Zeitoun+by+Jake+B

Jake Byers Period 9 Mr. Aurich Pgs. 1-80

Journal Entry #1 __Zeitoun__ by David Eggers

thirteen years old. Abdulrahman was a very curious as a child; he asked many questions to his beloved brother, Ahmad, every night while they would be fishing. They used to travel together selling fish all over Syria from Lattakia to Damascus. Thirty-four years later Abdurlahman lives in New Orleans with his wife, Kathy, and his two kids. Abdulrahman made his money through Zeitoun A. Painting Contractor LLC. They soon hear about word of a Hurricane Katrina which is overlooked by many people in the town. For the people of New Orleans hurricanes were a usual event. As the hurricane grew in strength, the panic of Kathy grew. Kathy suggested that they should leave the city as an evacuation has been called. Zeitoun decides to stay back after an hour or so of debating, fend for himself, and protect the house and properties. Abdulrahman is a strong muslim as he brings up a couple references from the Qur'an in this section. Kathy, a converted muslim, becomes weary of her faith and connection to god while in Baton Rouge. At the end of the section the storm just hit New Orleans and only a couple windows broke which to Zeitoun was not a big deal.
 * Summary:** The book starts out introducing Abdulrahman Zeitoun when he was thirteen years old fishing for sardines using a method called lampara with his brother at the age of [[image:http://www.solcomhouse.com/images/KATRINA-track.gif width="237" height="191" align="right" caption="The map which shows Hurricane Katrina's size and strength"]]
 * Reaction:** So far, I find it very eye-opening. It suprises me everytime I hear that there would be people who stay back in a category five hurricane to fend for their property. I suppose that when I get enough money to buy a property I may feel the same way, but i highly doubt that I would risk my life for it. I find it very interesting how religion is a key aspect in this book and how faith in a greater power rises above all worries and how Zeitoun is almost certain that nothing will happen to him. I personally am a christian and I still wouldnt risk myself passing even after I rehearse multiple prayers.


 * __References__**
 * [|Hurricane Katrina]
 * People's reaction[[image:http://www.katrinahelp.com/hurricane-katrina-6.jpg width="393" height="319" align="right" caption="This picture shows how high the water was in New Orleans"]]
 * Calm before the storm
 * Syria
 * [|Islam]

Pgs. 80-170 Journal Entry #2 __Zeitoun__ by David Eggers
 * Summary:** This section begins as Zeitoun discovering that the levys protecting New Orleands has broken. To his suprise, he walks downstairs and finds his entire first floor flooded. His first instinct was to gather belongings that could be gathered and set up camp on the roof because the living conditions in his house were dreadful. He gathers family picture books, framed pictures, sacred texts including the Qur'an, and several other personal belongings. That day Zeitoun thinks about the other people and places in the town. He decides he must go around town on a metal canoe helping people who need it despite the dangers of down power lines in water attracting to the metal. His first rescue was a client by the name of Frank who wanted Zeitoun to check on his truck. On the way to Frank's truck Zietoun helps multiple people simply get place to place. Zietoun then decides it was his turn to check up on his properties, this is where he runs into his good friend Todd which lets him use his phone. Zietoun called a very distressed Kathy. Kathy wanted Zietoun to leave the area but Zeitoun insisted on staying and lending aid to the survivors. In a few days helicopters flew over the area searching for people. A helicopter dropped off several cases of water to hand out to the people. A few days pass by and now Zietoun is in the habit of waking up, going to feed dogs, helping people get place to place, and assisting those who need it. The first sign of houses catching fire are shown in this section as he passes by them several times. Zeitoun is beggining to get scarred as he sees a group of dead puppies near an overpass, a plane crash, several house fires, and suicides all around the city. This section also reveals Zeitoun's care for animals as he was a kid him and his brother saved pigeons from danger and built cages to care for them, while their dad disagreed. Zeitoun talks to Kathy and they both agree that he needs a day of rest. Zeitoun's day of rest consists of reciting texts from the Qur'an and starting and pictures of his family who he hopes to see soon. The section then closes when armed individuals came up to his house in a motor boat.
 * Reaction:** Ive grown to enjoy this book alot. It gives me the sense of hope that there are people out there that will risk their own lives to save others in a time of crisis. I also feel very sympathetic towards the people affected by hurricane Katrina. I've been in three hurricanes personally from when i spent my summers in Florida. I cannot imagine the amount of stress people would have been going through standing up for themselves and fending on their own. This is a great example of an average man becoming extrodinary by in a time were heros are needed.


