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The Solitaire Mystery: a novel about family and destiny Paperback – November 1, 1997

by Jostein Gaarder (Author)

4.5 488 ratings

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The author of the best-selling Sophie's World follows a twelve-year-old boy as he scours Europe with his father for his missing mother, carrying a miniature, magic storybook that may help solve her disappearance. Reprint.

About the Author

Jostein Gaarder, born in 1952 in Norway, taught philosophy for many years before becoming a novelist. He lives with his family in Oslo.

Print length

336 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Berkley Trade
Publication date

November 1, 1997
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.25 x 1 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

042515999X
ISBN-13

978-0425159996
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley Trade (November 1, 1997)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 042515999X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425159996
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,584,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #130,809 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 488 ratings

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About the authors

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Jostein Gaarder
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Jostein Gaarder is the author of SOPHIE'S WORLD, a huge bestseller in over 40 countries. He was born in Oslo in 1952 and lives there now with his wife and two sons.
Photo by GAD (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
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Hilde Kramer
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Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

488 global ratings

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Acocacolagirl

WAY better than Sophie's World

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2009

Verified Purchase

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

11 people found this helpful

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David Kingsbury

Just a pair of jokers

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2014

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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.

One person found this helpful

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Phil from Downunder

Terrific once you’re not annoyed by the story within a story style!

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2019

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As a parent and a grandparent this is a great book. Like Sophie’s World, it is a beautiful combination of adventure, mystery, history and philosophy. Great to relax to, and also for picking up phrases and ways to try and engage teenagers and children, in what are the most important ways to think about life.
Spoiler warning: I’m also going to start collecting Jokers.

One person found this helpful

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M

Loved it!

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

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!

2 people found this helpful

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Michelle Hoyer

A great novel overall, even though translation issues hinder its story line.

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2014

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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.

5 people found this helpful

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Angela Edwards

Jostein Gaarder is a true joker.

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book blows my mind, but I like the explosion. A novel that will stick with me forever, truly makes you think and see clearly - even if it’s just a fairytale.

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T. Suresh

Fantasy---and philosophy

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2014

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This is fantasy of a different kind. On a superficial level is is simple but gripping story. But there are many levels. Every now and then very interesting philosophical thoughts and insights are embedded. Definitely a book that should be read a second time more slowly.

One person found this helpful

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RR

Thought provoking

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018

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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?

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Thinking

Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

Second time reading this but with many years in between. After reading this the first time I got a tattoo of a joker 🃏. Second time round I still find this book fun, entertaining, thought provoking and insightful. Highly recommend!!!!

alessia vitali

una lettura obbligatoria

Reviewed in Italy on March 27, 2018

Verified Purchase

un libro che secondo me chiunque dovrebbe leggere, leggero e profondo al tempo stesso, onirico e reale, insomma un viaggio che ti cattura dall'inizio alla fine

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KaBe

Eine wunderbare Geschichte

Reviewed in Germany on October 20, 2014

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ich habe das Buch mit einem Lächeln gelesen. Es ist eine wunderschön erzähle Geschichte mit sympathischen Figuren und einer Story, die sich erst ganz am Schluss auflöst.

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not rogue

哲学入門としても小説としても

Reviewed in Japan on July 26, 2015

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ソフィーの世界で有名な著者の本．

小説としても面白く，かつ，哲学の話がわかりやすく組み込まれています．
英語も容易で，日本語版よりも手に入りやすいのでオススメです．

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Sofia

An obligatory book for humankind!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2011

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I've read 'Sophie's World' and ' The Orange Girl" and they were both fabulous... But this....! Wow! It should be compulsory to read it! What an amazing simple, yet profound book! Definitely a fairy-tale for thinking adults. All the 'jokers' in the world will relate to this gem and hopefully the other 'cards' in the global pack will, too.
Definitely one of the best books I've ever read.

2 people found this helpful

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The Solitaire Mystery: a novel about family and destiny Paperback – November 1, 1997

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