Zeitoun

read. book club selection for the September 23 meeting at 7pm.

Zeitoun  by  Dave Eggers
   Just out in paperback, the phenomenally talented Dave Eggers reports on the human, heart-breaking toll and the shocking government ineptitude in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. His real life protagonists are Abdul Zeitoun, (pronounced "Zay-toon') and his redoubtable wife, Kathy, devout Muslims running a small house painting business in downtown New Orleans. As Katrina builds to gale-force strength offshore, Abdul insists that Kathy and their four children evacuate the city. Zeitoun himself, a legal Arab immigrant and former fisherman from Syria is well used to the sea and tropical storms, and elects to stay on to 'mind the shop' and take care of various properties needing shuttering and storm proofing. The work goes well, Zeitoun moves to the top floor of his house, presciently secures a canoe to it's siding, and rides out the storm.    
   Hurricane Katrina was not so bad itself, the house and shuttered windows survived the stormy night, but Zeitoun wakes to the eerie silent aftermath of flood waters rising in the streets all around him. The levees had broken, and the whole of New Orleans is under water. Zeitoun paddles out to inspect the damage to his various properties and work stations, rescuing stranded victims along his route, noting few helicopters or coast guard boats in sight anywhere. This heroic image of the resolute Muslim, canoeing all over the city, helping stranded and suffering folk while the government is mired in inaction, is central to the real life story of Zeitoun. He loses cell phone contact with Kathy (now safely in Phoenix with the children), but picks up a work-mate, Nasser, and together they continue to assist victims and check on their properties. They hale an approaching patrol boat, but (two Arab Americans in a canoe!) are arrested and incarcerated under the Prevention of Terrorist Act. Eggers lays out the utter folly of the Homeland Security Forces policy, and the degradation of the two imprisoned men. Kathy returns to New Orleans and fights the authorities tooth and nail for the release of the men. Zeitoun reads like a chilling Kafa-esque tale, but no this is real. All this happened under President Bush's watch, and from the outset Eggers notes "this is a work of non-fiction." This is Dave Egger's best book yet, and the best book ever on the human tragedy and government mishandling of a "natural disaster." Zeitoun brings Katrina home to us all. A great read, and Eggers assures us that " all royalties are donated to the rebuilding of New Orleans and the fostering of interfaith understanding."
6.16.10 - Anthony 

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