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scheu's review against another edition
3.0
Ultimately this one was just a little TOO surreal for me, and a little light in other departments such as plot. There were some profoundly touching moments nonetheless.
mrninjaviking's review against another edition
3.0
"The Chess Garden" by Brooks Hansen showed up for quite awhile in my recommendations at Amazon. Every time I read the description, I grew more and more interested, finally obtaining this trade paperback edition from a trading sit. (The hardcover edition of the book was subtitled "The Twilight Letter of Gustav Uyterhoeven".)
Here is a quick description to help me from Amazon.Com and Publishers Weekly:
The first thing that grabbed me with this book was Hansen's writing style and prose. I have read very little Poe, and nothing by Chesterton and Borges at the time of reading it (I have since read some of the works of Borges). But from the descriptions I had read of Poe and Borges, Hansen captures them. The character of Dr. Uyterhoeven is also influence greatly by philosopher / scientist / theologist Emmanuel Swedenborg, or at least in his stories in the 12 letters are since he reads Swedenborg's work late in his life. Unfortunately I am unfamiliar with his works, so any influences were lost on me.
Dr. Uyterhoeven is one of the leading pathologists of his time in the middle and late 19th-century. Pathology at the time was a new science. For sections of the book that go into Uyterhoeven's earlier life, there is much philosophy and questions of the direction of the science. He "argues" his beliefs, which differ from others in the field, particularly those of fellow faculty of the school he teaches at in Berlin. Quite frankly all the discussion between the parties was lost on me and made those sections quite boring at times, though it did do a great deal in developing his character, as well as his colleagues who become close friends.
The book seems like two different books at the same time. There are the 12 letters of his journey to find and within the Antipodes, and then the part of the book that is Uyterhoeven's and his wife's life. He writes the letters during his time in South Africa. You find as the book goes on that they are mirroring what he is going through. As one character puts it, he feels useless by just watching over his chess garden in Dayton, so he volunteers to serve. But he knows that his life is drawing to an end. His letters reflect this, though it wasn't easy for me to pick out until these revelations are made.
It is a very deep book. It is a very well written book. For instance, the story of how the chess garden came to be is very late in the book, yet you still get a great sense throughout the whole book of what it meant to the people that the Uyterhoeven's hosted and what it meant to themselves. Unfortunately with some influences that I am not familiar with, and with philosophies and sciences that I am not familiar with, or too terribly interested in, it took some effort to read through many parts of this. His letters are captivating, though sometimes starting slow. I can understand why so many think highly of this book, but at the time I read it, it didn't reach me the way it probably should. This is a book ripe for a re-read ..... someday.
Here is a quick description to help me from Amazon.Com and Publishers Weekly:
... set in 19th-century Dayton, Ohio, in Europe and South Africa during the Boer War and on an imaginary island, the Antipodes. During his journey to the heart of the war, where he has volunteered to serve in a British-run concentration camp for forcibly displaced Boers, Dr. Gustav Uyterhoeven sends 12 letters to his wife, Sonja, in Dayton. The letters, fabulist explorations in the manner of Poe, Chesterton and Borges, describe a world where chess pieces, including a queen trapped in a tree, live, die, love, battle and philosophize. Uyterhoeven is a remarkable character, dapper yet heartbroken, civilized, swinging his cane, journeying through sundry marvels with an air of concern and wonder that the reader comes to share. Meanwhile, back in Dayton, the reading of each new letter becomes an event; and, mysteriously, chess pieces mentioned in the letters begin to appear in the Uyterhoevens' garden.
The first thing that grabbed me with this book was Hansen's writing style and prose. I have read very little Poe, and nothing by Chesterton and Borges at the time of reading it (I have since read some of the works of Borges). But from the descriptions I had read of Poe and Borges, Hansen captures them. The character of Dr. Uyterhoeven is also influence greatly by philosopher / scientist / theologist Emmanuel Swedenborg, or at least in his stories in the 12 letters are since he reads Swedenborg's work late in his life. Unfortunately I am unfamiliar with his works, so any influences were lost on me.
Dr. Uyterhoeven is one of the leading pathologists of his time in the middle and late 19th-century. Pathology at the time was a new science. For sections of the book that go into Uyterhoeven's earlier life, there is much philosophy and questions of the direction of the science. He "argues" his beliefs, which differ from others in the field, particularly those of fellow faculty of the school he teaches at in Berlin. Quite frankly all the discussion between the parties was lost on me and made those sections quite boring at times, though it did do a great deal in developing his character, as well as his colleagues who become close friends.
The book seems like two different books at the same time. There are the 12 letters of his journey to find and within the Antipodes, and then the part of the book that is Uyterhoeven's and his wife's life. He writes the letters during his time in South Africa. You find as the book goes on that they are mirroring what he is going through. As one character puts it, he feels useless by just watching over his chess garden in Dayton, so he volunteers to serve. But he knows that his life is drawing to an end. His letters reflect this, though it wasn't easy for me to pick out until these revelations are made.
It is a very deep book. It is a very well written book. For instance, the story of how the chess garden came to be is very late in the book, yet you still get a great sense throughout the whole book of what it meant to the people that the Uyterhoeven's hosted and what it meant to themselves. Unfortunately with some influences that I am not familiar with, and with philosophies and sciences that I am not familiar with, or too terribly interested in, it took some effort to read through many parts of this. His letters are captivating, though sometimes starting slow. I can understand why so many think highly of this book, but at the time I read it, it didn't reach me the way it probably should. This is a book ripe for a re-read ..... someday.
fionab_16's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
crowyhead's review against another edition
3.0
This is a strange and magical novel. In the midst of the Boer War, the elderly Dr. Uyterhoeven leaves his comfortable home and chess garden in Dayton, Ohio, to offer his services as a doctor in South Africa. During his travels, he writes a series of letters to his wife and the children back in Dayton, detailing his adventures in the magical Antipodes, which are populated by game pieces. The letters are intercut with a narrative describing Uterhoeven's life, as well as events in Dayton while the patrons of the chess garden wait for the next letter.
I truly enjoyed this, although in the end I was left feeling somewhat like there was an allegory I was missing out on.
I truly enjoyed this, although in the end I was left feeling somewhat like there was an allegory I was missing out on.
kelsea's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
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