ZEITOUN by DAVE EGGERS

Hurricanes are mighty catastrophes. Hurricane Katrina is one of the very memorable ones that hit the United States East Coast. DAVE EGGERS writes a nonfiction book about this horrible and major time in our American History. Zeitoun is a Syrian man of Muslim faith who lives in New Orleans with his wife, Kathy, and their children. As the storm grows closer, he and Kathy choose a plan. She will go with the children to Baton Rouge to stay with family. Zeitoun will remain behind to watch their property and the property of friends and neighbors.

However, as the days pass Zeitoun will face horror after horror more than he even thought could enter his life because of flooding and winds. The book helped me understand Katrina didn't destroy just the lives of the people striving to survive in the Superdome. People beyond the walls of the Superdome were harmed also. Dead bodies floated in the streets. Pets were left to starve. Elderly people had no way out of dastardly conditions. People also lost their dignity in unforgettable and irrepairable ways. Each day Zeitoun proved the meaning of friendship. His wife proved what is done when we truly love someone deeply. I also learned that in a crisis the unexpected will happen.I was also reminded that there is always light at any dark tunnel. The magic words are never give up. Hold on. Wait. Pray.mcsweeneys

...in the history of the world it might even be that there was more punishment than crime...
                             Cormac McCarthy, The Road