Dave Eggers has written, famously, about his own life. He’s written about real lives in Sudan. Now he’s written about a life in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
When Katrina hit New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun stayed in the city to care for his business and properties. He paddled down flooded streets in a canoe, helping stranded survivors and feeding abandoned dogs — until he was arrested and held without explanation in a makeshift prison.
It’s the story of a solitary man trying to take care of his neighbors and family, a man who enters a nightmare world of cages, armed guards, and abuse.
This hour, On Point: Dave Eggers and the true story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun.
You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
-Jacki Lyden, guest host
Tom Ashbrook is on vacation.
Guests:
Dave Eggers joins us from San Francisco. He’s the founder of the independent publishing house McSweeney’s and author of several works of fiction and nonfiction, including the story collection “How We Are Hungry,” the novel “You Shall Know Our Velocity!,” the fictionalized memoir “What Is the What,” and the memoir “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.” He co-wrote the film “Away We Go,” released earlier this summer, as well as the upcoming film adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” to be released in October. He’s co-founder of 826 Valencia, a nonprofit writing and tutoring organization for kids up to age 18. His new book is “Zeitoun.” You can read excerpts here and here.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun joins us from New Orleans. He’s owner of Zeitoun A. Painting Contractors. He stayed in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina hit to take care of his business and properties, and was arrested and held in Camp Greyhound, the makeshift prison set up in the early days after the storm.
Tags: books, Dave Eggers, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans
Welcome to Dave from all his fans in On Point listenerland!
Posted by Mike, on July 31st, 2009 at 7:14 AMIs Zeitoun available yet for purchase? The excerp was great. I’ve got to read it on vacation which starts at 4:00 PM TODAY!
Posted by B Welch, on July 31st, 2009 at 9:09 AMYou bet it’s available! Came out July 15.
Posted by Sam Gale Rosen, on July 31st, 2009 at 9:28 AMI’ve already finished reading it and it was amazing! A compelling and outrageous story, superbly written.
Posted by Emily, on July 31st, 2009 at 10:08 AMI just heard David was on ON POINT. I am now at my office desk trying to stream it but all streaming is blocked. Bummer Man. I discovered you reading What”s the What” while in Zimbabwe. What a fantastic book to read in the bush. I can’t wait to read them all. diana
Posted by DIANA STONE, on July 31st, 2009 at 10:11 AMDiana: Try using iTunes radio to get it. Works like a charm. I’m in LA listening live right now via iTunes.
Posted by Richard, on July 31st, 2009 at 10:46 AMNot only is Dave Eggers a fabulous writer, but his graphic design (and thinking thereupon) is beautiful. He’s a renaissance man and admirable social entrepreneur — but you get the feeling it’s not “strategic” — he’s just acting authentically, from the heart, making art and making the world better too. From Might magazine through today, he’s been a great inspiration to me. I count him along with William Morris as one of my heroes.
Posted by Annie Smidt, on July 31st, 2009 at 11:11 AMA question for Mr. Eggers:
Will Burl Cain, the overseer of “Camp Greyhound”, be prosecuted for his crimes against Mr. Zeitoun?
Posted by Mari McAvenia, on July 31st, 2009 at 11:39 AMFantastic show.. Leave it to a great author and On Point to bring to light what is unknown .. I am saddend by Mr. Zeitoun’s experience but am glad to learn of it .
Posted by B Welch, on July 31st, 2009 at 11:45 AMthis story should be mandatory listening materials for americans that “demand” business owners and any american citizens in general to show “patriotic” feelings after 9/11, especially showing american flags outside of stores. what is most patriotic is helping the helpless in trying times with or without flag wrapping. that implies to non-citizens who helped american as well. i’m glad this story is reported.
Posted by Jim, on July 31st, 2009 at 11:46 AMFor those who are interested in learning more about the career of Zeitoun’s captor, please read this:
Posted by Mari McAvenia, on July 31st, 2009 at 11:52 AMhttp://www.indymediascotland.org/node/15810
What happened to the other men arrested with Zeitoun?
Posted by Michael, on July 31st, 2009 at 11:56 AMGreat program!!! I’m going to buy this book as soon as posible. My question will be how many others stories have been hidden from the people of the U.S.A.? My feelings of what i heard on the radio made me almost cry and I wish the persons in charge are prosecuted as soon as posible. (please make a movie about it.)
Posted by jorge riveros, on July 31st, 2009 at 12:34 PMHi,
Posted by James E. Jones, on July 31st, 2009 at 1:01 PMI am James,the problem with Army National Guard
units,they are not trained properly to encounter such
destruction as Katrina.There was a problem in South
Carolina when hurrican hugo hit.I was on active duty
at that time,and there were complaints about the guard
and the local police being cruel to african americans.
The guard is local and mostly whites without
college degrees,and do not care for people of color and
I know that for sure. Active duty soldiers are better trained and qualified for this type of mission. The 82n Airborne,10TH Mountain etc.These unit are professional soldiers, not week-inn warriors
amazing show i was shocked and sad what i heard, but at least when times were tough he helped his fellow americans.
Posted by Mike, on July 31st, 2009 at 3:37 PMExcuse me? Was this whole story just an opportunity for Dave Eggers fans to gush on about his fantastic social entrepreneurialism, his superb writing, his love of children, his all-around greatness. Or better yet, I NEED that book NOW, before I go on vacation! What about the actual people involved? Mr. Zeitoun was effectively disappeared. What about our responsibility as citizens of a country where this could happen? The story was incredibly disturbing–but the responses to it suggests how we got there in the first place. It sounds like this piece will sell a lot of books, but let’s get real–that’s NOT the Point.
Posted by Ann, on July 31st, 2009 at 10:36 PMI find it very sad that a story like this one about such a miscarriage of justice elicits so few comments from listeners. Maybe that is because Mr. Zeitoun’s experience at Camp Greyhound is at odds with the narrative that we have for ourselves as Americans. According to the american dream Mr. Zeitoun should succeed and be rewarded for all his hard work, not be falsely imprisoned and denied his constitutional rights. I read an article once that said that the antidote to American foreign policy in the Middle East has always been the actual experience of America and Americans themselves who are very open and welcoming. The article also suggested that we lost much of that after 9/11. The context was different but I think that the implications of Mr. Zeitoun’s situation are the same. It is very dangerous for the American way of life that we would treat any of our immigrant citizens in this manner simply because of their country of birth.
Posted by Alyssa, on August 5th, 2009 at 12:25 AM“Bonus pater familias”;
being your brother’s keeper;
police and officials that serve and protect… with respect;
universal healthcare;
Christian values (not forgeting that Muslims also follow the teachings of Jesus).
The lack of these in the U.S.;
the threat of being rendered, ironically enough, to Syria for a year of torture (Maher Arar);
the odd, but too frequent, case of refusal of service in restaurants when I’m overheard speaking a “ferin” language… even though I am blond and blue eyed and speak unaccented English/American…
all reasons to stay far away from the States and it’s Reach for the Bottom culture.
You reap what you sow.
Posted by Norman Fenn, on August 5th, 2009 at 9:08 PM