Amiah+Q4


 * Assignment 1 - Due April 15** - What is the novel about?

In one to two paragraphs, identify the title and author, summarize the setting, main characters, and major conflict in the novel.

The novel I am reading is "Three Cups of Tea," by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book is a biography of Greg Mortenson, and his mission to provide schools for children in the Pakistan area. It takes place in little Pakistani villages and San Fransisco, with the story alternating between Greg's time in the USA and his efforts in Pakistan. In this book Greg Mortenson, after a failed attempt at K2, stumbles upon the remote village of Korphe. The people there help him recover, and in thanks, Greg promises to build their children a school. So starts an adventure that changes Greg's life forever. Some main characters Greg has encountered so far include Haji Ali, the village chief of Korphe, Twaha, his son, Tara, Greg's wife, and Changazi, a man who keeps trying to embezzle Greg. The main conflict in the novel centers around building the schools, and all the obstacles that stand in Mortenson's way.


 * Assignment 2 - Due April 22** - //What's so special about THIS book?//

Identify one or two things that make this book unique. Find examples from the text to illustrate what you mean.

"Three Cups of Tea" has many features that make it unique. One of these is its main character, Greg Mortenson. He is someone who keeps his promises, which is ultimately what changed his and countless Afghani's lives. By repaying a kindness, Mortenson was able to make a difference and get things done that would be nearly impossible for others to do. Building his schools was a daunting task, but he was able to overcome it and improve the lives of many. In addition, this book is unique because it shows another side/history of America's ongoing war with terrorism. For example, Mortenson was in Pakistan, on the border of Afghanistan, when the Twin Towers were bombed. By being in that part of the country at that time, he could see how it affected the people there, where it all began.
 * Assignment 3 - Due May 13** - //What's it really about?//

Identify a possible theme or big idea in the novel and find three examples from the text.

In my opinion, "Three Cups of Tea" is about finding what you are meant to do, then doing it. Greg Mortenson is a mountain climber who stumbles on his future by what seem like an accident, and suddenly, he knows what he's doing for the rest of his life. When he ends up in the tiny village of Korphe, he is very grateful for their help. Through his weeks staying there, he witnesses firsthand the poverty these kind people live in and finally, hen he is shown their sorry excuse for a school he says "I knew I had to do something." Before leaving for America Greg says "I will build a school, I promise" to the village chief who will someday become his mentor. When he made that promise, Greg had no idea that building schools would turn into a career, and be his project for the rest of his life. When his main donor Jean Hoerni offers to help him make a foundation dedicated to his cause, Mortenson remembers "the idea felt so right that he was afraid to say anything." Finding what you are meant to do, and then doing it, seems to be the underlying theme in this account of Greg Mortenson's mission to build children schools.


 * Assignment 4 - Due May 19** - //Evaluate the reading experience.//

In the end, describe the overall experience of reading this novel. Was it a good use of your time? If so, why? If not, why not? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not? What age or interest group would find this novel worthwhile. What was good about the book? What was not-so-good?

Overall, I felt this book was good but as much of nonfiction is, it got a little slow. It was a good use of my time because it gave me a better idea of what life is like in the Middle East, and how hard it is for the people that live there. Learning more about America's war on terrorism was a very interesting point too. I felt like building the schools was a great thing to do, but after a while hearing about every single school Mortenson ever built got a little old. I think this novel is more for older people, because for kids it would be a little slow. This book was a great eye-opener, but unless you have a lot of time on your hands, I wouldn't suggest reading it.