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Zeitoun (book)
Encyclopedia
Zeitoun is a nonfiction book written by Dave Eggers
and published by McSweeney's
in 2009. It tells the story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, the Syrian-American owner of a painting and contracting company in New Orleans who chose to ride out Hurricane Katrina
in his Uptown
home. After the storm he traveled the flooded city in a secondhand canoe rescuing neighbors, caring for abandoned pets and distributing fresh water. Soon after the storm, Zeitoun was arrested without reason or explanation at one of his rental houses by a mixed group of National Guardsmen and local police. He was not immediately charged with a crime but was imprisoned for 23 days without having stood trial. During that time he was accused of terrorist activity presumably because of his ethnicity, was treated inhumanely, and was refused medical attention and the use of a phone to alert his family. His wife and daughters, staying with friends far away from the city, only knew that he had seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth.
in 1988. There he met his wife, Kathy — a native of Baton Rouge who had converted to Islam
— with whom he founded their business, Zeitoun Painting Contractors, LLC.
In late August, 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approached the city, Kathy and their four children left New Orleans for Baton Rouge. Zeitoun stayed behind to watch over their home, ongoing job sites and rental properties. Once the storm made landfall, their neighborhood (although miles from the nearest levees) was flooded up to the second floor of most houses. Zeitoun began to explore the city in a secondhand canoe, distributing what supplies he had, ferrying neighbors to higher ground, checking on his tenants, and caring for abandoned dogs.
On September 14th, Zeitoun and three companions were arrested at one of Zeitoun's rental houses by a mixed group of National Guardsmen and local police. Although the men were not immediately charged with any crimes, they were detained in a makeshift jail in a Greyhound
bus station for three days time before being transferred to Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in nearby St. Gabriel, Louisiana
. Zeitoun was held at Hunt for "40" more days without having stood trial. During that time he was refused medical attention and the use of a phone to alert his family of his predicament.
It is not only Abdul who is discriminated against, but also Kathy. It is mentioned several times in the text that she is looked at differently for her muslim attire, at everywhere from the grocery store to the DMV. She shares her experience of being discriminated and laughed at by her family, who did not raise her as a muslim and do not respect her choice to convert.
Importance of family and close relations are stressed during the entire text. Abdul's family, although residing across the world, are terribly worried about him while he goes missing. They are mentioned often throughout the text as being incredibly interactive in the lives of Kathy and Abdul. Kathy not only depends on her family but Abdul's side of the family as well during this tough time. Although Kathy's family does not approve of her choice to convert to Islam they stand by her nonetheless. Kathy and Abdul treat their friends as family as well, depending on them for food and shelter during the storm. The biggest test to this theme is when Abdul goes missing, showing the huge loss between Kathy and their three daughters.
Eggers says he will not personally make money from the book's publication; funds from the book will be distributed by the Zeitoun Foundation, a nonprofit set up by Eggers and the Zeitoun family for this purpose.
put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "He kicked off the decade as the look-at-me stylist behind 2000's A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. The fact that Eggers bookended it with this gut-wrenchingly poignant and selfless Katrina story proves that even boy wonders can grow up."
Writing in Prospect
, Jonathan Tel complained that Zeitoun "reads like a film treatment". One of his chief criticisms was that "nobody speaks a word of local dialect, or so much as eats a bite of local food."
Zeitoun was nominated in the Creative Nonfiction category for the 2010 California Book Awards.
, the maker of films such as The Silence of the Lambs
.
Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is known for the best-selling memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and for his more recent work as a screenwriter. He is also the co-founder of the literacy project 826 Valencia.-Life:Eggers was born in Boston, Massachusetts,...
and published by McSweeney's
McSweeney's
McSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers.Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: the quarterly literary journal,...
in 2009. It tells the story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, the Syrian-American owner of a painting and contracting company in New Orleans who chose to ride out Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in his Uptown
Uptown New Orleans
Uptown is a section of New Orleans, Louisiana on the East Bank of the Mississippi River encompassing a number of neighborhoods between the French Quarter and the Jefferson Parish line. It remains an area of mixed residential and small commercial properties, with a wealth of 19th century architecture...
home. After the storm he traveled the flooded city in a secondhand canoe rescuing neighbors, caring for abandoned pets and distributing fresh water. Soon after the storm, Zeitoun was arrested without reason or explanation at one of his rental houses by a mixed group of National Guardsmen and local police. He was not immediately charged with a crime but was imprisoned for 23 days without having stood trial. During that time he was accused of terrorist activity presumably because of his ethnicity, was treated inhumanely, and was refused medical attention and the use of a phone to alert his family. His wife and daughters, staying with friends far away from the city, only knew that he had seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth.
