Actually awesome! Great piece of intellectual fiction! This is what I have been seeking for!
Sophie's Planet is a beautifully written tale (inside a tale (inside a tale)) that will take you to an inspirational journey by means of the history of philosophy. Dyed in the colors of mystery with a tint of fantasy, soaked in intriguing lines that will spark imagination and pondering and inspire you for the rest of your life; this book will teach you the art of philosophy in a uncomplicated story-like manner.
This is a story of a 14-year old Norwegian girl named Sophie who starts her correspondence course of philosophical lessons by means of a dog beneath the guidance of an unknown tutor named Alberto who requires her to a philosophical time-travel from Ancient Mythology to Hellenism to Christianity and Organic Philosophy, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque and Romanticism, teaching her philosophical achievements of each period. The plot requires a mysterious twist even though surreal characters are thrown in developing confusion and mystery in the novel. Add to this, the story requires a U-turn whilst a girl named Hilde receives a birthday present from her father--a book written by him titled 'Sophie's Globe'. From right here onwards the story switches to Hilde's point of view exactly where Sophie Amundsen and Alberto Knox develop into a mere characters of a book that Hilde is reading. As the philosophy lessons progress so does the story which turns in to a story written inside a story (inside a story) and the reality and imagination overlaps so substantially that even the characters grow to be suspicious of their own existence. Hilde believes in Sophie's existence in real Planet when Sophie becomes positive of her existence only as a character from a book and her presence in the thoughts of Hilde's father who is writing a book for her daughter.
The ending is enchanting and philosophic ("Yes, we also are star dust"). The book is filled with inspiring a single-liners and thought-provoking dialogues that will rouse your imagination. With lots of twists and turns what keeps the novel moving is its continuous shift amongst reality and illusion captured in surreal style exactly where Gaarder teaches history of philosophy in straightforward terms omitting as well significantly detail and depth that otherwise would have stolen the beauty of the story.
This Alice in Wonderland of philosophy is strongly advisable to all these who possess a philosophic thoughts, eyes of a youngster and taste for intellectual readings...("The path of Ultimate Truth lead inwards")
The author is a inventive writer with interest in philosophy-figuring out the whys and hows of life.
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