Zeitoun

By: Dave Eggers

Narrated by: Firdous Bamji

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

In his new nonfiction book Zeitoun, New York Times best-selling author Dave Eggers tells a Hurricane Katrina story unlike any written before.

When HurricaneKatrina struck New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun - a prosperous Syrian-American and father of four - chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. In the eerie days after the storm, he traveled the flooded streets in a secondhand canoe, passing on supplies and rescuing those he could. A week later, on September 6, 2005, Zeitoun abruptly disappeared.

Eggers's riveting work, three years in the making, follows Zeitoun back to his childhood in Syria and around the world during his years as a sailor. The book also traces the story of Zeitoun's wife Kathy - a boisterous Southerner who converted to Islam - and their wonderful, funny, devoted family. When Zeitoun vanishes, Kathy is left to make sense of the surreal atmosphere (in New Orleans and the United States generally) in which what happened to Abdulrahman Zeitoun was possible.

©2009 Dave Eggers (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Imagine Charles Dickens, his sentimentality in check but his journalistic eyes wide open, roaming New Orleans after it was buried by Hurricane Katrina ... Eggers's tone is pitch-perfect - suspense blended with just enough information to stoke reader outrage and what is likely to be a typical response: How could this happen in America?" (Timothy Egan, The New York Times)

Good

It was a good, easy read. It had a few unnecessary stories, but good nevertheless.

Great Story, Annoying Narrator

What did you like best about Zeitoun? What did you like least?

I loved the story. I had only been in the US a year when Katrina hit and still in high school. The extent of the damage as well as the breakdown of the society was incomprehensible at the time. This book gave me more insight in the time it took to listen to the book than all of the news reports combined. I really enjoyed the book.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator could have pronounced the "s" in all of the plurals. I'm not one to be nit picky about narration but it was seriously annoying. Also, the Arabic terms could have been pronounced a lot better. I understand that he might have been trying to Americanize the words to make sure all readers understood what he was saying, but it took away from the book.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes, and from my understanding, there will be a movie.

Not for the faint of heart

This book is amazing. I would caution anyone who wants to embark upon this man’s journey that some parts are difficult to listen to. He pulls no punches and exposes us to things never seen in the media. I think it has enlightened me, and also ripped me apart in my soul. Great courage to share his story.

Excellent Story of Government Failure in Katrina

Eggers is an excellent teller of other people's stories, as illustrated by his brilliant "What is the What," the story of Sudanese refugee Valentino Achak Deng. In Zeitoun, he tells the story of a Syrian-American, a successful New Orleans contracter for years, who is wrongfully imprisoned by FEMA in the wake of Katrina. The contrast between the warmth, vitality and manifest goodness of the Zeitoun family, and the impersonal brutality and incompetence of the "military occupation" authorities who took over New Orleans is striking and sobering. A "must listen," even if "What is the What" is a richer story and slightly better narrated.

Zeitoun

After reading this well written book- I experienced a change in my heart. It provided knowledge that I had forgotten and renewed my love for all of God's people.
I had three good friends of the Moslem faith during my college days. I dated one young man studing to be a physician and he was a good friend. We never discussed religion because we knew we did not agree. We had fun and he was a good man.
After 9-11 my heart changed and I felt a resentment toward the people I saw cheering in the streets on TV. The resentment suddenly spread to all people of the Moslem faith. The feelings were not hate but anger and a blaming this group of people for the events. I think many American feel this way and really do not realize that there are so many wonderful Moslem people in the USA that are a great asset to all of us. Just as we have American that do awful things, the same is true of all Religious groups.
The Moslem people are good people that love and care for their families and for others.
After reading this book I felt shame for my feelings and knew I was wrong in my judgements toward this Faith. It was healing to my soul and I highly encourage others to read this book. I am a better American and person.

when one asks what happened during katrina...

there are many stories that one could use and amplify to help tell the story of katrina, but the zeitoun family's story is one that will be shared for generations. eggers does a wonderful job weaving family history, a host of interviews and perspectives in this fantastic book. the narrator was good, and not distracting. i highly encourage you to spend your time with the zeitoun family.

A pleasant surprise

I was hesitant to read this because I thought it might be another depressing story about Hurricane Katrina. While it has its depressing aspects, the characters are so well-developed, I felt as if I knew them. There are many more twists and turns that push Katrina into the background. Katrina was merely the catalyst for the calamities that resulted in the lives of Zeitoun and his family. I enjoyed this book very much and only reserve 5 stars for "Absolute Favorites" so 4 stars is a Winner.

a must read for every american

This book opened my eyes to what the government is really like. All Americans take note. This could happen to you In my eyes, this man was a hero. I hope he is doing well.

Don't give up listening

Unfortunately, the author must not have had an editor to help condense the first half of this book to one-third its length. But please, bear through the author's burden, as the second half of the book is what the story is all about. It is an American government outrage. Little was reported in the press about this aspect of Katrina, that the would-be rescuers spent time setting up and conducting a concentration camp rather than saving or helping storm victims.

an eye opener

This was a very good book -- hard to believe that what happened to Zeitoun can really happen is this country, natural disaster or not. I didn't love the narrator but the book is well worth a listen.