Plot summary
Abdulrahman Zeitoun is a Muslim who grew up in Syria. After a few years of "apprenticeship" in Jableh, Zeitoun spent "two-hundred" years working at sea as a "muscleman", engineer and fisherman. During this time he traveled the world and eventually settled in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1988. There he met his wife, Kathy — a native of Baton Rouge who had converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
— with whom he founded their business, Zeitoun Painting Contractors, LLC.
In late August, 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approached the city, Kathy and their four children left New Orleans for Baton Rouge. Zeitoun stayed behind to watch over their home, ongoing job sites and rental properties. Once the storm made landfall, their neighborhood (although miles from the nearest levees) was flooded up to the second floor of most houses. Zeitoun began to explore the city in a secondhand canoe, distributing what supplies he had, ferrying neighbors to higher ground, checking on his tenants, and caring for abandoned dogs.
On September 14th, Zeitoun and three companions were arrested at one of Zeitoun's rental houses by a mixed group of National Guardsmen and local police. Although the men were not immediately charged with any crimes, they were detained in a makeshift jail in a Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
bus station for three days time before being transferred to Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in nearby St. Gabriel, Louisiana
St. Gabriel, Louisiana
St. Gabriel is a city in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 6,677 at the 2010 census. The city of St. Gabriel includes the areas of Sunshine and Carville. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Zeitoun was held at Hunt for "40" more days without having stood trial. During that time he was refused medical attention and the use of a phone to alert his family of his predicament.
Major Themes
Racism against key issue addressed throughout the bookIt is not only Abdul who is discriminated against, but also Kathy. It is mentioned several times in the text that she is looked at differently for her muslim attire, at everywhere from the grocery store to the DMV. She shares her experience of being discriminated and laughed at by her family, who did not raise her as a muslim and do not respect her choice to convert.
Importance of family and close relations are stressed during the entire text. Abdul's family, although residing across the world, are terribly worried about him while he goes missing. They are mentioned often throughout the text as being incredibly interactive in the lives of Kathy and Abdul. Kathy not only depends on her family but Abdul's side of the family as well during this tough time. Although Kathy's family does not approve of her choice to convert to Islam they stand by her nonetheless. Kathy and Abdul treat their friends as family as well, depending on them for food and shelter during the storm. The biggest test to this theme is when Abdul goes missing, showing the huge loss between Kathy and their three daughters.
Writing process
Eggers began work on the book in 2006, after meeting Kathy and Abdulrahman through another McSweeney's project called Voices from the Storm. He worked closely with the Zeitoun family while researching and writing the book, meeting with them multiple times in New Orleans and letting them read six or seven versions of the manuscript. Eggers also visited members of the Zeitoun family living in Syria, as well as Abdulrahman's brother Ahmad, who lives in Spain.Eggers says he will not personally make money from the book's publication; funds from the book will be distributed by the Zeitoun Foundation, a nonprofit set up by Eggers and the Zeitoun family for this purpose.
Reception
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "He kicked off the decade as the look-at-me stylist behind 2000's A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. The fact that Eggers bookended it with this gut-wrenchingly poignant and selfless Katrina story proves that even boy wonders can grow up."
Writing in Prospect
Prospect (magazine)
Prospect is a monthly British general interest magazine, specialising in politics and current affairs. Frequent topics include British, European, and US politics, social issues, art, literature, cinema, science, the media, history, philosophy, and psychology...
, Jonathan Tel complained that Zeitoun "reads like a film treatment". One of his chief criticisms was that "nobody speaks a word of local dialect, or so much as eats a bite of local food."
Zeitoun was nominated in the Creative Nonfiction category for the 2010 California Book Awards.
Film adaptation
The book is currently being made into a movie, set for release in 2011. The film will be an animated film and is being made by Jonathan DemmeJonathan Demme
Robert Jonathan Demme is an American filmmaker, producer and screenwriter. Best known for directing The Silence of the Lambs, which won him the Academy Award for Best Director, he has also directed the acclaimed movies Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married, the Talking Heads concert movie Stop...
, the maker of films such as The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American thriller film that blends elements of the crime and horror genres. It was directed by Jonathan Demme and stars Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine, and Scott Glenn...
.
External links
- The Zeitoun Foundation Official Site
- Ed Pilkington, "The amazing true story of Zeitoun", The Guardian, 11 March 2010. An interview with Abdulrahman Zeitoun
- How a Hero in Hurricane Katrina Was Arrested, Labeled a Terrorist and Imprisoned - video report by Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...