Review: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
by Jenners • 12/06/2010 • 4 Stars, E Authors, History, Non-Fiction, Z Titles • 50 Comments
Zeitoun by Dave EggersPublisher: McSweeneys, 2009
Pages: 335
Genre: Non-fiction
My Rating: 4 stars
My first experience with Dave Eggers was when I read his memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. (How could I resist that title?) Although I remember liking the book, my main memory is of footnotes. Lots of footnotes. Cleverly done and witty footnotes. But still … I mainly remember the footnotes. It read and felt like the memoir of very smart young writer, but it also felt a bit “show offy” in a similar way to Jonathan Safran Foer’s Everything Is Illuminated. I’d not read any more Eggers books since, but I’ve come across him from time to time in anthologies or short stories. In fact, it was his essay in the anthology State by State that led me to this book. As part of my Take Another Chance Challenge, I had to read an anthology, pick a favorite selection from it, and read another work by that writer. After reading Egger’s very amusing essay on his home state of Illinois, I decided to pick him.
I bought Zeitoun knowing nothing about it. All I knew was that it was by Dave Eggers, and the cover was intriguing. Who was this guy in the boat? Where was he? What was he doing? What did Zeitoun mean? The book I found within was not what I expected from Eggers. What I found was a measured, thought-provoking accounting of one family’s experiences before, during and after Hurricane Katrina.
Zeitoun turns out to be Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian-born painting contractor who has run a successful business in New Orleans for years. Married to his wife Kathy, Zeitoun works hard raising his children and running his business. When the family first hears rumblings about a big storm moving toward New Orleans, Zeitoun never once considers leaving. His home and his business are there, and he won’t leave it to be ravaged by a hurricane. Besides, he is too busy helping clients board up their homes for the impending storm. Concerned about the increasingly dire weather reports, Kathy takes the children and evacuates New Orleans—unwilling to leave Zeitoun but knowing he cannot be convinced to leave.
When Katrina arrives, Zeitoun is thankful he stayed behind once the flooding takes over the first floor of his home. Working frantically to salvage as much of the family’s possessions as possible, Zeitoun seeks shelter on the second floor of his home, eventually being forced to sleep on the roof in a tent. Equipped with a canoe, Zeitoun ventures out in the immediate aftermath of the storm and is stunned by what he sees—a city underwater that seems eerily quiet and deserted. But bit by bit, Zeitoun finds others who stayed behind and begins to help as much as possible. As he works helping those in need—including an elderly woman trapped in her home and neighborhood dogs who have been left behind by their owners—Zeitoun feels a sense of purpose and accomplishment he’s never felt before. Galvanized by his new purpose, Zeitoun feels energized and fully alive. When he finally gets in touch with Kathy, he tells her that he is well, checking on their rental properties, and doing what he can to help. He tells Kathy that it will be some time before she and the children can return to New Orleans so she needs to find a place to live and enroll the children in school. They agree to talk on the phone each day at a certain time and make decisions about what steps to take next.
But one day, Zeitoun doesn’t call, and Kathy is plunged into worry. The news coming out of New Orleans is increasingly worrisome, and Kathy feels nervous about Zeitoun’s lack of contact. Plagued by anxiety, Kathy does everything she can think of to find out what happened to Zeitoun. Days go by without word, but then Kathy finally gets some news. What she learns is shocking and plunges her into an uphill battle to save her husband.
If I’m being vague and leaving you with a cliffhanger, it is because I think you should read this book. Learning what Zeitoun experiences in the aftermath of Katrina was shocking, outrageous and, sadly, utterly believable. Eggers makes the brilliant decision to let Zeitoun’s story speak for itself. The story doesn’t need to be embellished or embroidered with hyperbole to raise your hackles and get your blood pumping. We’ve all heard about the horrors and injustices that happened during and after Katrina, but hearing Zeitoun’s first-hand experience makes it come alive and feel very personal. And very very wrong.
