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Summary: Coincidence, or something more?
Review: That's what you'll be wondering when you finish this book. While searching for his mother, young Hans Thomas finds a mysterious book whose story strangely echoes events in his own life. The way the author made everything come together in the end was fascinating to see. Gaarder writes in a simple style that clearly illustrates the weighty concepts he introduces but at the same time never "talks down." I think this would be a great book for "young adults" yet grown-ups will not feel insulted by the style. All you need to have with you is a sense of wonder. Note: those who found the "textbook" sections in _Sophie's World_ intrusive will find the merging of philosophy and plot more seamless here.
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Summary: Highly imaginative novel forcing you to rethink your life
Review: Those who enjoyed this author's best known novel "Sophie's World" (in my opinion, one of the great novels of the latter 20th Century) will also discover a natural kinship with "The Solitaire Mystery". The depth of this writer's imagination is sometimes astounding. In this novel, Gaarder weaves into his plot the issues of destiny, synchronicity and family ties in a most remarkable way. In some ways, you could think of this book as a fairy tale for adults. As he demonstrated with "Sophie's World" and again with this book, Mr Gaarder has a masterful way of getting you to reflect on the meaning of life as we know it, see it and all-too-readily accept it.
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Summary: Pleasant TV Substitute
Review: Having read half-way through Sophie's World without having the heart to finish, I was hesitant to start in on a slimmer version of Gaarder's didactic but well-meaning prose. Yet this book is a lot more palatable and entertaining. Without any context from this site, I myself thought at several points in the book that I would need to save this for my future kids, twelve or thirteen years old maybe, though it is a good read even for adults. The best part of the book is the original storyline that the sticky bun book narrates. The basic points of enjoying life and respecting individuals this storyline highlights often get lost in the day-to-day rush to keep our economy strong. Overall, a good, three-hour read.
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Summary: A wonderful, insightful jorney of who 'we' are.
Review: This is the first time I read any of Gaarder's work. I find it very charming that he decides to use whimsical tale to discuss philosophy, a subject most people would disregard as too serious or too deep. However, the 'tale within a tale within a tale' can be a bit too confusing and rather taxing for the reader to figure out. Overall, I think it's a brilliant book! If anybody wants to make a movie out of it, one suggestion: William Hurt as the father of Hans Thomas
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Summary: A good and delightful read.
Review: This is the first time I'm reading a book by Mr Gaarder and I've certainly not been disappointed. It's a very thoughtful book full of ideas of life, expressed through the characters in the sticky-bun book, such as the joker and Frodo. It's a very thought-provoking read, but light-hearted in a sense. Really set me thinking
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Summary: A journey of distance and time
Review: "The Solitaire Mystery" is a wonderful tale of Hans Thomas and his journey through distance and "time" through the sticky-bun book . Jostein Gaarder used characters such as dwarfs and moluks, but the story and the truths and lessons , will really make you think about life---regardless of the whimsical characters. This is truly a great book to cherish. I wouldn't mind reading it again
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Summary: This is the book Jostein REALLY likes!
Review: Jostein Gaarder is the only author I have ever read in four languages. I first enountered THE SOLITAIRE MYSTERY in Norwegian, just after SOPHIE'S WORLD appeared there in 1992. Jostein told me that while he liked SW, his earlier KABALMYSTERIET (the Norwegian title) was the book that he thought would get early-to-mid teens interested in life's big questions: "who am I?", "are things decided by free-will or destiny?", and the like. Having now read it in Spanish and (finally!) in English, I have to agree. THE SOLITAIRE MYSTERY poses these questions in the context of an absorbing dual story -- one that will captivate teens' imaginations while it expands their sense of wonder. If they read this book first, they will be ready to appreciate the historical parts of SOPHIE'S WORLD all the more. I am glad that the success of his other books has finally gotten this one translated
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Summary: The meaning of life in a deck of cards
Review: After fits and starts I delved into this book not sure of what to find. I was expecting a standard sort of whodunit but was immeasurably surprised. The mixture of philosophy and fantasy creates a wonderfully delicate tale. Hans Thomas and his father start on the sort of beatnik road trip to rescue their mother/wife from finding herself. Hans rides shotgun for the first part of the trip while his father philosophizes from the drivers seat. Hans entertains himself by reversing the names of the towns they pass through. Then one day they meet a small man in a small town who gives Hans Thomas a magnifying glass and a secret message. Hans is forever changed by this chance (?) encounter and it will to occupy him for the rest of their journey
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Summary: Clever and interesting book
Review: A clever book which I looked forward to reading. It presents a mind opening view of reality though ''Sophies'
World'' was more educational.
I look forward to his next book.
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Summary: One of my favourite books of all time.
Review: This book would have to be one of my absolute favourite books of all time. Unlike the world famous, Sophie's World by Gaarder, which reads like a textbook with an occational plot, the Solitare Mystery succeeds in fully incorporating philsophical exploration into the magical adult fairy tale. In otherwords it is a far more enjoyable read than Sophie's World. I hightly recommend it to anyone. Older children would even enjoy this read, and it would make a great book to read during those difficult transition years when teenagers move from childrens to adult books.
For reference the story is continued on to some extent in the book by Gaarder 'Maya'.
I must also note that while this book was absolutely fantastic, in future books (with the exception of the most recent one, 'The Ring master's Daughter'), Gaarder takes the analogy of the pack of cards in particular the joker as the philosopher a bit too far. He does this in the kids books too. So enjoy this one, because it is one of his best!
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