Chico's Book in Common: 'Three Cups of Tea'

Tuesday was the big day -- Greg Mortenson, co-author of "Three Cups of Tea," visited Chico. He made several appearances to local classrooms during the day. At night, Mortenson spoke in front of a crowd that was sold-out three times over -- in Laxson Auditorium, Harlan Adams Theater and the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium.

Shortly before dinner, he spoke with local reporters at Laxson Auditorium. Chico Mayor Ann Schwab also presented Mortenson with the key to the city.

Here is the video from the press conference with Mortenson:

Brooks Thorlaksson, from Chico State University wrote:

We had another very interested crowd at the Barnes and Nobel reading group on Saturday, and generous donors who gave us bills, rather than pennies!

If you possibly can, go hear Julia Bergman tonight at the Chico Library. She's speaking at 7 p.m. (February 18).

After an extended break from blogging, I've come back to discuss books -- this one in particular-- with anyone who's interested in books, social causes, foreign policy, or sundry related topics. I confess to being more literary-minded than politically oriented, so I welcome any of you who are more politically savvy to chime in when I sound naive or uninformed.

This article was originally published in the Nov. 8 edition of the Enterprise-Record

By MARY NUGENT

CHICO — Bernice Weborg just happened to be at City Plaza on a Thursday afternoon in September, when Mayor Andy Holcombe read a proclamation naming the book "Three Cups of Tea" as a common read for the city.

Weborg, 85, was intrigued with the idea of a Book in Common. Reading a book along with her community was appealing.

I read this chapter out loud last Friday at the Mangrove Safeway, as part of Butte Literacy Council's Read-a-Thon and a couple of people who paused to listen for a minute -- or a few seconds -- commented "Oh, that's the Book in Common." So, apparently word about the program is spreading. I like that.

I'm finding that I'm enjoying the book a lot more on the second reading and I'm noticing passages that I can appreciate more. For example, the title of the chapter is ironic, isn't it? Mortenson's wrong turn actually put him on the right side of the river for the work that became his life from that day forward.

Joel Zimbelman, from Chico State University's college of humanities and fine arts, posted a review that reflects on faculty members meeting to talk about "Three Cups of Tea." Check it out under the "review" option on the right side of the blog page.

This article was originally published in the Oct. 17 edition of the Enterprise-Record

By CHRIS GULLICK

BUTTE VALLEY — Cultural connections, economic impacts and social stereotypes were among the subjects explored by a panel of six Butte College professors Thursday afternoon, during an event centering around the Book in Common program.

“Three Cups of Tea,” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, was adopted as a community Book in Common for the year by the cities of Chico and Oroville, Chico State University, Butte College, the Butte County Library and other community organizations, with events planned throughout the year until Mortenson’s scheduled appearance at Laxson Auditorium in April.

Tom Grothe, an instructor in international communications, gave a brief synopsis of the book, which tells the story of Mortenson’s mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan after failing to reach summit at K2, the world’s second highest mountain.

To date, he has built more than 55 schools in remote, rural villages and he continues to raise funds as founder of the Central Asia Institute.

Grothe read a section from the book that recounts Mortenson learning the significance of taking the time to share three cups of tea with his host. Grothe explained that it illustrated what happens when outcome-oriented Americanism butts up against relationship-oriented, and slow-moving Pakistani culture.

The book challenges readers to question stereotypes, he elaborated.

“It’s people like Mortenson who won’t let us stereotype.”

Jay Goldberg, who teaches English as a second language, talked about language barriers and how Mortenson could understand the people in that part of Pakistan because he lived in their culture and learned their language.

Angela Kraemer, an English instructor, showed off a traditional dress from Saudi Arabia and compared traditions from that culture to Pakistani traditions that appear in Mortenson’s story, such as the way guests are considered sacred people.

“It’s absolutely essential to accept at least two cups of coffee (in Saudi Arabia) ... and you never refuse,” she explained.

“Like Mortenson, I was a stranger, but I never felt like an outsider.”

Sociology teacher Julie Withers related how Mortenson’s effort to build schools in developing countries, especially those for girls, is vital to break a cycle of poverty.

The global education of women, she explained, effects more change in a nation’s economic success than any other improvement, and has made headway against malnutrition, infant mortality, disease and other maladies.

Economics instructor Steve Price stated small investments to support small businesses, such as the Pennies for Peace program that Mortenson promotes, have proven to be successful methods for growing the economies of developing countries.

Maria Shahid, a Spanish teacher, wore a flowing garment she said was typical of the area around Korphe, Pakistan, where Mortenson built his first school. She explained that she came to the United States from Mexico and married a man from Pakistan.

“We’re living in a house with three cultures, three languages and three religions,” she said. “It takes a lot of respect.”

She read passages from Mortenson’s book and concluded that his success came about because of the respect he showed for the Pakistan culture and people.

