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Fall 2010 Sfpl.Org/Onecityonebook CONTENTS Fall 2010 sfpl.org/OneCityOneBook CONTENTS Welcome . 1 About the Book and Author . 2 Schedule of Events . 4 Discussion Questions . 8 Want to get Involved? . .10 Suggested Reading . .11 Acknowledgements . .12 For updated event information visit sfpl.org/OneCityOneBook WELCOME A message from Mayor Gavin Newsom For the sixth year in a row I am pleased to welcome you to the San Francisco Public Library’s One City One Book: San Francisco Reads, our city’s annual communal celebration of the joys of reading. Join thousands of other readers at book store events, library discussions, film screenings and dozens of other programs focusing on Dave Egger’s award winning book Zeitoun. A message from City Librarian Luis Herrera Welcome to our popular citywide book club One City One Book: San Francisco Reads. This year’s selection is Dave Eggers’s New York Times best- selling book Zeitoun. This true story chronicles longtime New Orleans residents Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun and their struggles during and after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. As the New York Times Book Review said “Eggers’ tone is pitch perfect — suspense blended with just enough information to stoke reader outrage and what is likely to be a typical response: How could this happen in America?” We are honored to have San Francisco author Dave Eggers participating in many events at book stores, the library and school visits. I know this book will inspire many people. Thank you for being part of One City One Book: San Francisco Reads. or call (415) 557-4277. We’re on Facebook and Twitter too! 1 ZEITOUN BY DAVE EGGERS About The Book About the Author Abdulrahman Zeitoun is a Syrian-born Dave Eggers is the author of six previous entrepreneur who runs a busy painting company books, including What Is the What, a finalist in New Orleans. He is a devout Muslim, married for the 2006 National Book Critics Circle to a native of Baton Rouge who had converted Award and winner of France’s Prix Médicis to Islam before meeting Zeitoun. As Hurricane Etranger. That book, about Valentino Achak Katrina barrels toward New Orleans, his wife Deng, a survivor of the civil war in southern Kathy takes the children out of town, while Sudan, gave birth to the Valentino Achak Abdulrahman stays to keep an eye on their Deng Foundation, run by Mr. Deng and house and several rental properties they own. dedicated to building secondary schools in In the first couple of days, his decision to stay southern Sudan. His most recent book, behind seems a good one, and even after the Zeitoun, was awarded the LA Times Book levees break and the streets and houses fill Award, the American Book Award, the with water, he is able to help several people Northern California Book Award, the Robert F. who have stayed behind but now need to be Kennedy Distinguished Honor, and the Muslim rescued. As the National Guard enter the city, Public Affairs Council’s Media Award. Eggers armed with machine guns and surveillance is the founder and editor of McSweeney’s, helicopters, things begin to go very wrong for an independent publishing house based in Abdulrahman. He is taken into custody and San Francisco that produces a quarterly journal, put into a temporary jail—a cage, in fact— a monthly magazine (The Believer), and Wholphin, a quarterly DVD of short films hastily erected behind the Greyhound station. and documentaries. In 2002, with Ninive Calegari, he co-founded 826 Valencia, There he is subject to strip searches, and he a nonprofit writing and tutoring center for youth in the Mission District of San witnesses beatings and other mistreatment Francisco. Local communities have since opened sister 826 centers in Chicago, of fellow prisoners, and is denied the right to Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Ann Arbor, Seattle, Boston and D.C. In 2004, Eggers phone his wife and let her know where he is. taught at the University of California-Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, Zeitoun’s ordeal is the main subject of this and there, with Dr. Lola Vollen, he co-founded Voice of Witness, a series of harrowing nonfiction book, while Eggers books using oral history to illuminate human rights crises around the world. In enriches the shocking tale of injustice with 2010, Eggers founded Scholarmatch, an online forum that connects college- a richly layered account of Zeitoun’s early life bound students with donors who want to stay connected with the future leaders on the coast of Syria, his large and loving of America. Eggers has also been honored by The Muslim Public Affairs Council, family, his relationships with his friends, The Council on American-Islamic Relations, The Arab Cultural Community employees, and neighbors. Center, and The Arab American Institute. 