Although Eggers tells this non-fiction story in narrative form, he is careful to relate things as simply and straightforwardly as possible. I’m sure it is a structure that has been criticized as blurring the line between fact and fiction, but I think Eggers manages to pull off a rather tricky balancing act. At the end, Eggers provides a list of documentation and methodology for the writing of the book and emphasizes that everything is based on the Zeitouns’ recollections, extensive interviews, and research.
Although I thought Eggers presented Zeitoun’s incendiary story in a way that lets the facts speak for themselves, I’m sure many people won’t like to hear what happens to him. Zeitoun’s story is very disturbing, yet it is a story that needs to be told. I’m glad I read this book and learned more about this recent chapter in U.S. history. Although the book is often disturbing, shocking and upsetting, it is also inspirational and uplifting. It is a book you won’t soon forget.
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I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book. I’m afraid the book will disturb me as I am guessing that something happens to Zeitoun that I’m not going to like. I thought the same as you when I have seen the cover at the bookstore! I should have picked this one up before and now I will!
You called it … something does happen to Zeitoun that is just so wrong on so many levels that I was flabbergasted.
I was not a huge fan of Eggers’s first book but this does sound different from that and the story is very interesting – you may have convinced me to give it a shot!
It was quite different from his first book. I woudn’t have guessed it was the same author.
This sounds interesting. I’m sure it does make the readers blood boil while reading. Glad to hear its inspirational as well.
It made me so angry … and so shocked at what can happen here in the USA in the 21st century. Makes you question a lot of things.
I’m very interested in reading this book about Katrina. It sounds riveting.
It was … shocking too.
Well, I was supposed to read this for book club and didn’t. Now I am supposed to read it for the Freshman Common Reading panel I am on. Let’s see if I succeed this time.
It seems that the Book Reading Gods want you to read this book!
Yo Jenners! Did you ever find out if they offer Kidfresh in your area? ‘Cause you won the contest, dearheart! Send me an email, babe! Shari@dustyearthmother.com
Oh cool! I didn’t check yet … but now I will. I totally forgot about this … and what I won. : )
I love the new look!
I listened to Zeitoun a few months back and thought it was really interesting. I agree that Eggers pulled off a delicate balancing act; the story could easily have fallen to one side or another, but Eggers managed to keep it on track.
I’ll have to go look for your review.
What a great choice for your/our challenge.
It did work out well, which I can’t say for all the parts of “our” challenge! : )
I’m not sure about this one. Katrina is not my favorite topic and I have a lot of mixed emotions about the events that surrounded it. This is a compelling review, though, and I tempted to read the book just to learn what you now know.
Well, if Katrina is a sore spot for you, this might bring up a lot of emotion. What happens to Zeitoun is just horrific and shocking. I, for one, was probably a bit naive about the things that happened during and after Katrina. It was very eye-opening for me.
Okay, am I just now noticing the new look or is it actually new? Either way I love it! Those pictures of you are tremendous!
Eggers is one of those authors I’ve always toyed with reading but have put off for one reason or another.
Yes … the look is new. You’re not crazy. I dumped my old theme for this one because of the awesome way it allows people to navigate. (Plus I cannot stop tinkering with the blog).
I liked Eggers … reading this book made me realize how versatile he is as a writer.
Sounds very interesting!!
I must admit that after reading Zeitoun I was ashamed. We as a people NEVER learn from our mistakes. We did it to the Japanese and we have done it again in New Orleans. How interesting though that it is kept on the down low. Where is the outrage and the reporters? I am glad that Dave Eggers wrote this – he at least is trying to make the world aware.
I felt the exact same way. It is shameful, and I can’t imagine why this story wasn’t splashed across every magazine and newspaper in the country. It is outrageous. I felt the same way about the book … I’m glad Eggers told this story. It needs to be told.
You have a wide range of reading likes – I like it because I feel I could ask you about just about any genre, lol. :0) Sometimes I wish you were in the bookstore with me.
