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.