Mountains+beyond+Mountains

So. You've chosen //Mountains beyond Mountains//. I am honestly appreciative of all that I learned about Haiti after reading this book. Seeing all of the images from the earthquake this year alternated between discomfiting and horrifying, and now I have more context and understanding to place those pictures. The one thing that stands out from this text, though, is the passion, determination, and relentless work of Paul Farmer. It is hard //not// to be inspired by his contributions to the medical field and the world. I look forward to hearing what you think of it!

 You don't have to finish the book before you start writing. As a matter of fact, stopping and writing when something strikes you will probably be most revealing about how you're making meaning of the work. Don't shy away if you don't like the book, it's not often that we find our favorite books in the first few pages, and critical reading expects us to find the flaws in writing and strong readers are alert to the places where they disconnect from the text. I'm really excited to know what you think about what you're reading!

 Oh, one quick caveat -- please don't summarize the text; I've read the book: I don't want to know what happens in the book, I want to know what you are //thinking// about the book.

 Thanks! Look forward to hearing from you!

John Lewis

Paul Farmer is such an amazing person. In the past I have heard people talk about this guy who travels to Haiti and has built a hospital, but I had no idea of the extent of this man's work. Not only does he run a hospital as the only doctor but he is considered by most Haitians to be a god. What he has done for these people is incredible. A wonderful story in this book comes when Farmer is younger and is working at a hospital outside of Port-au-Prince. He tells of how a pregnant woman is in labor and needs a blood transfusion. The woman doesnt have any money so cannot purchase a transfusion so Farmer runs around the hospital and collects enough money to get the transfusion. The hospital she is at doesnt have a blood bank so farmer must run three miles to the nearest hospital and get the transfusion and run back. After this incident Farmer collects enough money to purchase this hospital a blood bank. Experiences like these give you incite into Paul Farmer. Early in the book you read about Farmer's childhood. You learn about living in a bus and on a boat and never truly having a place to call home. After reading this book I have a much better apprication for what we have in this country. I never realized how difficult life can be outside of the United States.