[QCQ]≫ [PDF] The Solitaire Mystery Jostein Gaarder Hilde Kramer Sarah Jane Hails 9780374266516 Books

The Solitaire Mystery Jostein Gaarder Hilde Kramer Sarah Jane Hails 9780374266516 Books

Download As PDF : The Solitaire Mystery Jostein Gaarder Hilde Kramer Sarah Jane Hails 9780374266516 Books

The Solitaire Mystery Jostein Gaarder Hilde Kramer Sarah Jane Hails 9780374266516 Books

Two unlikely subjects, philosophy and playing cards, collide in Gaarder’s thought-provoking novel The Solitaire Mystery as Gaarder creates an elaborate story about a father and son, Hans Thomas, and their journey through Europe. Their reason for the epic road trip is to find “Mommy,” Hans’ mother who left them to “find herself” in the fashion world eight years earlier. During their journey, Hans’ meets a strange midget who gives him a magnifying glass and later stumbles upon an old baker who gives him a tiny book inside a sticky bun, which gives an amazing inner story about Hans’ family history. (The “sticky-bun book” also serves as a means of answering mysterious questions about Hans’s father’s heritage and the reason why his father is obsessed with collecting Joker playing cards.)

The story within the sticky bun book is even more mystical than the main story-line, which at times keeps the reader wanting to know what is going to happen as much as Hans Thomas. This was a great method to keep readers interested for when one storyline began to lose interest, the other picked up. The dynamic of playing cards throughout the novel is also fascinating, making every reader look at playing cards in a new fashion, especially the foolish Joker, and wonder the true meaning behind each card.

As Hans and his father travel through Europe, his father gives Hans random philosophy lessons about life, what it means to be human, and destiny. Through the lessons, Hans’ receives and the jokes and interactions he has with his father, Hans’ relationship with his father is heartwarming and shows how the son helps his father to be a better individual and vice versa.

Sarah Jane Hails translated the novel from Norwegian, so at times, the translation is rough and difficult to understand, but the concept shows through. The only other downside to this incredible novel is the way the storyline, both the main and sticky-bun stories, are long and drawn out at times but the ending is worth the wait!

If you are interested in philosophy, mystery, adventure, and playing cards, The Solitaire Mystery will keep you wondering what will be discovered until the very end.


Tags : The Solitaire Mystery [Jostein Gaarder, Hilde Kramer, Sarah Jane Hails] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. While taking a car trip through Europe with his father in search of his long-lost mother, a mysterious miniature book about a sailor shipwrecked on a strange island on which a deck of cards has come to life holds the clues to understanding the disappearance of Hans Thomas's mother many years before.,Jostein Gaarder, Hilde Kramer, Sarah Jane Hails,The Solitaire Mystery,Farrar Straus & Giroux,0374266514,General,Families;Fiction.,Fantastic fiction.,FICTION General,Families,Fantastic fiction,Fiction,Fiction-Mystery & Detective,General Adult,NORWEGIAN (LANGUAGE) CONTEMPORARY FICTION,United States

The Solitaire Mystery Jostein Gaarder Hilde Kramer Sarah Jane Hails 9780374266516 Books Reviews

Read this on the behest of a good friend. Does a pretty good job of getting a little weirdly meta in storytelling while staying cohesive and attacking some ideas regarding metaphysics, heritage and a few other odds and ends through both the story and the story in the story. If nothing else it's a really fun adventure and a good mystery, even if you don't get all the answers you want.
This fairy tale story causes one to wonder about the own fair tale that we live. Perhaps by chance I picked up this book on a trip to Europe. Or was it chance?
The author had a creative way of intertwining fantasy with a real life narrative.
The picturesque journey of a father and son on their quest was intriguing.
It was a heartwarming tale that took me away on a fun journey!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, travel and an endearing story.
Fantastic!
I absolutely adore this book. I started reading it in high school but then got too busy with assigned readings and college applications. However, it left a lasting impression on me, so I picked it up again this year. I don't know if its because I was younger then, but this was definitely easier to read the second time around, and it was great reading about all the characters and the I loved the twists that happened. I grew to really care about the characters as well. Would definitely recommend this book!
I have read The Solitaire Mystery multiple times. I own two paper copies. It was my first purchase because I want to always have it close at hand. I have read several other books by Jostien Gaarder but this is my favorite despite the opinions of professional reviewers who rave about Sophie's World rather than Solitaire. Sophie's World is fine, but The Solitaire Mystery is a true journey 'down the rabbit hole'. Three generations, three stories, three worlds intertwine to create a meaningful story for life; a story which stirs emotions; a modern story and a classic tale at the same time.

If you have any sense of adventure, fantasy, and fun, read it.
It is a mystery to me as to why Sophie's World gets all the praise and ravings even in reviews that are supposed to be about The Solitaire Mystery. I have read The Solitaire Mystery at least four times. I had to buy another copy because I am ready to read it again, but I lent my copy out. Until you have read it, you have never been on or imagined such a journey. Gaarder out does himself, his best work by far*, as he takes the reader through time, through other dimensions, through colors and flavors never thought possible. At the same time the story is solidly rooted in real issues of society, life, and the world as we know it. This one story pulls the reader into multiple tales that are vastly different and all the same and all so wonderful and incredible and dreamy. Once you start reading, you can't resist the pull. You want to go there and explore all of the mysteries of life and fantasy. The only things I've ever read that come close to The Solitaire Mystery are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Lewis Carroll) and the Abarat books by Clive Barker...but I've never been inclined to read those books over and over as much as I do The Solitaire Mystery.

*best out of what I have read
Sophie's World
The Christmas Mystery
Maya
The Ringmaster's Daughter
Two unlikely subjects, philosophy and playing cards, collide in Gaarder’s thought-provoking novel The Solitaire Mystery as Gaarder creates an elaborate story about a father and son, Hans Thomas, and their journey through Europe. Their reason for the epic road trip is to find “Mommy,” Hans’ mother who left them to “find herself” in the fashion world eight years earlier. During their journey, Hans’ meets a strange midget who gives him a magnifying glass and later stumbles upon an old baker who gives him a tiny book inside a sticky bun, which gives an amazing inner story about Hans’ family history. (The “sticky-bun book” also serves as a means of answering mysterious questions about Hans’s father’s heritage and the reason why his father is obsessed with collecting Joker playing cards.)

The story within the sticky bun book is even more mystical than the main story-line, which at times keeps the reader wanting to know what is going to happen as much as Hans Thomas. This was a great method to keep readers interested for when one storyline began to lose interest, the other picked up. The dynamic of playing cards throughout the novel is also fascinating, making every reader look at playing cards in a new fashion, especially the foolish Joker, and wonder the true meaning behind each card.

As Hans and his father travel through Europe, his father gives Hans random philosophy lessons about life, what it means to be human, and destiny. Through the lessons, Hans’ receives and the jokes and interactions he has with his father, Hans’ relationship with his father is heartwarming and shows how the son helps his father to be a better individual and vice versa.

Sarah Jane Hails translated the novel from Norwegian, so at times, the translation is rough and difficult to understand, but the concept shows through. The only other downside to this incredible novel is the way the storyline, both the main and sticky-bun stories, are long and drawn out at times but the ending is worth the wait!

If you are interested in philosophy, mystery, adventure, and playing cards, The Solitaire Mystery will keep you wondering what will be discovered until the very end.