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carrieprice78's review
5.0
Dave Eggers has a reputation for his precise writing and keen observations, so I was a little disappointed to find a few typos within this book. Example: Zeitoun bought his bike for "fory" dollars, and a few sentences which seemed to be missing a pronoun or quotation marks. I think the draft could have benefited from more editing. [return][return]Aside from those small issues, the story is amazing. Eggers was able to paint the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy and their family with great clarity and depth. Eggers does not lack in character or plot development. The writing was simple, beautiful, and blunt.[return][return]It's a story about one family's experience during and after Hurricane Katrina. I wish it was fiction--it's so maddening and frustrating that something like this can happen anywhere, let alone America in recent history. This book created a lump in my throat many times, and actual tears at least once. It's so sad. It makes me wish I could do something to help, and guess what? I can! Eggers has become a great humanitarian with a mission to help those treated unjustly. At the end of the book, you'll find information about the Zeitouns' foundation which aids Hurricane Katrina victims as well as others around the world who are the victims of human rights violations.[return][return]Read this book--it's important to know that these things can and will still happen. If more people would choose civility, this world would certainly be better for it.
Merged review:
Dave Eggers has a reputation for his precise writing and keen observations, so I was a little disappointed to find a few typos within this book. Example: Zeitoun bought his bike for "fory" dollars, and a few sentences which seemed to be missing a pronoun or quotation marks. I think the draft could have benefited from more editing. returnreturnAside from those small issues, the story is amazing. Eggers was able to paint the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy and their family with great clarity and depth. Eggers does not lack in character or plot development. The writing was simple, beautiful, and blunt.returnreturnIt's a story about one family's experience during and after Hurricane Katrina. I wish it was fiction--it's so maddening and frustrating that something like this can happen anywhere, let alone America in recent history. This book created a lump in my throat many times, and actual tears at least once. It's so sad. It makes me wish I could do s
omething to help, and guess what? I can! Eggers has become a great humanitarian with a mission to help those treated unjustly. At the end of the book, you'll find information about the Zeitouns' foundation which aids Hurricane Katrina victims as well as others around the world who are the victims of human rights violations.returnreturnRead this book--it's important to know that these things can and will still happen. If more people would choose civility, this world would certainly be better for it.
Merged review:
Dave Eggers has a reputation for his precise writing and keen observations, so I was a little disappointed to find a few typos within this book. Example: Zeitoun bought his bike for "fory" dollars, and a few sentences which seemed to be missing a pronoun or quotation marks. I think the draft could have benefited from more editing. returnreturnAside from those small issues, the story is amazing. Eggers was able to paint the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy and their family with great clarity and depth. Eggers does not lack in character or plot development. The writing was simple, beautiful, and blunt.returnreturnIt's a story about one family's experience during and after Hurricane Katrina. I wish it was fiction--it's so maddening and frustrating that something like this can happen anywhere, let alone America in recent history. This book created a lump in my throat many times, and actual tears at least once. It's so sad. It makes me wish I could do s
omething to help, and guess what? I can! Eggers has become a great humanitarian with a mission to help those treated unjustly. At the end of the book, you'll find information about the Zeitouns' foundation which aids Hurricane Katrina victims as well as others around the world who are the victims of human rights violations.returnreturnRead this book--it's important to know that these things can and will still happen. If more people would choose civility, this world would certainly be better for it.
meghan111's review
3.0
boguey's review
4.0
I picked Zeitoun up at the Encinitas Public Library on a Saturday afternoon and finished it by Tuesday evening. Dave Eggers' account follows a Muslim man from Syria named Zeitoun and his family, residents of New Orleans, through their experience with Hurricane Katrina. The story is equally dispiriting and inspiring, as Eggers explores what can happen, as it did, to a weak system suddenly in disarray. Toss into the natural devastation questions about religion, tolerance, heroism, and personal definitions of home, and you've got a read that is simply tough to put down.
This one is appropriate for all ages save for a couple of particularly difficult allusions that may not be suitable for pre-teens. Enjoy.
This one is appropriate for all ages save for a couple of particularly difficult allusions that may not be suitable for pre-teens. Enjoy.
tittypete's review
5.0
Man, I loved this book. Cleanly and efficiently written. I flew through it. The Katrina back drop was fascinating as well as the basic story of human rights being trampled on when we as a country are faced with a challenge. This book made me angry, indignant and, for a moment, more of a liberal. So for the pleasure of reading an exquisite and fascinating story I give the book 5 stars.