At the back of the conference room at the Butte College library, a jar welcomed donations to the Pennies for Peace drive, with hopes that the organizations participating in the Book in Common program will be able to raise enough money by April to present Mortenson with funds for one more school.

The next few events planned include the following:
• A lecture on “Restorative Justice: A New Paradigm for Social Transformation,” by Azim Khamisa at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Room 134 of Chico State University’s Performing Arts Center

• A movie showing of “Charlie Wilson's War” at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Paradise branch of Butte County Library, 5922 Clark Rd., and 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Oroville branch, 1820 Mitchell Ave.

• A forum on “Anthropologists at War: Human Terrain Systems and the War in Afghanistan” mediated by Jesse Dizard at 4 p.m. Oct. 30, in Room 120 of Chico State University’s Ayers Hall.

Staff writer Chris Gullick can be reached at 896-7760 or cgullick@chicoer.com.

One afternoon last week I met with a book club of about a dozen women who are all loosely connected to Pleasant Valley High School, to talk about "Three Cups of Tea." I confessed I thought the book could have been written more effectively, as I mentioned in my last blog.

While some of the group agreed with me, one woman also pointed out that it seems "journalistic." That hit home, being a journalist myself and I realized that was exactly right, and after all, co-writer David Oliver Relin's background is in journalism. When I report on an event or an issue for local news, I don't try to persuade my readers and I certainly don't try to engage their emotions. I strive for clear, unbiased writing, as a true observer. In that respect Relin succeeded in what he set out to do, I suppose. He researched Mortenson's story and observed all the particulars, then he wrote the story in a journalistic manner. Once again, I wonder if another choice of style may have been a better one. But, judging by the book club members' ravings about Mortenson's message and accomplishments, the writing was indeed persuasive, despite its "journalistic style."

Another book club member refuted my argument that Relin's writing was not all that powerful, when I explained that the story was told in a childlike manner, as if there were no beginning, climax or conclusion. It seems to be a series of "and then ... and then ... and then ... " and I had no feeling of the central, most important point being made. I certainly had no sense of conclusion. The woman commented, "I think Mortenson's story isn't over."

The first chapter, "Failure," sets the stage for the great irony of the book. When Mortenson fails at summiting K2 and takes another path, he is ultimately set on the way to a far greater success. Only through getting lost can he find the way to his accomplishments.

The book group wondered why Mortenson makes so many trips from the base camp partway up the mountain to carry supplies to upper camps and why he and Scott Darsney end up responsible for helping rescue one of their team mates, when they had just come back from an exhausting re-supplying trip. One answer suggested is that mountain-climbers are fairly selfish and self-absorbed overall and the others in his team were more concerned about their own ascents to care whether or not teammates made it to the top. I'll buy that. In which case, I guess "teammates" is an inaccurate label. I also noted that communication between teammates didn't seem to be a priority.

I noted that the chapter was a little confusing on my first reading last month. Part of that is my lack of understanding about mountain-climbing in general, but another part of it may be intentional. When I reread it this week, I appreciate the confusion because it's almost as if I were experiencing Mortenson's exhausted dementia.

The five-page introduction "In Mr. Mortenson's Orbit," provides us the only glimpse of David Oliver Relin, who co-authored the book with Greg Mortenson.

"Working on this book was a true collaboration. I wrote the story. But Greg Mortenson lived it," Relin writes, on page 5. He introduces himself to us and introduces Mortenson, as well, with descriptions that make M. sound saintly. Then he drops out of the picture for the rest of the book, writing a basic third-person story of the previous 10 years of Mortenson's life. Apparently Relin spent a couple of years researching Mortenson's life, including interviewing dozens of people and visiting all the places in Pakistan and Afghanistan that would appear in the book, in respectable reporter style. (Relin writes for Parade and other publications.) The intro begins with a snapshot of one of the research trips with Mortenson.

I think it's my favorite part of the whole book. On beginning my second read of "Three Cups," I'm struck by how personal this opening is. I enjoy the intimacy of the first-person narrative and I wonder if a first-person recounting would have improved the voice of the entire story. Parts of it dragged, I thought. As I mentioned before, I felt the message put forth by the book was more powerful than the telling of it. Relin is no William Faulkner or Toni Morrison. And yet his writing comes closest to greatness in the intro, when we feel connected to his emotions and can experience what he does. I wonder how he might have pulled us into Mortenson's feelings at various places in the story.

And then as a reporter myself, I sympathize with Relin when he confesses that he was one of those "objective journalists ... at risk of being drawn into his (Mortenson's) orbit." Rather than just observing and writing about Mortenson, as an unbiased reporter, Relin wants him to succeed and agrees that education is the only way to fight terrorism.

So, does anyone agree with me that the introduction is the best-written chapter of the book and can you argue that a first-person narrative throughout would be a mistake?