Bridge

I never read as many books as I would like, last year I was gifted with a contact who was actually on the Newbery committee, she threw books at me all year and I felt much a part of the process and in touch with last year's book selections. But this year I am once again on my own and wander through the shelves noting favorite authors and hoping to find new loves. One I tripped over this year was Louis Sachar's most recent YA novel called "The Cardturner." My mother who seldom reads kid books asked me to get her a copy so of course I read it.

This is as story about a young man who for lack of anything better to do, no girl friend, no job, a summer stretching in front of him, turns cards for his blind great-uncle at the local bridge club. Turning cards, turns Alton's life in many directions but never loose. Trapp as his uncle is best known, is something of a crumudgeon, but you'll admit, rightly so, as you learn his history. Trapp's passion for bridge is contagious Alton is soon caught up in his web along with his sister, and an attractive young girl named Toni. Ultimately Toni and Alton help Trapp achieve an ancient desire for a national Bridge championship. You'll have to read it yourself for the details. But beware!

I hate bridge, I was raised by bridge players, there were regular bridge parties when I was growing up. We loved the morning after bridge night, the house reeked of cigarette smoke. Leftover bridge mix, chex mix and some sweet treat became breakfast for the first ones up. But we all learned to play bridge at about the age of 10, or started to. You sat at the table and they talked you through bidding, counting your points, and were forever saying things like "Well you Know he has the queen of hearts..." I never thought this was fun, it always required copious amount of mental concentration. You had to remember what was played, who played it, what was trump, and why you were sitting there at all. I never understood how you could ever carry on even a simple conversation while playing, and I really preferred talking. So after a couple of years I never volunteered to be the fourth, I usually found a hiding spot till the table was full. I knew I hated bridge, I could barely tolerate Hearts or Spades, which required much less effort than bridge. But after reading this book, I just knew I wanted to learn to play bridge again.

I wasn't alone in this desire. I have one daughter who abhors all sitdown games, board, card, doesn't matter she doesn't want to play. We were listening to "The Cardturner" and about halfway through my eldest says "We should really learn to play bridge." A voice from the back seat joins in "Grandma would teach us." "Miss No Games" from the third row back says "I think I could learn to play." I was shocked, but knew then it wasn't just me, this book creates a desire in the audience to play bridge.

Trapp was aptly named!