The Cardturner
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The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him, he has no money and no job, and his parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester, who is old, blind, very sick, and very rich, to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner.
But Alton's parents aren't the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp's good graces. There is Trapp's longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family. Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda, as he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life. |
Book Review: The Guardian
Read acclaimed screenwriter and novelist Frank Cottrell Boyce’s review of The Cardturner.
At the Bridge Table: A Conversation with Louis
Bridge is a card game, and for those of us who take it seriously, we believe it is far and away the greatest game ever invented. It is a partnership game that requires skill, planning, logical thinking, and probably most important, partnership trust and cooperation. No matter how good you are, you can’t do it on your own. In some ways, I feel a greater connection with my bridge partners than I do with my wife— but only in some ways.
The game became hugely popular in the 1920’s, and that popularity continued throughout most of the 20th century. There is a national organization known as the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) that puts on tournaments all over North America, and awards “master points” to the winners. Bridge players value these master points much like 2nd graders value gold stars. I currently have about 4,100 master points. I have achieved the rank of "gold life master." If and when I reach 5,000, I will become a "diamond life master.”
Unfortunately—at least I consider it unfortunate—the average age of ACBL members is 67 years old, approximately. Not too many young people play the game. Most have never heard of it. It is difficult to learn, and even if one person is willing to put in the effort, he or she will still have to find a partner, and then two other people to play against.
This was why I wanted to write The Cardturner. I hope you like the story, and maybe, just maybe, when you finish reading it, you’ll want to learn to play this greatest of all games.
I am delighted to say, I have recently met several young bridge players at various tournaments who told me they took up the game after reading my book. A few of them have already achieved remarkable success at the bridge table.
The game became hugely popular in the 1920’s, and that popularity continued throughout most of the 20th century. There is a national organization known as the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) that puts on tournaments all over North America, and awards “master points” to the winners. Bridge players value these master points much like 2nd graders value gold stars. I currently have about 4,100 master points. I have achieved the rank of "gold life master." If and when I reach 5,000, I will become a "diamond life master.”
Unfortunately—at least I consider it unfortunate—the average age of ACBL members is 67 years old, approximately. Not too many young people play the game. Most have never heard of it. It is difficult to learn, and even if one person is willing to put in the effort, he or she will still have to find a partner, and then two other people to play against.
This was why I wanted to write The Cardturner. I hope you like the story, and maybe, just maybe, when you finish reading it, you’ll want to learn to play this greatest of all games.
I am delighted to say, I have recently met several young bridge players at various tournaments who told me they took up the game after reading my book. A few of them have already achieved remarkable success at the bridge table.
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Louis, playing at a national tournament in Chicago, August, 2015. The photo was taken during the semi-finals of the "mini-spingold," a six-day knock-out event, open only to players who had less than 5,000 master points. Sad to say, Louis and his teammates did not advance to the finals.
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At the Bridge Center of Austin, waiting for the game to start. Louis Sachar is seated across from his partner, Marilou Powell. The other two players at the table are Robert Donathan and Kalpana Sutaria.
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