By Dave Eggers, $29.95
This is a very moving story about what happens to one family during the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. Abdularahman Zeitoun, a Muslim immigrant from Syria, lives in New Orleans with his children and his wife, Kathy. Zeitoun and Kathy have established a thriving construction business and they work together to enrich their community, business and family life.
Zeitoun is very conscious of his duty to his customers and community. As a result, when Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans, Zeitoun sends his wife Kathy, and four children, to the safety of relatives. He stays behind to care for his home and business. Using a canoe, he is able to help many people and abandoned pets who have no help and are in dangerous and unhealthy circumstances.
Eventually New Orleans becomes more deserted. It is taken over by military type personnel who ‘arrest’ (no charges are ever laid) Zeitoun and take him to a prison-like compound where he endures much discomfort and humiliation because of his race and religion. Kathy has no idea where he is and searches for Zeitoun for days and days.
Zeitoun is eventually freed and they are eventually reunited but the scars of Zeitoun’s treatment at the hands of fellow Americans left Zeitoun and Kathy deeply wounded. This is a gripping and amazing story highlighting much about the tragedy of Katrina and the post-911 life for Arabs and Muslims living in America.
Tags: Dave Eggers, P'lovers Book Club