I am all over the map! Call it a “wide range” or “totally nuts.”; )
I also thought that A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius was pretentious, but this book sounds like one I would really like, and I have to admit that I am really curious about what happens to Zeitoun after his wife loses touch with him. Great review, I am putting this one on my list!
You would never guess it was by the same writer. And I think this story is one that needs to get out in the world … it is shocking to me what he experienced.
I loved this one. I’ve read most of Eggers’ work, but I think this is his best so far. He does a really wonderful job telling someone else’s story. What is the What is another good example, though I thought this one was even better. He’s let go of some of his gimicks and is now relying on his writing, which is perfect.
I wondered that … it seemed like a totally different writer who had matured a bit and trusted himself more. I’ll have to check out What Is The What.
Ok, you’ve sold me. Now I have to find this book….and I have stacks and stacks of other books I HAVE to read – but now I HAVE to know what happened to this poor man! Shame on you Jenners – you’ve hooked me into the story! The publishers need to hire you to write the info on the backs of the books
Awesome, awesome review!!! You did not disappoint me with Columbine and I’m sure this one will be just as good – thanks for the suggestion!
oh – and I love the latest look on your blog!!!!
It is one of those books where you read it and think “This couldn’t have possibly have happened in our country, did it?” Of course, I could be incredibly naive.
I read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius too and loved the beginning and felt like the ending dragged, so I haven’t looked for any of Eggers’ work since. This sounds like one I need to look for.
You would never guess this was by the same author! Either he’s matured as a writer or he adapts his style to the subject matter.
I had this book in hand when I was shopping in Chicago, and the owner talked me out of it, and convinced me to buy What Is The What (by Eggers) instead. This book is not universally loved, even though EW ranked it as the #1 Non-Fiction book of the year it came out. It perplexes me. The criticism wasn’t towards the difficulty of the story, but of the prose I think. I’m going to read the other book of his and then see if I want to read this one. I do trust your opinion…
The book feels somewhat like a novel but, at the same time, it also feels like a long magazine piece. I don’t know if it is indicative of Eggers’ writing as a whole … I would have never guessed he was the author if I read it completely blind.
I had no idea this was about Katrina! I’m much more interested now!
I know!! It doesn’t quite give you that impression. It is the only book I’ve read about the aftermath of Katrina and it makes me want to learn more. There was some seriously messed up stuff that happened.
Oh, I’m glad you liked this. I haven’t gotten to it, yet., but I totally adore Eggers!
Eggers (in my limited experience) seems to be a flexible and adaptable writer. If you read this and didn’t know it was his book, I bet you wouldn’t guess it was him.
You are the first person who has written a review in such a way that makes me want to read Eggers. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post on my blog, I often confused Eggers and Sedaris. I’m sure that after reading this, that won’t happen again.
You will NEVER confuse this book with Sedaris … trust me on that! : ) This is more like a piece of journalism but told in narrative form. It is really effective.
I agree that the cover looks intriguing. Are there lots of footnotes in this one as well? Personally this puts me off books as I find them so distracting.
Not one single footnote. It was like Eggers became a totally different writer.
This does sound upsetting, but also so important. I must get my hands on it!
Exactly … upsetting but important. The kind of story that needs to be told so it doesn’t happen again.
Wow. You wrote that review so well I may or may not have rushed out and loaded that into my Amazon cart! I am in the midst of no less than 6 books (and it takes me months to complete any) so I may have to bookmark this one for awhile. I think that it sounds very intriguing. Thank you for sharing!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
It is so shocking what happens to him … you can hardly believe this all takes place in the USA.
I almost bought this one a while back, but just could not justify that impulsive purchase. Great review (perhaps a library read for 2011)?
I would recommend it. I think it is a book that everyone should read just to better understand the kind of stuff that went down after Hurricane Katrina. It was eye-opening to me.