"What makes you angrier--the authorities' handling of Hurricane Katrina or the treatment of Arabs since September 11, 2001? Can't make up your mind? Dave Eggers has the book for you... Zeitoun is a warm, exciting, and entirely fresh way of experiencing Hurricane Katrina... Eggers makes this account completely new, and so infuriating I found myself panting with rage."
- Dan Baum, San Francisco Chronicle
My love for New Orleans, the fact that I rage against the discrimination of Muslims in America and the widespread misinformation about Islam, all of that emotion contributed to the utter frustration felt while reading this book. Don't get me wrong, it's ultimately a beautiful (and tragic) story-- but so very emotionally draining. Zeitoun is the true story of a Muslim American family of the same name with a successful painting and contracting business in pre-Katrina New Orleans. When the storm hits, Abdulrahman Zeitoun stays behind while his wife and children escape to another state. As the city floods he finds an old canoe, and what follows is the inspiring story of a truly caring, effortlessly heroic human being.
The overwhelming military presence after the storm coupled with an inept government and a country still riddled with post-9/11 prejudice is a recipe for disaster, and I'm going to shut up now because I don't want to spoil anything. Eggers' writing style is brilliant in that it beautifully narrates the Zeitoun family's appalling ordeal without feeling dry or detached. You feel like you're with him in the canoe, going from house to streetcorner to overpass, delivering food and water to those left behind.
Zeitoun is a super quick read-- I think I finished it almost in one sitting-- and the only reason I had to take a break was because I kept crying. But it's worth it. If you don't know much about what happened after Katrina (or only have a vague idea), or if you don't know much about Islam and maybe have a few prejudices of your own-- I urge you to read this story.
Has anyone else read it? What did you think? If you haven't, I hope you'll give it a shot. I picked it up on a whim just because it was written by Dave Eggers, and I'm so glad I did.
Let me switch gears for a second and talk about something completely different. For a while now, I've been wanting to incorporate short little book reviews on the blog, just in a "What I'm Reading" sort of way. What I'm actually reading at the moment is Kathy Griffin: Official Book Club Selection, but-- no offense Kathy-- this is the one I felt compelled to write about.
My love for New Orleans, the fact that I rage against the discrimination of Muslims in America and the widespread misinformation about Islam, all of that emotion contributed to the utter frustration felt while reading this book. Don't get me wrong, it's ultimately a beautiful (and tragic) story-- but so very emotionally draining. Zeitoun is the true story of a Muslim American family of the same name with a successful painting and contracting business in pre-Katrina New Orleans. When the storm hits, Abdulrahman Zeitoun stays behind while his wife and children escape to another state. As the city floods he finds an old canoe, and what follows is the inspiring story of a truly caring, effortlessly heroic human being.
The overwhelming military presence after the storm coupled with an inept government and a country still riddled with post-9/11 prejudice is a recipe for disaster, and I'm going to shut up now because I don't want to spoil anything. Eggers' writing style is brilliant in that it beautifully narrates the Zeitoun family's appalling ordeal without feeling dry or detached. You feel like you're with him in the canoe, going from house to streetcorner to overpass, delivering food and water to those left behind.
Zeitoun is a super quick read-- I think I finished it almost in one sitting-- and the only reason I had to take a break was because I kept crying. But it's worth it. If you don't know much about what happened after Katrina (or only have a vague idea), or if you don't know much about Islam and maybe have a few prejudices of your own-- I urge you to read this story.
Has anyone else read it? What did you think? If you haven't, I hope you'll give it a shot. I picked it up on a whim just because it was written by Dave Eggers, and I'm so glad I did.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI was looking at your blog and I like it. I want to invite you to become my blog friend, and if you follow me, I will follow you...
What do you think?
I hope to hear from you soon.
Jesse
I have not read it but it's on my list thanks to your post. Along the same vein in a way, my next book to tackle is going to be The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (R. Skloot).
ReplyDeleteI sort of discovered Eggers for myself this year, starting off with A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (which I highly recommend, by the way), then What is the What. Zeitoun was my third by him. I love how the design of his books are beautiful and unique, and he has a real talent for bringing true stories to the page with depth and urgency.
ReplyDeleteStephanie
http://stephthebird.blogspot.com/