 * __References__**
 * Impact of the hurricane
 * Who were the armed men?
 * [|Qur'an]
 * [|Levee]
 * National Guard Helicopters

Pgs 170-245 Journal Entry #3 __Zeitoun__ by David Eggers
 * Summary:** Kathy has not heard from Zeitoun for days and begins to panic and worry. She's heard about the increasing death toll in New Orleans and presumes the worst. Kathy is still trying to find the kids a school, as Zeitoun has been emphasizing the past couple of weeks, and continues to try to contanct Zeitoun. Eventually, Kathy finds out about several groups of mercenaries in New Orleans that mainly contributes to the thievery, looting, and pillaging that took place after the storm. The mercanaries were mostly of Israeli decent which sparked the idea of the government doing something to Zeitoun for being brown. Within a day or so of gathering more information she recieves a phone call from a missionary who informs Kathy that Zeitoun is being held up in a maximum security prison with the charges of terrorism. In the prison, Zeitoun wasn't sure of why he was there, whenever he asked they were told they were there for stealing and looting. Zeitoun was facing harsh conditions as him and his four companions were locked up in a small cell not even suitable for a dog. The guards would give the inmates pork which Zeitoun and his companion Todd could not eat because of their Islamic beliefs. Random acts of violence were active in the prison. Guards would take people out of their cages to spray them with mace, dumb water on them, then walk away.
 * Reaction**: I really enjoy the books story. I can rarely find books that have aspects of heroism and tragedy that I can personally connect to and understand. It is simply mind-blowing that police in our ever so free nation would lock up people for being brown or dark in a cell for being who they are. It also reveals the harsh reality of the storm and how the average person carries themselves. Most people during the storm looted and robbed with random acts of violence being a day-to-day experience, including police brutality.

__**References**__
 * High Death Toll[[image:http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=810746785335&id=729cfd977553fd0367fd02774798385f width="205" height="182" align="right" caption="The death toll of Hurricane Katrina "]]
 * Police Brutality
 * Random Acts of Violence
 * Racial Profiling
 * False Accusations

Pgs 245 - End of Book Journal Entry #4 __Zeitoun__ by David Eggers
 * Summary:** At the beginning of the section, Zeitoun gets a pain in his toe. After a few days he is unable to put any weight on the toe without feeling an intense pain. He and his companions all agree that it is infected and needs to be removed. Zeitoun then cuts through the wound and feels a sudden sense of relief as all the puss pours out of his toe.Rumors started circulating around the prison of certain people who were profiled as terrorists possibly going to the notorious Guantanamo Bay. This worries Zeitoun as he tries to reach his wife Kathy. Once Kathy and a missionary with Zeitoun's lawyer arrive, Zeitoun is questioned by a federal agent of Homeland Security what he was doing. After a few simple answers Zeitoun is finally let go to return with his wife Kathy. After the incident Kathy suffers from post dramatic stress disorder which is a state-of-mind which the victim will relive in their minds past events from which they suffered. Zeitoun moved out of New Orleans, had a third child, and lives supports his family a great amount.
 * Reaction:** I don't think this section was as good as the last one. I found Zeitoun's release from prison very anticlimactic as he just hugged his lawyer, didn't speak to Kathy much untill they left, and just simply proceeded on with life. I found this book very interested and I love how much Zeitoun put out on the line to save people, most of which he doesn't even know.


 * __References__**
 * [|Guantanamo Bay]
 * Maximum Security Prison
 * What happened to Zietoun's friends after he left?
 * Why didn't Zeitoun try and get his friends out?
 * Where were the kids while Kathy came to bail Zeitoun out?