A wonderful, powerful, uplifting read!

I really admire this man, his life experiences, and his good-hearted persistence. It's such a hopeful story for our times; a reminder that one person can make a difference.

One of the best discussions our book group has had!

Thinking of a bookring...

The bookring begins its journey!
Mailing to oliviapoolside today.

- oliviapoolside
- olered
- easterngirl71 - (4/9) - asked to be skipped - re'd her own copy)
- Comrade Camper
- spuddossis
- emmagoldmanzine
- jlc4056
- dg7500
- valpete
- waterfalling (2/5) - asked to be skipped - received her own copy!)
- JDT

Guidelines:
- Please journal the book's safe arrival
- PM next reader for address, so you'll be ready to mail after reading
- Journal your thoughts - and let us know when you mail the book on
- 3 weeks each should be enough time, but just let us know if you need more time - or would rather be skipped when it's your turn.

Enjoy! What a nice group of bookcrossers!

Just arrived in the mail. I'll be starting it today and then will send it to the next person. Thank you for including me in this bookring.

I wanted to read this book to help me understand Pakistan in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and to give me some perspective on my anger about this. Greg Mortenson seems to be a person on the level of Mother Teresa in his humanitarian efforts to educate the children of Pakistan, and often successful in these efforts as well. He is a bit of the finger in the dam of extremist Muslim hatred against the west and America but he is dedicated to making a positive difference. I have been recommending the book and intend to give it as a gift to a couple of people. As I neared the end of the book I felt a rare feeling of hope for the world. This feeling has left me now, but I will try to remember it, this feeling that perhaps world peace is not an unattainable joke, but a real possible future.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to bookcrosser Olered as part of a bookring

Tea has arrived in Salem. Have a book and a half before it. Will get done as soon as possible.

Easterngirl has asked to be skipped. Am trying to reach Comrade Camper.

My very first Bookring! Three Cups arrived in today's mail. I'm so excited. I've got one book and fractions of a couple of others on my TBR agenda, but should be able to start reading this one in a week or so.

I've heard mostly postive reviews of this book (to the extent that I think some people find it to be "life-changing") but I've heard a few negative things as well, so I will try to keep an open mind, and form my own impressions.

Thanks for your help in navigating the bookring, Olered!

Reading this book took a little longer than I expected, as unfortunately I left it at my mother's house for a week or ten days.

It's a fascinating book; I can scarcely put it down, and I keep wondering what's going to happen next in Greg Mortenson's saga. When I finish reading, I'll go on the website of the Central Asia Institute and see how much progress they're making.

On to spuddossis in a few days......

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This very uplifting and inspirational book is on its way to spuddossis, as part of a bookray (ring??)

Ironic, in that I came home after mailing the book and heard on the news that the part of Pakistan where Greg Mortenson builds his schools has "heated up". There is a great deal of conflict again in the region. Hope the school-building, educating, peacemaking efforts are able to continue, to counteract the violence!

This arrived today along with some lovely postcards from ComradeCamper, (thanks so much!) I'll be able to start this in a couple of days as soon as I finish the book I'm reading now. I am soooooo looking forward to this read!

What a wonderful book! This man restores ones faith in humanity. Now if only our leaders will heed the words in this book......there's a possibility that our children and grandchildren may one day live in peace!
Pming emmagoldmanzine for her address and then this great book will be off to her!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed this out today to emmagoldmanzine who is next on the list. Enjoy!
Thanks JDT for including me in this ring.

Got the book yesterday and I can't wait to read it. I'm finishing up a RABCK I got from dg7500 (who is also in this ring), but I should be done by tomorrow and I'll start of this one. I've bought it as a gift for a few people but never had the chance to read it. I can't wait. Thanks for doing this ring JDT!

I really wanted to read this book but I just can't get into it. I've tried but I've only made it through the first 100 pages and feel like it is way too much background information and things I don't want/need to know (which is probably wrong, but I can't take it). I have been trying to get through it, but I've had it 3 weeks so I'm sending it off to the next person in the ring today. Maybe I'll read it again sometime and actually get to the end. Thanks for doing the ring.

FUN! I received this book just as we are finishing our house to sell... meaning I might have time this week to sit! (and read!)

Also my first bookring! Thanks for including me!

I also found the beginning a little difficult to trudge through.... however, I kept on, and about half way through found the groove of the book. Many call Greg their hero, which I can see and understand, but Tara.... She's INCREDIBLE! I don't know that Greg would have been able to persevere to the extent that he did without having her in his life. I'm wondering too, does anybody else think that he may have something of an illness, upon his returns home, unable to sleep or eat, or take adequate care of himself or family, so focused on his mission? That being said, Greg is a very lucky many to have heard the calling to attend to these girls. If we could all be silent enough to hear our own callings, Greg would not seem so "awesome", as we would all be acting on our calling, and fulfilling our own personal missions.

This is a book that I have already, without finishing, recommended to several people, and will continue to do so. I do believe in peace. I believe in respect and understanding, and smiling. Because I work with young children (5 & 6 year olds in urban America) everyday, I see the hope, I feel it. I watch these "underdogs" learn to read, gain self confidence, help their parents navigate through a white male dominated system. I absolutely believe in Greg's mission, and see his hard work as not just climbing mountains, but moving them.


**Update 8/29/09 My colleague just located "Listen to the Wind ~ The story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth. It is a beautiful book, and together, we plan to use this book this fall. I'm going to suggest that we start a pennies for peace campaign.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to DG7500 as bookring!

Arrived safely...thanks! I have 2 other books to read before this one, but hope to still get it all read within the 3 weeks suggested time-frame.

Thanks JDT, for sharing this one...I've heard great things about it, and am really looking forward to reading it.
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Oh, and just a special THANK YOU to jlc4056 for sending along a much needed 'extra' marble. Bless you! ;0) My entire family had a wonderful chuckle(at my expense)...but it brightened our day, so it was well worth it.

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8/26: PM'd JDT for a brief extension to the requested 3 week reading period. Between vacation & getting the kids ready for back-to-school, my reading time has been limited lately. I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book now, and should be able to finish it within a few days once the kids are back to school on the 8/31. If this is not agreeable, I'll gladly pass the book along now, so as not to hold it up any longer for those still waiting their turn for the book.

**8/26 UPDATE: THANK YOU for allowing the brief extension on the timeline, JDT! I promise to keep reading as much as possible through the next week or so, and should be able to finish the book quickly once the kidlets are back to school. The book is excellent so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things continue to come together.

9/1/09: What an wonderful, inspirational book!! It truly goes to show that one person with a passionate dream & determination can accomplish amazing things! Thank you so much for sharing this one JDT...I feel I'm a better person for having read it, and will be looking for more ways that I can make a difference in my life & those around me.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Winging it's way to valpete next...along with a few stowaway wishlist books. :0)

"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens ..."

Carlos Ruiz Zafon (The Shadow of the Wind)

I'm looking forward to reading this. I've heard such good things about it. It'll be next after I finish my book club book for this month.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I've been wanting to read this book since everyone has been raving about it. I thought it was remarkable that Greg Mortensen was able to accomplish all that he did in the Middle East. However, I did get bogged down about 3/4 through the book. Thanks for including me in this ring, JDT, and for being so patient. It'll be coming home tomorrow!

safely home!
This book has enjoyed wonderful travels thanks to a great group of bookcrossers.
Thanks to each of you for joining the bookring!

continuing this special book's journey - sending to Michelle in FL - her paperbackswap request.
Enjoy!
(Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!)