Zeitoun

De: Dave Eggers

Narrado por: Firdous Bamji

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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)

A Glimpse Into Another World

I listened to this book quite a while ago, and loved it. I was surprised to see reviews complaining that there were too many unnecessary details. I felt this was a bit like saying there were too many notes in a symphony.

I liked the book because it was essentially the story about people I don't know and don't see in America. It was compelling because it is the story of a woman to converted to Islam on her on accord and then later met and married an Islamic man. These are people I would never meet except through a book like this. I didn't find the story of their lives at all boring. Perhaps it is because I am a woman. Women and families are as interesting to me as big events and crisis.

Then there is the horror of Katrina and Zeitoun's disappearance. I did not know things like this happened during Katrina. I did not know that American citizens could be subjected to this treatment. What was inspiring to me was Zeitoun's wife. Her love, her determination, her refusal to be passive inspired me.

This is a good book. It's on sale right now. Buy it!

Amazing, but heartbreaking, story

This is an amazing story - a glimpse into just one family's experience in the aftermath of Katrina. It gave me a new appreciation for what the city of New Orleans and its citizens endured.

Starts slow, becomes a page turner

What did you love best about Zeitoun?

The story starts out as a simple recounting of the the life of Zeitoun and his family/ I thought it was like reading a history book, not that interesting. But then it grabs you and doesn't let go.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Zeitoun?

This book gives a damning account of how civil rights can be COMPLETELY ignored in this country when ignorant, thoughtless people who don't care about their fellow human beings and can make their life total hell and don't care at all. It's incomprensible.

Have you listened to any of Firdous Bamji’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The performance was good

This books gives some amazing insights!

What did you love best about Zeitoun?

The main protagonist is an unlikely hero. He is one of those 'salt of the earth' people who you'd like to have on your team - practical, empathetic, kind and generous. Documented are the hours before Katrina, the storm and the aftermath all told through the eyes of a survivor. The horrors, suspicion, heartbreak, hope and experiences of those who lived through Katrina are believable and understandable.Zeitoun is subjected to all manner of emotional turmoil and cannot understand the events unfolding around himThis is a good listen.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No - it's too long and understandably, I needed to listen to this story in short bursts as it could be overwhelming (emotionally) to listen to it in one sitting.

Pulls you in from the get-go!

I so enjoyed this story though felt amazed that all this could happen to such a nice man and his family. Reader was excellent.

Dry and Drawn out

The book seemed fictional and at times truly unbelievable. Given that its a book of reflection of the Zeitouns encounters it would help if there were other sources of information to confirm these accounts. Also it would've been more interesting if the book progressed quicker. At some points the book really dragged and made you actually not care about the upcoming tragedy. And even after the the storm and him staying, the book dragged through his time away from his family. And the long reveal for the outcome with his cell mates, and jumping back and forth towards the end between present and past... It couldve been edited better.

Hope after miscarriage of justice

This story wrenched my heart, but I loved the attention to detail and care Egger did with this family's horrific ordeal. Yet another instance of our government dehumanizing its citizenry in their time of great need, as it does with our military-prison-industrial complex. How police used FEMA money for these injustices reminds me of what North Dakota is doing at Standing Rock.

All this aside, this story makes me want to meet Zeitoun's family.

Amazing story

An engrossing account of a good man and a good family, and their encounter with a terrible storm & grim aftermath. Brilliant!

Important story that could be told better

I cannot believe this happened in America. The narration is a little weak and the story could be more fluid. However, this is a story that needed to be told and is so amazing that these flaws are almost forgotton.

Zeitoun

Wow - this book blew my mind, and opened my eyes. It revealed to me the barely hidden prejudices of ordinary people. Here was the excuse to give authorities the apparent right to take away human dignity and basic human rights. Imagine what we would have to say if this happened in the middle east? A reminder to never stand by when you see injustice. Question everything!