What’s been pretty cool about this project (among things) is that I really feel like I’m starting to hone in on exactly the kinds of books I really like, rather than broadly stating a genre. Now, it doesn’t mean it necessarily makes sense- thus far, I’ve gleaned that I seem to like fiction that could be non-fiction and non-fiction that reads like fiction- but in understanding what I like at the core, I’m more able to figure out what I’ll like to read.
Zeitoun was recommended to me by the ever-trusty KJ, the newest and coolest high school book club advisor. I’ll be super honest: I didn’t realize until I was about 15% in that this was not a work of fiction though I am positive she told me it was. It was written so fluidly and so descriptively that I could have seen this story coming from pure imagination rather than a firsthand account of an incredibly stressful time.
This book was so hard to put down- I found myself looking for any excuse to pick up the Kindle, which is really the entire point of this exercise. Even though a bunch of my favorite TV shows came back this past week, I was more excited about reading the book than hanging with Mindy Kaling. (Can’t say I’d make the same choice if it was real life, but it worked this week.)
I cannot overstate how compelling this book is and certainly how compelling the Zeitouns’ story is. It is a horrifying look into the conditions in the city but also a story of incredible perseverance in the face of the worst kinds of adversity. It is so difficult to comprehend that one family went through so much, but it is an important story to understand when attempting to grasp the entire scope of the effects of the hurricane.
Definitely a great read- thanks KJ!
You’ll like this if: you have any interest in current events and want to get an incredibly compelling inside look at New Orleans immediately post-Katrina.
Happy reading!
carlyreads 