But then I read about Zeitoun's wife beating and Islamic radicalization and I can't help but wonder if the title character was whitewashed a bit to make for a more palatable protagonist. If he was an asshole muslim guy I probably wouldn't have been as outraged by his mistreatment. I'll admit I'm being a bit of a bigot. In the book he's a near angel. In reality he sounds like a scumbag. Could be that his experience changed him but I don't but that completely. A relatively uneventful few weeks in jail shouldn't make you think it's ok to beat your wife and kids. So ... fuck this guy.
But the book, without knowing current Zeitoun events first made for one of the better reads of my last few years.I'd recommend to anyone ignorant of the Zeitoun reality. Otherwise I'm not sure how I'de react to it if didn't buy Egger's glowing representation of him.
But then I read about Zeitoun's wife beating and Islamic radicalization and I can't help but wonder if the title character was whitewashed a bit to make for a more palatable protagonist. If he was an asshole muslim guy I probably wouldn't have been as outraged by his mistreatment. I'll admit I'm being a bit of a bigot. In the book he's a near angel. In reality he sounds like a scumbag. Could be that his experience changed him but I don't but that completely. A relatively uneventful few weeks in jail shouldn't make you think it's ok to beat your wife and kids. So ... fuck this guy.
But the book, without knowing current Zeitoun events first made for one of the better reads of my last few years.I'd recommend to anyone ignorant of the Zeitoun reality. Otherwise I'm not sure how I'de react to it if didn't buy Egger's glowing representation of him.
leslielu67's review
2.0
The beginning of this book reminded me of Three Cups of Tea, in which the author paints the main character as annoyingly almost Jesus-like. At least Zeitoun did not miraculously attend Mother Teresa's funeral! This book should have been halved, with much of the pre-Katrina family history chopped. Better yet, it would have made a great 3-part series in the newspaper. The story needs to be told, but not like this.
lavoiture's review
5.0
I love Dave Eggers. I don't know why people hate on him so much because he's an amazing author. Zeitoun was a book I couldn't put down. It was horrifying to hear what happened to the family after Katrina. Totally worth reading, and while the subject was kind of depressing, the story itself was not.
itsolivia's review
4.0
The deal: Abdul and his wife Kathy are muslims living in New Orleans when Katrina hits. This true story hashes out the days leading up to and following the hurricane. An interesting cross section between how our government handled disaster relief and terrorist threats in the not so distant past.
Is it worth it?: I think so. Eggers is excellent, per usual. Do yourself a favor though, and don't read the "where are they now" before you dive into the book. It turns out Zeitoun may actually be a horrible person - and in that context, the story is hard to swallow.
Pairs well with: Bottled water, a canoe
B
Is it worth it?: I think so. Eggers is excellent, per usual. Do yourself a favor though, and don't read the "where are they now" before you dive into the book. It turns out Zeitoun may actually be a horrible person - and in that context, the story is hard to swallow.
Pairs well with: Bottled water, a canoe
B
kmcclellan220's review
3.0
Another book from Dean Morrison's shelf...I picked this one up because I read "What Is the What" (also by Dave Eggers) last summer. Similiar to that book, Zeitoun was a mostly true story of a Muslim family living in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Eggers does a fine job laying out the family's history and developing the characters. Once the hurricane hits and the family is seperated, Eggers writing looses steam. The entire book was very well written, but the latter half of the book lacked the thoughtful reflection and analysis of the situation being laid out for the reader.
I finished the book and felt unsettled---if one is going to try to expose the corrpution of the US government specifically in times of natural disasters, there needs to be a bit more sympathy and cushioning. It's a hard pill to swallow, even for someone who is highly skeptical of the abuse of power of the 1%.
Overall, it was a good book and one that I would recommend. Knowledge is power!
I finished the book and felt unsettled---if one is going to try to expose the corrpution of the US government specifically in times of natural disasters, there needs to be a bit more sympathy and cushioning. It's a hard pill to swallow, even for someone who is highly skeptical of the abuse of power of the 1%.
Overall, it was a good book and one that I would recommend. Knowledge is power!
susanbrooks's review against another edition
4.0
Intense. We spend the first half of the book getting to know and love Syrian Zeitoun and his American wife Kathy, who has converted to Islam. From the description, I knew Zeitoun disappeared after Hurricane Katrina,
but I got more and more tense as I realized what kind of clusterf*** situation was happening to him in the chaos. Will remember it for a long time, much as I have with Eggers' What is the What.
but I got more and more tense as I realized what kind of clusterf*** situation was happening to him in the chaos. Will remember it for a long time, much as I have with Eggers' What is the What.