Common Reading

[rockvillemom]

<p>This is the selection for next year:</p>

<p>

Why Zeitoun?</p>

<p>The Common Reading Committee is pleased to announce Zeitoun by Dave Eggers as our selection for 2012-2013.</p>

<p>This narrative nonfiction book details the experiences of the Zeitouns, a Muslim family, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The book will be a starting point for discussions and programming that will take place throughout the year related to diversity, community engagement, crisis and disaster response, immigration, civil rights, and other topics.</p>

<p>Zeitoun won a 2010 American Book Award for literary works that cover “the entire spectrum of America’s diverse literary community.” In addition, it won the Los Angeles Times Book Award for Current Interest, a New York Times Notable Book, an O, The Oprah Magazine Terrific Read of the Year, a Huffington Post Best Book of the Year, a New Yorker Favorite Book of the Year, a Chicago Tribune Favorite Nonfiction Book of the Year, a Kansas City Star Best Book of the Year, an Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Decade, a Northern California Book Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Distinguished Honor, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Media Award.</p>

<p>In Fall 2009, The Zeitoun Foundation was established in order to “aid in the rebuilding of and ongoing health of the city of New Orleans and to help ensure the human rights of all Americans." Funds for that foundation have been gathered from the sale of the book.

</p>

<p>Any reaction? Anyone previously read the book? For existing students - did you enjoy the common reading experience?</p>

[Scoutmom9]

<p>My s read Zeitoun and enjoyed it very much. He was a student representative on the committee which selected the book. Last summer he had to read several books which were contenders for next years book.</p>

[livesinnewjersey]

<p>A good, engaging read. It was pretty outrageous what transpired in New Orleans after the hurricane Katrina. We all remember the images but this is a look at first hand expereince. A glimpse at mismanagement on both the local & national level and bad decisions made by so many people on every level; residents, politicians and local police. </p>

<p>Good lessons to be learned.</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>Wow! Has anyone followed what has happened to Zeitoun and his family since the book was published?</p>

<p>

The New York Times reports that the protagonist of Dave Eggers’ book Zeitoun—who was celebrated as a hero after canoeing through a Katrina-flooded New Orleans to save and provide water to his neighbors—has been accused of plotting to have his ex-wife and her son from a previous marriage, along with a third person, killed.</p>

<p>Abdulrahman Zeitoun, 54, was charged Wednesday with soliciting the murders. He was already in jail for assault at the time of the alleged solicitation. According to police, Zeitoun offered a fellow inmate $20,000 to carry out the crimes while Zeitoun was still behind bars, thereby providing himself with an alibi. The inmate instead alerted authorities.</p>

<p>While his loving relationship with then-wife Kathy featured prominently in Eggers’ 2009 book, the couple divorced last year after Zeitoun was convicted of assaulting her. With the latest charges, police suggest that things only got worse from there.</p>

<p>Zeitoun is a Syrian-born U.S. citizen, and a Muslim. He was wrongfully arrested on terrorism charges in the wake of Katrina after the National Guard mistook him for a suspect, as recounted by Eggers.</p>

<p>In an interview with the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Kathy Zeitoun said that Eggers’ description of the couple’s tender relationship was an accurate one at the time the book was written but that her now ex-husband later grew more angry and “radical” after it was published.

</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>Here’s another article on it:</p>

<p>[Subject</a> of best-seller Zeitoun is booked with murder solicitation | NOLA.com](<a href=“http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/08/subject_of_best-seller_zeitoun.html]Subject”>http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/08/subject_of_best-seller_zeitoun.html)</p>

<p>So shocking - as the book was such a testament to the strength of their marriage.</p>

[Scoutmom9]

<p>S said supposedly Elon was planning to invite Zeitoun to the college to speak but changed that after the initial domestic violence arrest happened .</p>

<p>Very sad story anyway.</p>

[samtalya]

<p>Glad he is not speaking. I work with victims of domestic violence. There is no reason for dv. There were many heroes that emerged in the days after Katrina, this guy is no hero.</p>

[Scoutmom9]

<p>Can’t argue with you there. No excuse for DV ever!</p>

[GeoLep]

<p>My D heard this news and decided not to read the book. I don’t mind her blowing off schoolwork based on principle rather than laziness!</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>I’m not sure I would take that approach - they are still required to read the book. I am sure the discussions will incorporate what has transpired since publication, including the crime of domestic violence. Zeitoun’s treatment by police/National Guard in post-Katrina New Orleans is still worth exploring. It is a chapter of history that most people are not familiar with.</p>

[Scoutmom9]

<p>Rockville mom makes some good points. The real story is how quickly life as we know it can disappear during a crisis situation where there is limited communication, necessities and many different agencies/branches of government working in a stressful and unprecedented situation. The book also mentions other Innocent folk that got caught up in the “Camp Greyhound”</p>