My audio book for June is Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.

New York Times Notable Book
An O, The Oprah Magazine Terrific Read of the Year
Huffington Post Best Book of the Year
New Yorker Favorite Book of the Year
Chicago Tribune Favorite Nonfiction Book of the Year
Kansas City Star Best Book of the Year
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
An Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Decade

The true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina.

Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun run a house-painting business in New Orleans. In August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approaches, Kathy evacuates with their four young children, leaving Zeitoun to watch over the business. In the days following the storm he travels the city by canoe, feeding abandoned animals and helping elderly neighbors. Then, on September 6th, police officers armed with M-16s arrest Zeitoun in his home. Told with eloquence and compassion, Zeitoun is a riveting account of one family’s unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and water.

I heard about this book via the First Tuesday Book Club where it was given really promising reviews, so a book that I otherwise would probably not have picked up became one that I that I not only picked up but really enjoyed.  Enjoyed is probably not the word to use in this case since it is a true story that just leaves you incredulous that something like this can happen at all.  I resisted googling for information about Abdulrahman Zeitoun as I didn’t want to know how the book, and therefore his true story, would turn out.  I think everyone should read this book; see what happens to a good man trying to do the right thing to save his family, his neighbours and his town, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.