The Chess Garden by Brooks Hansen

[Gravy]

Here is a partial description of The Chess Garden or The Twilight Letters of Gustav Uyterhoeven.

In the fall of 1901, in the town of Dayton, Ohio, a series of mysterious letters begins arriving at the garden home of Dr. and Mrs. Uyterhoeven. All are written by the doctor, who left only months before to serve in the relief camps set up for the Boer in South Africa, yet the letters make no mention of refugees or the war. Instead, they tell of a fantastic land the doctor has discovered, a floating island populated entirely by games pieces – chess, checkers, marbles, dice, and more -- all living, congregating, and feuding, and all embroiled in the final stages of a secret revolution that is both deeply troubling, but also strangely hopeful...

I'm not yet halfway through this book, but I'm really enjoying it.
The reason I'm posting this is because I'm hoping someone might have read this and be able to share their opinion???
I'm just really curious as to what others have thought of it

Please! No spoilers!

-- 28 May 2016, 19:28 --

I've finished it.

It is historical fiction, but also much more. Parts tell the life story of Dr. Uyterhoeven, which in itself reads like a very intriguingly told biography, complete with notes, but most of the book is comprised of a single fable-like tale of a magical land, The Antipodes, inhabited by living game pieces.

I could say a million words, all trying to convay something about this book I found to be wonderful, but it would never convey the truth.
I can only say that I highly recommend it. To anyone who finds themselves curious about faith and belief. To anyone who is intrigued by the idea of life-size, sentient game pieces. To anyone who likes to see beneath the surface of things, to the essence, and in essence, to anyone.

I rated it a 4 out of 4.

[gali]

Sounds like an interesting read. I am glad you enjoyed the book.

[Gravy]

It actually pulled me away from all other books, which is not an easy thing to do, and even in the parts I enjoyed a little less (because I willingly admit to not being an avid historical fiction reader), I was still completely enveloped in the story.

I think that speaks more for it, than anything else I could say

[Heidi M Simone]

It must've been a really good book to pull you away from others! Thank you for sharing and maybe I'll add to my list!

[Gravy]

I was really hoping that some others may have read it. It's not my normal fair, but for all that, I really enjoyed it. Maybe even loved it

As I got towards the end I wondered where it would wind up, and was quite taken with how it was all tied up.

I hope you do put it on your list. Something tells me you'd enjoy it