2 For updated event information visit sfpl.org/OneCityOneBook or call (415) 557-4277. We’re on Facebook and Twitter too! 3 ONE CITY ONE BOOK September Saturday, Sept. 11 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 Wednesday, Sept. 8 Western Addition Branch Library Wednesday, Sept. 22 1550 Scott St. (at Geary) 7 p.m. 6 p.m. (415) 355-5727 7 p.m. Books Inc. Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Excelsior Branch Library Zeitoun, book discussion group Community Meeting Room Zeitoun: A Sad Tale of Civil Liberties Abuse 4400 Mission St. at all Books Inc. stores: (415) 557-4277 A panel discussion with Julia Mass of the ACLU and others (415) 355-2834 Wednesday, Sept. 15 (speakers TBD) discuss the civil liberty issues in Zeitoun as Excelsior Arts & Culture Salon: Opera Plaza, S.F. 601 Van Ness 7 p.m. well as parallels with the Japanese during World War II Dark Water Rising and other civil liberty issues today. (415) 776-1111 Excelsior Branch Library Film & discussion on the Hurricane Katrina 4400 Mission St. (at Cotter) pet rescue. Over 50,000 dogs and cats Castro, S.F. (415) 355-2834 Tuesday, Sept. 14 were left behind in New Orleans in the 2275 Market St. Wednesday, Sept. 22 12 noon wake of Hurricane Katrina. This film tells (415) 864-6777 6:30 p.m. Green Apple Books the epic tale of America’s first-ever major 506 Clement St. Glen Park Branch Library animal rescue. Marina, S.F. (415) 387-2272 2825 Diamond St. (near Bosworth) 2251 Chestnut St (415) 355-2858 Author reading with Dave Eggers Saturday, Sept. 25 (415) 931-3633 Disaster Preparedness 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21 Berkeley Coalition for Animals Potrero Branch Library 1760 4th St. 12 noon 1616 20th St. (near Connecticut) (510) 525-7777 Do you know how to prepare your Books Inc. pet for a natural disaster? Does I Remember: Collecting Stories of Opera Plaza Mountain View your pet have an earthquake the People You Love and Admire 601 Van Ness Ave. 301 Castro St. emergency kit? Members of the (415) 776-1111 Oral historian Basya Petnick teaches a (650) 428-1234 Disaster Preparedness Coalition Author reading with Dave Eggers workshop on collecting oral histories in for Animals presents a workshop your family and community. Topics include Palo Alto on how to prepare and take care what is oral history? What kind of stories Town & Country Village of your pet during a disaster. Tuesday, Sept. 21 do you want to collect? What is the best (650) 321-0600 6 p.m. way to preserve them and share them? Main Library, Koret Auditorium Alameda (415) 557-4277 Wednesday, Sept. 29 1344 Park St. A Village Called Versailles 6:30-7:30 p.m. (510) 522-2226 Mission Bay Branch Library Film & discussion on Hurricane Katrina. This film tells the Books Inc. will donate 15% incredible story of a little known, tight knit New Orleans 960 Fourth St. (415) 355-2838 of the book price for the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A panel books sold in September and Zeitoun book discussion group discussion follows the film. October to the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. 4 For updated event information visit sfpl.org/OneCityOneBook or call (415) 557-4277. We’re on Facebook and Twitter too! 5 ONE CITY ONE BOOK October Thursday, Oct. 14 Tuesday, Oct. 5 Tuesday, Oct. 12 6 p.m. 12:30 p.m. Reception: 7 p.m. Main Library, Koret Auditorium Book Passage: Ferry Building Program: 8 p.m. Dave Eggers 1 Ferry Plaza Modern Times Books in conversation with Beth Lisick (415) 835-1020 888 Valencia St. Author Talk with Dave Eggers (415) 282-9246 Join us for an insightful discussion between Dave Eggers and author Beth Lisick. Q&A and a book Dave Eggers & Jordan Flaherty, signing with Dave Eggers and Beth Lisick follows. author of Floodlines, in conversation Tuesday, Oct. 5 Book sale by Book Bay. 6 p.m. Main Library, Koret Auditorium Tuesday, Oct. 12 Discover Jazz: From Jelly Roll to 6:30 p.m. Main Library, Latino/Hispanic the Modern New Orleans Groove Community Meeting Room Saturday, Oct. 16 Join us when Cory Combs, Director of Education Frommer’s Travel to for SF Jazz presents a jazz history of New Orleans. 2:30 p.m. Special performance by Dee Spencer. Sponsored New Orleans Chinatown Branch Library by SF Jazz. Frommer's travel author, Diana Schwam, 1135 Powell St. (near Jackson) discusses the best places to stay, dine (415) 355-2888 and listen to jazz in New Orleans. A book Thursday, Oct. 7 Disaster Planning Sunday, Oct. 17 sale by Book Bay follows the event. 6 p.m. with the Red Cross 1:30 p.m. Main Library, Latino Hispanic Community Meeting Room Mechanics Institute Library Learn how to prepare an 57 Post St.
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