GREENWICH READS TOGETHER

ZEITOUN BY DAVE EGGERS SELECTED FOR
GREENWICH READS TOGETHER 2012
American Book Award winner chosen for community-wide reading initiative

Greenwich, CT; Jan. 18, 2012 – Zeitoun by Dave Eggers was announced today as the book for Greenwich Reads Together 2012. Greenwich Reads Together is a community-wide reading experience that engages all of Greenwich in exploring a single book. Since its release two years ago Zeitoun has been honored with numerous awards, including being named a winner for an American Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. In addition, Zeitoun was named a New York Times Notable Book, an Entertainment Weekly Book of the Decade, and one of the best books of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, The New Yorker, The Huffington Post, and O, the Oprah Magazine.

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a prosperous Syrian-American and father of four, chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. In the days after the storm, he traveled the flooded streets in a secondhand canoe, passing on supplies and helping those he could. A week later, on September 6, 2005, Zeitoun abruptly disappeared. Dave Eggers’s riveting nonfiction book, three years in the making, explores Zeitoun’s roots in Syria, his marriage to Kathy — an American who converted to Islam — and their children, and the surreal atmosphere (in New Orleans and the United States generally) in which what happened to Abdulrahman Zeitoun was possible. Zeitoun was written in close collaboration with its subjects and involved vast research — in this case, in the United States, Spain, and Syria.

This past October, the public was asked to submit their recommendations for which title should be selected for the community-wide reading experience. The Selection Committee – composed of five Greenwich Library staff members – sorted through dozens of suggestions before selecting this year’s title. In describing why Zeitoun was selected, Greenwich Reads Together co-chairs Amy Fleishman and Gail Wilson cited how the book overwhelmingly met the selection the criteria: high literary quality, reflection of universal issues, capability of generating thought-provoking discussion, and appeal to a diverse population. Fleishman commented, “ I read Zeitoun when it was first released and fell in love with it. I was so happy when it appeared on the list of recommendations. To then find out it has been selected by the committee as this year’s title is so exciting news.”

The reading experience will include multiple opportunities for the community to engage. Discussions, programs and lectures based on Zeitoun are scheduled to take place for the two weeks from April 15-April 29. These activities are being planned by the Greenwich Reads Together Steering Committee whose members represent the Greenwich Library, the Greenwich Arts Council, Greenwich Historical Society, Greenwich Alliance for Education, Greenwich Pen Women, Greenwich Public Schools and Private schools, and Friends of Greenwich Library. During last spring’s inaugural Greenwich Reads Together initiative, 20 community organizations and more than 2,000 residents participated in Greenwich Reads Together. Support for Greenwich Reads Together comes from BNY Mellon Wealth Management, the Verizon Foundation and JP Morgan.

Free copies of Zeitoun were distributed at the announcement ceremony and attendees were encouraged to read the book and pass it along to friends. Copies are available to borrow at all branches of Greenwich Library and may also be purchased at local bookstores including Diane’s Books. Downloadable copies for e-readers are also available through the Library. Readers are encouraged to share their feedback and keep updated on the schedule of events through the Greenwich Reads Together website, www.greenwichlibrary.org/GreenwichReadsTogether.aspx.

Opportunities are available for community organizations and volunteers to become involved in Greenwich Reads Together 2012. Those interested should contact the Greenwich Reads Together co-chairs: Amy Fleishman at afleishman333@gmail.com or Gail Wilson at gailandpeter@gmail.com.