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"Zeitoun"
In August, 2005, New Orleans and the entire gulf coast braced for Hurricane Katrina, a category five storm that
would eventually take more than 1800 lives and cost more than $81 billion. Most of the city's population had either
evacuated or moved to shelters like the Louisiana Superdome.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun did not. Zeitoun, a middle–aged father of four, originally from Syria, stayed behind
to look after his rental property, his business and to help his neighbors.
"Zeitoun", by Dave Eggers, chronicles the events surrounding Katrina from the perspective of one man.
It is a personal story of one family dealing with normal family issues, as well as a story of a country
and a government dealing with a natural disaster, post-September 11.
Eggers is the author of many other works, including the critically acclaimed 2000 memoir, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius".
More than five years after Hurricane Katrina, "Zeitoun" is an interesting, provocative and important work that pushes readers
to question themselves and their country.
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Amanda Olson
Chair, Common Book Committee
651.747.4058
