Cool book review
This book involves a main character with narcolepsy. Someone on librarything shared a link to this review, and now I will too.
Three Cups of Tea
Greg Mortenson grew up the child of missionaries in Africa, has trouble adjusting to American life, and only finds his true goal and purpose upon getting lost after an abandoned attempt to climb one of the deadliest mountains in the world. A year later, determined to keep his promise to those who nursed him back to health, he returns to begin a years-long mission to create moderate secular schools for some of the poorest and most likely to be neglected communities on the planet.
Reading Three Cups of Tea was an interesting experience for me. It wasn’t as gripping as Kabul Beauty School in that I was able to put it down from time to time, but I still finished it in 2-3 days. Unlike Kabul Beauty School, it was told far less from the point of view of the person that the story is about, being occasionally from Greg’s point of view, but including opinions, positive and critical, held by those that work with him closely. The parts that are told from Greg’s point of view can get a sensitive reader quite emotional because everything is told with sincerity and depth. You can picture the scenes that he vividly describes, almost feel the emotions of the people around him.
One of the things that impresses me most about Greg Mortenson, even more than his persistence, determination, and noble spirit that drives him in his work is his ethics. Given other training, Mr. Mortenson might make a fine anthropologist. Whether consciously or unconsciously, he picks up a lot of the traits and mannerisms of the people that he works with. He has a keen sensitivity to taboos and traditions and follows them, not to be a mimic, but to show people that he sincerely understands and honors their culture, regardless of their religious or political differences. He does not pass judgment on everything around him, but observes with an open mind. I also admire his courage and truthfulness to stand up for a group of people that America was trying to go on a witch hunt for. You cannot blame the actions of a few brainwashed individuals on an entire religion that spans large portions of the world, and runs the entire political spectrum. Greg gets to the source of the problem: a lack of education and resulting lack of economic opportunities. When people have the ability to travel, have clean drinking water, and access to education, there are more economic chances for success and survival.
One of the things that interested me most about the book while I was reading it, is the political story of the late 90’s through mid 2000’s that is woven in the background. I do not think that this book set out to be a political history, but you can see the transition in the US from Clinton to Bush, the effects of the wars at home and overseas, and even have some political cameos throughout the book.
The only reason this has 4.5 rather than 5 stars from me is that at some points when David Oliver Relin is relating the stories of various encounters and episodes in this decades long effort to educate those most in need, where the narrative becomes a bit garbled, and you aren’t sure what is happening to whom, or even if the people that they are discussing have been talked about before. However by rereading a passage or two I can usually figure it out. I can say one thing, I am curious about doing a penny drive at my school.
Early Reviews
On Librarything, they have a group you can join where you have access to books, often before publishing, that you can review if chosen. After months of trying, I finally was chosen in a March bonus batch and had the great fortune to get to review Salmon Rushdie’s Enchantress of Florence. Here is what I posted in Librarything about it.
“The first thing that struck me about this novel was the lyrical way that Rushdie uses words to create far more than an engaging plot. His use of colorful phrases and playful, grandiose dialog illustrates the characters in the novel far better than a narrator’s mere description of them. Sometimes I lost track of the plot somewhat – not because it was unclear – but due to my rapture over Rushdie’s phrasings. I found myself stopping frequently to share passages with my loved ones.
I am normally the type of person who tears through a novel the first time. I want to know the who, what, when, where and why’s of it all before reading it through a second time to enjoy the subtleties. With Enchantress of Florence I found myself reading it at a more leisurely pace, savoring it like a full bodied wine or rich dark chocolate. This is definitely a book that I will read again.
I have spoken much about the writing, and have neglected the plot. Many novels have extremely predictable endings, but the ending of this work of art will likely catch you by surprise. The Enchantress of Florence is about a young man making his way in the world to claim his birthright. He has a tale so wrought with twists and turns of history, whimsy, magic, deception, and love that he dares only tell one man, Akbar – emperor of Hindustan. Through the many turns of deception, it is no surprise that every character ends up the victim of this web of lies.”
The wording was definitely what struck me the most on this work. This was the first book of his that I have had the pleasure to read, and I will definitely be looking to read more of his work in the future. I had heard of him – who hasn’t really? But I had never thought to pick up one of his books until I saw the description for this one. It is currently on my reread list so that I can see what more I can glean from a second reading.
A little introduction
I started this blog so that I could share my thoughts about the books I am reading. Some books are for pleasure (guilty or otherwise) and some are required due to reviewing agreements or classwork that I am engaged in.
I am a 28 year old student and educator both. I teach for an afterschool program while getting a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Design focused on middleschool students in out of school time. It isn’t the exact degree name – but that is a really long degree name. I currently hold a BA in History and Anthropology focusing on Medieval Europe and archaeology respectively. I have worked for a while in archaeology – a field school in Sweden, and closer to home, a historical public archaeology dig in Houston.
I have a wide variety of hobbies and tend to indulge them in cycles. My current hobby obsession is raising and breeding fish. I have a variety of freshwater fish from river fish to African cichlids. I also love to cook and brew mead, invent recipes, and am even writing those down these days. I sew, make costuming and garb, embroider, cross stitch, crochet (badly), and embellish fabric. I also enjoy painting, wood burning, jewelry making, dancing and playing the flute. And singing – mostly Irish drinking songs.
Most of all, however, I love to read. I read a variety of books, and enjoy everything from young adult fiction, manga, science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, memoirs, history texts, etc. Authors, if you would like me to review your work, feel free to send me a message, and I will give you my contact info.
I keep a librarything at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/krisvalkyrie
As I continue reviewing books I will likely have contests up here, so keep posted.
Kris
Studentofsaga's Weblog 