groups reading and discussion of dave eggerss zeitoun, a harrowing nonfiction account of what happened to one man, and his family, in the chaotic aftermath of hurricane katrina. He is the husband of writer vendela vida with whom he has two children.
When hurricane katrina struck new orleans, abdulrahman zeitoun, a prosperous syrianamerican and father of four, chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. Dave eggerss riveting nonfiction book, three years in the making, explores zeitouns roots in syria, his marriage to kathy an american who converted to islam and their children, and the surreal atmosphere in new orleans and the united states generally in which what. In august of 2005, as hurricane katrina approaches, kathy evacuates with their four young children, leaving zeitoun to watch over the business. What hurricane katrina together with poor civil preparedness and bad levee engineering did to the. Dave eggerss latest book, zeitoun, patiently unravels the harrowing tale of how kathy zeitoun, a louisiana native who grew up in a southern baptist. Dave eggers is the author of ten books, including most recently your fathers, where are they.
Jan 18, 2012 ive got a little book club catch up to do with you all. Dave eggers new nonfiction tale is about coffee and the. Oct 15, 2018 zeitoun by dave eggers posted on october 18, 2017 october 18, 2017 by wordsforsolidarity dave eggerss account of one mans ordeal at the hands of us military officials in the wake of hurricane katrina is a grim indictment of the bush regime. Though zeitouns story could have been a source of cynicism or despair, dave eggerss clear and elegant prose manages to deftly capture many of the signature shortcomings of american life while holding onto the innate optimism and endless drive to more closely match our. Dave eggers is the author of six previous books, including you shall know our velocity, winner of the independent book award, and what is the what, a finalist for the 2006 national book critics circle award and winner of frances prix medici. About the book abdulrahman zeitoun is a syrianborn entrepreneur who runs a busy painting company in new orleans. Dave eggers is the new york times bestselling author of the critically lauded a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. A new york times notable book an o, the oprah magazine terrific read of the year a huffington post best book of the year. Dave eggers tells the story in such a way that, i felt as if i were there. Eggers makes this account completely new, and so infuriating i found myself panting with rage. What hurricane katrina together with poor civil preparedness and bad levee engineering did to the victims of this storm was horrifying enough. Nov 05, 2009 read zeitoun by dave eggers for a truly engrossing and enraging narrative of one mans experiences during and following the 2005 flooding of new orleans.
Then, on september 6th, police officers armed with m16s arrest zeitoun in his home. Zeitoun is a warm, exciting and entirely fresh way of experiencing hurricane katrina. Use these book club discussion questions on zeitoun to lead your reading group into eggers book. That book, about valentino achak deng, a survivor of the civil war in southern sudan, gave birth to the valentino achak deng foundation, run by mr. May 26, 2010 use these book club discussion questions on zeitoun to lead your reading group into eggers book. One would think this is a bit infrequent, but for me its perfect. What social and ethical issues did the book raise in your mind. Dave eggers has performed a great service for americans by introducing us to syrian immigrant, new orleans painting contractor, and family man abdulrahman zeitoun.
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