Kicking off a community book club
By CHRIS GULLICK - Staff Writer, Chico Enterprise Record Article Launched: 09/19/2008 12:11:55 AM PDT CHICO -- A group of Chico organizations is urging the whole community to join in a metaphoric tea-brewing and tea-steeping experience, and a literal, literary endeavor to unite the community — the Book in Common program. Mayor Andy Holcombe launched the program Thursday with a proclamation — "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time," by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, will be Chico's official 2008-09 Book in Common. Representatives from other organizations told those gathered in the plaza about their support and hopes for the program's success — Sara Simmons from Chico Unified School District, David Little from the Enterprise-Record, Brenda Crotts from Butte County Library, and Suzann Gripenstraw from Butte College. Drew Calendrella, representing Chico State University, said the program has been in place at the university for about 10 years, but he never imagined it could grow into a community program. "We haven't done this kind of thing on this kind of scale before," Simmons agreed. After Holcombe gave a quick synopsis of the book — the story of Mortenson's work building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan — several students and actors read selections from it. Pleasant Valley High School student Mareli Coetzer read about Mortenson asking to see the school in Korphe, the village where he recuperated from a failed attempt on K-2, the world's second highest mountain. When he learned there was no school, he promised to return and build one. Coetzer, a native of South Africa, said she wanted to participate in the program because she found the book inspirational and it reminded her of some of the conditions in South Africa. Other passages were read by Ben Allen from the Blue Room Theatre, Cynthia Lammel from Chico State's theatre department, and Jeremy Votava from Radio Chico. Chico High School senior Mussarat Iqbal, who read a section about completing the Korphe school, said she felt a special connection to the book because her father came from Pakistan and she spent most of last summer there, visiting her grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
"I really agree with the fact that education can go a long way and is much better than violence," she explained. Mortenson himself got wind from his home in Montana of Chico's Book in Common program and heard that several Chico Unified teachers wanted to use his book this semester, so he had 200 of them delivered to Chico High School. He had another 200 delivered to the Butte County Library, including large print and audio copies, and promised to send copies of the young adult edition, scheduled for release in January. Community members are invited to participate in the program's events: an exhibit of Pakistan artifacts through the end of October in Meriam Library at Chico State University; a film series beginning with "Charlie Wilson's War" at 7 p.m. Monday in PAC 144; reading groups forming in Bell Memorial Union at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday; and related lectures and slide shows, with the first taking place at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Holt Hall, room 170. A complete schedule of events planned so far can be viewed at http://www.csuchico.edu/bic. Staff writer Chris Gullick can be reached at 896-7760 or mailto:cgullick@chicoer.com. BACKGROUND: Chico State University started a Book in Common program about 10 years ago, but this year other organizations have joined in promoting the program. WHAT'S NEW: The city of Chico proclaimed Greg Mortenson's and David Oliver Relin's book "Three Cups of Tea" as a communitywide Book in Common. WHAT'S NEXT: Events connected to the program have been scheduled, culminating with Mortenson's visit to Chico in April.