Zeitoun+by+Amer+A.

pronounced Zay-toon


Pages 1 - 84

Helping somebody out with something feels good. But helping your entire city on a daily basis is an unforgettable feeling. This is how it feels for Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun, a strong married couple who work together in a contracting business around the city of New Orleans. Kathy takes calls, organizes the schedule, and is in charge of keeping the business rolling. Abdulrahman is the head boss and is in charge keeping his painters and workers in order. Together, they work efficiently making a living and raising their four children. There’s a huge problem though. One of the biggest hurricanes in history is going to strike there city in the matter of days. Due to many useless hurricane warnings though out his life in New Orleans, Abdulrahman doesn’t think much of this one and ignores it at first. Abdulrahman doesn’t have the time to leave the city for a hurricane which probably won’t cause any harm. After several warnings from the news, friends, and family, Abdulrahman decides that his wife and kids should leave the region. Abdulrahman will stay at home to keep an eye on things around the house and town. Hopefully this isn’t a regretful mistake. I’ve always been a fan of biographies, so reading this book was no different. The hook that caught me to read this book is how the main character, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, is a Syrian- American just like me. This interested me because I am curious to find out how other fellow arabs find life in America to be. I like how honest, respectable, and hardworking Abdulrahman is. He helps people regardless of race, beliefs, or the way they live their life. He also has the best customer satisfaction rate around town. When he starts a job, he doesn’t finish until it is perfect, no shortcuts. This is what creates his undeniable reputation. I do like how the book gives a lot of background information before immediately jumping into the conflict. This helps the reader fully understand what is going on and helps in making predictions.

-Zeitoun Contractors Inc. -The family of 5 that went missing on the news. -Damages from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. -Governer Blanco's warning to the city. -Map of Zeitouns neighborhood (elevation map).

Pages 85 -172
Abdulrahman’s expectations of Hurricane Katrina were way different than reality. The city of New Orleans was drowning foot by foot. Not only was the ubiquitous water damaging properties, fast-spreading disease was permeating, and rampaging gangs and looters have been out of control. Zeitoun thinks of this as an adventure rather than a disaster. He paddles around the city on his 75$ aluminum canoe feeding dogs, helping people, and checking up on his properties. Zeitoun comes across many of his neighbors and acquaintances. They work to gether to manage through this terrible state of New Orleans. He does encounter danger when he sees a burglary occurring from a distance. One of the thieves shows his gun off at Zeitoun which scares him away. Zeitoun also encounters many suspicious military guards that lie and refuse to help helpless victims. Despite all the action, Zeitoun’s wife, Kathy, and his four children, are all safe and sound in Phoenix, Arizona. The story doesn’t end this easy. One day when Zeitoun went to one of his properties to talk on the only phone available, two armed military guards confront him and the story flips to Kathy’s perspective. Zeitoun hasn’t yet called or been in contact. What happened to Zeitoun? Dave Eggers does a marvelous job in narrating the events of Hurricane Katrina. He uses humor, suspense, and action in describing Zeitoun’s story. The end of this chapter has left me in a state of cliffhanging. When an author can do this, you are definitely reading an interesting book. I enjoy how Zeitoun helps his city out and sacrifices his time, energy, and supplies/food for others before him, even dogs. This inspires me to help others. If Zeitoun can help when his city is in a state of emergency, I’m sure I can too. So far this novel is even better than I have expected and hopefully nothing misfortunate happens to Zeitoun.

**-Levees in New Orleans (**http://matdl.org/failurecases/Dam%20Cases/new_orleans_hurricane_katrina_le.htm **)** -**Evacuating the city plans (**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12597238/ **)** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-Why the military guards weren’t of much help to Zeitoun.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-What happened to all the homeless dogs? ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">(<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[]) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-How much money in damage occurred to New Orleans? (<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2005-09-09-katrina-damage_x.htm ) **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%; line-height: 200%;">Pages 173- 245

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Being accused of something not committed can be the worst feeling ever, especially when the authorities (police, military, etc.) are against you. And to top it off, your family thinks you are dead and have no clue what’s going on. This is the sticky situation Abdulrahman Zeitoun is trapped in. This passage started off with Zeitoun ending his phone call, and answering the people at his door. These people were armed with weapons, acted suspicious, and had been very strict on Zeitoun and his three other friends. They were taken by fan boat to an outdoor prison built in a train station. All this came unexpectedly to Zeitoun. He later finds out that the authorities believe he is part of the notorious al Queda. Zeitoun and his acquaintences are put in a cell and treated like trash. After experiencing new things, Zeitoun and the other inmates are sent on a bus and moved to a correctional facility. Zeitoun thinks here he will be able to use the phone to contact his family and alert them that he is alive and in prison. The passage ends here and leaves the reader at a cliffhanger. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This passage made me feel extremely angry at the fact that Zeitoun and his friends were accused of being part of a terrorist plot. This is unfair and unjust. Zeitoun is trapped in a jail cell suffering from a foot infection, hunger, and the constant thought of his family thinking he is dead. I believe that the authorities have been extremely corrupted. I am very anxious to continue reading to find out what has happened to Zeitoun and his curious family in Arizona. Hopefully Zeitoun makes it out of prison safely and quickly so the family can be reunited again.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-The military forces <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-The Greyhound bus station <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-How many "prisoners" were actually guilty <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-The Elayn Hunt Correctional Center <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-Who was in charge of these authorities? What happened to him?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%; line-height: 200%;">The Zeitouns

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%; line-height: 200%;">Pages 246 – 325

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Abdulrahman Zeitoun is in an unlucky situation right now. He is trapped in a maximum security prison with aching pain throughout his mind and body – and he is innocent. The only thing he can do is just wait and pray to God that his wife finds out he is alive and needs to be freed. Zeitoun is dying for just one phone call. He asks anyone he sees for that chance. They all refuse, until he comes across one lifeline. This is a missionary who was going form cell to cell passing out books about Jesus Christ. Zeitoun sincerely tells the missionary the truth about his wife and the situation he is in and gives him Kathy’s number. The missionary agrees and says he will contact her. Zeitoun is relieved, but still isn’t confident enough that he is going to be free anytime soon. After Kathy finds out, she is ecstatic. She calls neighbors, family, and friends alerting them about Zeitoun’s situation. Kathy contacts a close friend who’s a lawyer. He uses his power to free Zeitoun. Zeitoun is later united with his wife after serving 23 days in a harsh prison. Zeitoun still goes through trouble in recovering his wallet from the prison, but he succeeds. The story continues two years later. Now the Zeitouns are living in a new, much bigger house. There properties they own have been remodeled, sold, or even destroyed. Though that Hurricane Katrina incident occurred three weeks prior, it has affected Zeitouns physical health and Kathy’s mental health. They must take things slower and need the help of some secretaries and employees. Life is good for the Zeitouns. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I loved this story because it showed confidence through struggle and the determination and love from family. This encourages me to continue hard through rough times because if Zeitoun can survive over three weeks in a maximum security prison while being ill, practically anything is possible.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-Elayn Hunt's warden <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-Police officers consequences <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-Deaths from Hurricane Katrina <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-Zeitouns life now
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">-Hurricane Katina recovery (<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.ffiec.gov/katrina_lessons.htm ) **

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Videos* __
~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOgLqUWnn5k

~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Vl4kaQpx0&feature=related