- Hardcover: 544 pages
- Publisher: Knopf Canada (12 Sep 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0676973256
- ISBN-13: 978-0676973259
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,963,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
This is the story of a single mother, Sibylla, who comes from a long line of frustrated talents, and her son Ludo, who just happens to be a genius. Obsessed with the film The Seventh Samurai, she makes it a running backdrop to Ludo's childhood. At five Ludo learns ancient Greek, reading Homer as they travel round and round on the London Underground, teaches himself Hebrew, Arabic, Inuit, probability theory, astronomy, and is moving on to Japanese when he decides to embark on the search for his father - preferably the perfect father in the heroic mould, or at the very least, one with samurai virtues. He is bound for disappointment, and to find out more than he needs about his mother's shaky past. And at the heart of this completely delightful, captivating novel is the boy's changing relationship with his mother - contradictory, touching, and tender.
Full of linguistic pyrotechnics, fabulous learning, philosophy, science, and the workings of a brilliant mind, this is a must-read novel for everyone who relishes language, extravagant ideas, game theory, science, parenthood, not to mention Kurosawa's cinematic masterpiece.
Full of linguistic pyrotechnics, fabulous learning, philosophy, science, and the workings of a brilliant mind, this is a must-read novel for everyone who relishes language, extravagant ideas, game theory, science, parenthood, not to mention Kurosawa's cinematic masterpiece.
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First Sentence
My father's father was a Methodist minister. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
My father's father was a Methodist minister. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Author DeWitt expresses her admiration, at one point, for "the type of person who thinks boredom a fate worse than death." And she obviously writes for this type of reader as she performs amazing literary and scholarly acrobatics in this unique and energetic novel which never flags--and certainly never bores! Although DeWitt incorporates many esoteric subjects here--Japanese language, Greek verbs, Icelandic verse, Fourier's analysis, Arabic, astrophysics, and tournament chess, bridge, and piquet, among other things--she does this so entertainingly that they enhance, rather than obscure, the human story at the heart of the novel, even for readers like me with little interest in many of these subjects.
Sybilla is the hard-working, single mother of Ludo, a 6-year-old genius who gobbles up even the most complicated subjects, seemingly overnight. Despite his precocity, however, Ludo is a very engaging and in many ways, typical, child, and the relationship between mother and son is mutually warm, respectful, and endearingly protective. Both Sybilla and Ludo are fans of Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, and this forms the framework of the novel when Ludo decides to test seven fascinating and brilliant men Sybilla has known to see which, if any, of them might be his unknown father.
This book has everything. It is funny and sad and disarming and challenging--simultaneously amusing and poignant, and thought-provoking. The many layers which emerge as Ludo engages in his quest should keep readers, critics, and book clubs intrigued and entertained for years. But the book is at heart an absorbing human story--of identity, of aspirations and achievement, and, ultimately, of the love and connection which makes our personal journeys worthwhile. A wonder-filled achievement from beginning to totally satisfying end. Mary Whipple
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is one of the most intellegent, original books I've read. It will make you want to read every single book in the library. It touches on every subject - language, science, art - through the eyes of a brilliant boy and his terrified mother, exploring the factors necessary for self development. I read and re-read it, and every time I find another reason to love it. You will cry, and laugh, and most of all, you will learn.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An amazing read, one of the best books I've read, and definitely a new favourite. The way it handles it's subjects with such a nonchalant, young, rational, genius outlook drives the book along. Keeping you interested and making you feel smarter as you make your way through. You may see a little of yourself in the main character, and maybe even be inspired by something. Highly recommend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The best book I have ever read
I have no grasp whatsoever of why this book is out of print. It is tremendous. When it came out it had understandably fantastic reviews which are all over the cover of my paperback... Read more
Published on 13 April 2010 by J. Hume
Good reading, once the horizon has stabilised
This book is certainly a virtuoso performance. The only problem in such cases, is that sometimes the display of virtuosity can seem to become an end in itself, as with John... Read more
Published on 3 July 2007 by Paul Magnussen
highly original and highly recommended
The reviews below outline the plot of this wonderful, over-looked book. I bought it while on holiday in Australia in 2000 and I have reread it many times - one of few books to... Read more
Published on 28 May 2007 by L. Gardiner
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