The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him to hook up with his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner -- whatever that means. Alton's uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich. But Alton's parents aren't the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp's good graces. They're in competition with his longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him.
Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life. Through Alton's wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality -- and inspires readers to think and think again.
(synopsis taken from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/louis-sachar/cardturner.htm)
I have broken up my review of this book into three parts
(1) I bought this book in Portland, Oregon. At Powell's Book Store, the largest book store in the world. Yes, the entire world. This one store is the size of a city block. It was so wonderful, I almost cried. Almost. Anyway, this book has sentimental value.
(2) This book was writen by Louis Sachar. Who is awesome. No one does awkward teenager narrative like him. I mean, who didn't like Holes. That's what I thought. Everybody liked Holes. We love Louis, therfore we love the Cardturner.
(3) This book was just awesome. The premise was original. The characters were anything but flat. And since this book was about bridge, I learned how to play bridge. Sorta, kinda, in a way, in theory, not really.
So, read this book. Now. Or in the near future. The very, very near future. And after you read it and have a mild grasp on bridge, call me. We can form a bridge club.
Later,
Emily
Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life. Through Alton's wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality -- and inspires readers to think and think again.
(synopsis taken from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/louis-sachar/cardturner.htm)
I have broken up my review of this book into three parts
(1) I bought this book in Portland, Oregon. At Powell's Book Store, the largest book store in the world. Yes, the entire world. This one store is the size of a city block. It was so wonderful, I almost cried. Almost. Anyway, this book has sentimental value.
(2) This book was writen by Louis Sachar. Who is awesome. No one does awkward teenager narrative like him. I mean, who didn't like Holes. That's what I thought. Everybody liked Holes. We love Louis, therfore we love the Cardturner.
(3) This book was just awesome. The premise was original. The characters were anything but flat. And since this book was about bridge, I learned how to play bridge. Sorta, kinda, in a way, in theory, not really.
So, read this book. Now. Or in the near future. The very, very near future. And after you read it and have a mild grasp on bridge, call me. We can form a bridge club.
Later,
Emily
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