Well long hours in the airport and tight quarters on a plane are not so fun but they do give me the opportunity to have prime reading time. This past month's book was Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson.
Three Cups of Tea is an inspirational true story of one man's efforts to address poverty, educate children, and overcome cultural divides. I pondered reading this book for quite a while now. I have always loved true stories whether I am reading a book or watching a movie; there is just this added "feel-good" element to the characters and plot. But was the plot too heavy for a summer read? Was this just another man's attempt to try and expose the complex and convoluted inner workings of the Middle East?
After much debate (and having it be the month's selection for book club) I chose to flip open to page one and give it a go...
I'm not going to lie, the first 3 chapters were painful. I was lost...I was confused...I was frustrated. This was exactly the type of book I was afraid Three Cups of Tea was going to be. Mortenson had his readers going in all different directions with no real plot line in sight. More characters, villages, and emotions to even count, the overall mood seemed to be that of preaching. What was the point of this story again?
Almost about to give up I trekked on after my friend Jennilyn said she finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel and began reading chapter 4. Chapter 4 to the conclusion, although dragged on at times, truly was inspirational. I couldn't put it down. That's the catch 22 with non-fiction...is the story still true if you cut out some of the boring details? It's not as if Mortenson could say in one simple line "No one wanted to donate funds. It took me months to raise even a single penny." He had to explain his struggle so his readers would better understand the hardships faced. Mortenson's journey appears to finally plateau when all of a sudden the biggest obstacle of them all occurs.
The plot thickens about half way through the book with the events of September 11th, 2001. At this point it is apparent to the reader how peoples' attitudes change and how new prejudice arise. At the same time Mortenson embarks on a new journey into Afghanistan where he is met with even more distrust and cultural divide. You begin to worry if Mortenson is just going to replay the same trials and tribulations you spent the first half of the book immersing yourself in when you are pleasantly surprised to see he directs us down a path that most readers would not have thought to venture down on their own.
Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. The slow beginning and lack of literary structure is a common pitfall of non-fiction writing. It is however, this same element that turns me on to true stories and keeps me coming back for more. Not only does Mortenson inspire his readers through his self-less lifestyle devoted to the betterment of others, but he also tries to break down common prejudice towards the Middle East. A must read for all ages.
Next month's book: The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett, and Amanda Pressner
Definitely read the book I gave you, A Long Way Gone. It is not a light summer read, but a deep true story.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy The Lost Girls, I heard it was really good as well!
-Robin
I brought that book with me to Vancouver and didn't read a single page...next time. It's on my list!
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me famous! -J
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