"Three Cups of Tea"

"Three Cups of Tea" is one mans attempt to tell another mans amazing story of educating a nation in desperate need of educating.  Once I acclimated to the language (People's names, Places, Religious terms) of the Middle Eastern cultures presented in the novel, I was then able to get into the flow of the novel. Greg is nothing but an American hero-for more reasons then the already heroic act of giving so freely to a nation in need.  To me forcing yourself out of your comfort zone is an act everyone should attempt; it's difficult, but the act is always rewarding even if the end result isn't.  Fortunate for Greg the result is happy-he reaches his goal to climb "a metaphorical mountain."

I'm happy the author David Relin made mention that Greg's wife should also be considered a hero because she had the strength to hold down a family when Greg was on another continent fighting for peace.  I couldn't even imagine having my husband away for three or four months at a time-especially days away from going into labor.   

I do however wish that they kept their personal opinions of politics out of the novel.  I realize that in a novel steeped with cultural clashes politics are inevitable, but I think that unbiased reports are the most effective.

What I thought the book could have benefited from was more discussions with Middle Eastern people:  their thoughts of what was going on, how their lives were effected, something to deepen our understanding of their culture.

I always enjoy getting to know other cultures and getting to know different types of people-this novel fulfills that.  The message Greg was sending was peace and I respectfully agreed with his intense work to build the schools he promised to build.

I'm intrigued enough to read his next novel "Stones into Schools," but hope that it is more then just a play by play of the schools being built and the obstacles he is faced with.

-Toni