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1 Hawthorne Literature- A to Z

Philosophy Made Simple

by Robert Hellenga

Philosophy Made Simple Cover

ISBN13: 9780316058261
ISBN10: 0316058262
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Review:

"Riffing off his charming 1994 debut, The Sixteen Pleasures, Hellenga shifts perspective from father to daughter, detailing the former's postmarital adventures as he plans the latter's wedding. It's been seven years since the death of Rudy Harrington's beloved wife, Helen; his three daughters have flown the coop; and the time is ripe to sell his Chicago home of 30 years and buy an avocado grove in Texas. He's also been reading the college-level text Philosophy Made Simple by Siva Singh, his daughter Molly's fiancé's uncle, sparking a previously latent interest in life's big questions. Rudy attempts, at 60, to adjust to single life while singlehandedly planning an Indian wedding for Molly to Singh's nephew, TJ. His grove manager, Medardo, takes him on weekend trips to a Mexican gentleman's club; there, he meets Maria, an employee with a penchant for weakhearted middle-aged men. A denizen of a nearby trailer park is Norma Jean, a lovable elephant with a tremendous talent for painting. When Molly, TJ, Siva and Nandini (Siva's sister and TJ's mother) arrive, Nandini is as taken with Norma Jean, whose owner is suddenly MIA, as is Rudy. More twinkly humor, mild insight, clean prose and gentle homilies follow in this thinker's light gem." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of "The Sixteen Pleasures" comes an unforgettablenovel about a man's search for meaning.

Synopsis:

Rudy Harrington has spent half his life in a rambling Chicago house, raising three daughters with his independent-minded wife. But his wife hasdied, his daughters have moved away, and Rudy is restless. In what he interprets as a moment of transcendent vision, he puts the family home up for sale and buys an avocado grove in Texas. While adapting to his new vocation, new home, and new friends, Rudy takes up a book-Philosophy Made Simple-and begins to struggle with Plato and Aristotle, Hume and Schopenhauer. His newly acquired wisdom is put to the test when he enliststhe neighborhood elephant to preside over his daughter+s Hindu wedding and

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Bookwomyn, November 13, 2006 (view all comments by Bookwomyn)
As an older woman, and a widow, I can relate to many of the feelings that come up for Rudy in this book. (But so could younger readers!) He's a kind, sweet and gentle man - doing the best he can do as he ages. He bravely strikes out to reinvent himself and has some great fun and heartache along the way. I bought this book because I loved "Sixteen Pleasures" and am glad I did. It will be a book I read again, pass on to friends and put in a special place on my bookshelf. It will be among other dear friends there.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780316058261
Author:
Hellenga, Robert
Publisher:
Little Brown and Company
Subject:
General
Subject:
Fathers and daughters
Subject:
Philosophers
Publication Date:
February 2006
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Pages:
277
Dimensions:
8.54x6.38x.95 in. .87 lbs.

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