Z: Zeitoun (2022 A-Z)
Zeitoun
Looking out the window, I see debris – pieces of furniture, vehicle scrap, electronic items. Finally, Hurricane Katrina has passed leaving behind an unimaginable trail of destruction in its wake. The neighbourhood is empty, most people having evacuated. I register movement from the corner of my eye. Zeitoun, my neighbour, might be out on his rescue mission again – scouring the area for stranded pets. However, I am wrong. I catch a furor of activity next door. About six armed men. I squint, trying to get a closer look. I feel a sucker punch to my gut, as Zeitoun walks out – handcuffed.
Click here for the entire 2022 A-Z Collection
Zeitoun, a non-fiction book, describes the journey of a Syrian American by name Zeitoun. A painting contracting business owner by profession, Zeitoun is an immigrant, well known, popular. Initially, when Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, Zeitoun having spent numerous years in the area knows the locality like the back of his palm, decides to ride out the storm. Subsequently, he goes around securing houses, rigging loose equipment. Using a secondhand canoe, he paddles his way around – helping elderly seniors stuck in the storm’s aftermath, rescuing abandoned pets and more. A month later, a combination of official authorities arrest him without any reason or explanation. Under accusations of terrorist activities, they detain him for several days. He’s not allowed medical attention or use of a phone to contact his family. Zeitoun has been touted as a book targeted at America’s two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina.
I hadn’t heard about this before, but of course I’m not surprised. As an American, I love my country, but there are times when I feel my country really disappoints me. This is one of those cases.
Hi Deepa – I have written a review of you and your Whatsapp group friends at https://how-would-you-know.com/2022/05/a2z-2022-challenge-road-trip-reviews-1.html
When I read Syrian-American, I immediately thought of Steve Jobs. His dad is Syrian and his mom is German-American.
I have his biography also on my list of books to be read! Hopefully soon!
You have his biography written by Walter Isaacson? It is an excellent book. Also, here is one of his greatest speech ever from YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuw8hxrFBH8
I want to write you something interesting but not associated with your this blog post. At least, I think it is interesting. I don’t know your email. But you can get my email address from my blog. Just ping me. Thanks. Regards
The three tone cover itself is impressive enough.
Thanks for the comment and for visiting Joe! The book and the tale (harrowing!) is a lot more!
Omg now I want to know what happens next. Will check if this book is available on Kindle now.
Congratulations on completing the challenge!!!
Dropping by from http://momandideas.com
It’s a very harrowing tale honestly, the unfairness of it all snubs us! Thank you!
Excellent ! A brilliant story with fascinating characters & it’s all true..👌👍
Deepa congrats for completing A-Z blog challenge 2022💐👍I will subscribe to your posts so that I will read & enjoy your blogs again despite the challenge being over 🙂
Exactly! They say fiction is stranger than reality, but this was so strange and unbelievable! Scary how bad it can get, and how random it could all be. Thank you for the vote!
Waaoww , this book sounds really interesting 👌👌👌👍👍and the plot is so intriguing too . Well done Deepa, will definitely read it 👍 👏 😀
It is, and you absolutely should! Very scary the whole experience! Kind of reminded me of the New York movie. Have you watched that one?
I’ve enjoyed each of the stories Deepa. Congratulations on completing the blog challenge. I’ve also added many of the titles that inspired you to my reading list.
Thank you so much! Happy reading! Hope you echo the sentiment!
Congratulations on finishing the A-Z challenge Deepa . A lot of them are now on my to read list. .
Thank you so much! Happy reading, hope you echo the sentiment!
It was a dangerous time…
Sounds like quite a book.
Hope you enjoyed the A to Z challenge.
<a href=”https://moondustwriter.wordpress.com/2022/04/30/zelensky-atozchallenge-ukraine-fiction/”>Z- Zelensky</a>
Sure was, I hope such times do not recur! Do give it a read when you get a chance. The A-Z was amazing, introduced me to so many blogs. Congratulations to you too!
As an immigrant, one has to surely go thru a lot in terms of experience, adjustments and adapting to lifestlyle, food, local slang etc. And despite all their efforts, there is always a thin line on how well they are socially accepted. Although i have been fortunate to have all positive experiences.here in SG.
Congratilations for completing this marathon of writing such amazing short but yet so engaging blogs. I am yet to read some of those so need to find a day where i could read it all.
Chai peetey hue baithna pedge ek din to enjoy it all 😂😂😂
Keep writing and sharing, best wishes to you.
I agree with you. I have had good experiences but I have seen someone experiencing the other side of it too. The sad part is that truly horrible experiences end up making the not-so-horrible racist incidents as socially acceptable (relatively OK after all!) – which should not be the case. It’s a thin line though between fighting the security war against terror versus acceptance. Anyway.
Thank you Hitendra, and hope you read them all and resonate with!
A-Z done Deepa! Fantastic job with all kinds of stories!!
Thank you so much, Beena ma’am!
That’s riddiculous to have arrested someone who is actually rescuing with minimal resources he had. Even before doing a good deed we hav to think of list of people who can screw it I suppose…..
Sounds intriguing this book
And hearty congratulations on completing a to z and always being there for me…..it was a good bonding this month❤️
The horrors of it all. Reminds me of the movie ‘New York’. All personal charges levied against him much later aside, it’s bad enough for someone to have phobia of water once Katrina happened, but for someone to fear simply walking on the road, flying somewhere, or stepping out to the market because you never know when one could get picked up, is unbelievably scary.
And thank you! Congratulations to you too! Happy to be connected!