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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The outer story unpacks the inner story and vice versa.
I first read this book as a teen, but I remembered little of it. It was a delight to read as an adult. The overarching story is a road story of a father and son - it's heartwarming and bittersweet and I liked their relationship. The son reads a miniature book along this journey, a story that deals with cards and a fantastical mystery. Cards tell the story of destiny long in the making. The book the boy reads is a story within a story within a story with multiple narrators who add little bits to the solitaire mystery.
I love the imagination in it, the soiltaire concept and the sense of wonder of the boy protagonist, I love the father and son story, the hopefulness, and things working out as they should. There are thouhtful and interestig themse to the story that are enjoyable to think about. For me, the book is ultimately life affirming. Of course, it's also philosophical.
I first read this book as a teen, but I remembered little of it. It was a delight to read as an adult. The overarching story is a road story of a father and son - it's heartwarming and bittersweet and I liked their relationship. The son reads a miniature book along this journey, a story that deals with cards and a fantastical mystery. Cards tell the story of destiny long in the making. The book the boy reads is a story within a story within a story with multiple narrators who add little bits to the solitaire mystery.
I love the imagination in it, the soiltaire concept and the sense of wonder of the boy protagonist, I love the father and son story, the hopefulness, and things working out as they should. There are thouhtful and interestig themse to the story that are enjoyable to think about. For me, the book is ultimately life affirming. Of course, it's also philosophical.
although clearly targeted towards younger readers as a quasi-introduction to philosophy, this is a mystical tale which will serve to entertain readers of all ages should they have the passion and curiosity for philosophical pursuits. although bogged down at times by its obvious bent towards the younger demographic, the rather charming youthfulness of the work becomes its charm later on. overall, this is a pretty little gem of a book that concentrates on family, destiny, and the wonders found in our shared existence in this beautiful world we live in.
I don't know how many times I've read this book, but it's a lot. I've just done so again, so thought it was time to log it here. I always got on better with this book than Sophie's World, because as clever as that is in talking about philosophy, I get more of that speculative staple, the sense of wonder, from Solitaire. And it's structured so carefully too, stories within stories wrapped up in a pack of cards, with images and relationships echoing each other across generations. Young Hans Thomas, off on a road trip with his dad to convince his mum to come home to them, is given a miniature book that's baked into a sticky bun by a baker who is far more than he seems. In that book is history and mirrors and magic, shipwrecks and goldfish and the most marvellous drink in the world... and a joker who, like the baker, knows more than he's letting on.
It's all deeply imaginative and utterly delightful.
It's all deeply imaginative and utterly delightful.
This was such a surprise and quite enjoyable. A friend recommended it to me, with very high marks, so I was eager to see why she liked it so much. it definitely didn't disappoint. It was such a whimsical and fun philosophical fairy tale, with some pretty serious themes involved. I love books that mix tones and themes, so this was right up my alley. The plot itself was one of the most creative stories I've read in awhile, and the ideas throughout were just wonderful. highly recommended!
A funny book, by evading the usual.
I cannot say I've taken great teachings of this book, it would not be true. But I enjoyed reading it. It is an easy reading, with some thoughts to the mix.
I cannot say I've taken great teachings of this book, it would not be true. But I enjoyed reading it. It is an easy reading, with some thoughts to the mix.
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reread (last time was 2004-2005?).
Cleverly structured - although this isn't a mystery, the method in which every small detail ends up interconnecting to another story beat is structured in that same tangibly satisfying way. Top it off with a fantastic protagonist, and a magical story-within-a-story, and you have your recipe for a phenomenal book.
Cleverly structured - although this isn't a mystery, the method in which every small detail ends up interconnecting to another story beat is structured in that same tangibly satisfying way. Top it off with a fantastic protagonist, and a magical story-within-a-story, and you have your recipe for a phenomenal book.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No