One of my favourite authors; writes fairytale-esque, beautiful stories within stories that never fail to make you think. It's all very philosophical, but in a completely readable, easily understood context. This is the way we learn best of all, when we don't even realise we are learning. Gaarder turns the study of meaning into a game, and rather than answering the big questions, he invites us to consider our own answers.
Apart from the general tone of his books, there are also some reoccurring features; scandanavian father and son relationships, their love for beautiful yet elusive women, and journeys of understanding. The plot never strays too far from the realm of realistic to be discounted as pure fantasy, the events described are so wonderful, the reader believes in their possibility.
The stories are often tinged with sadness, which only makes them more believable. It is very easy to empathise with the characters, as they experience feelings with are fundamental to every human being.
It's not all seriousness either; Gaarder likes to envoke the playfulness of life, and some of his books (especially the Orange Girl) are laugh out loud funny, something that may at first seem unexpected. The humour comes from a very raw portrayal of how people actually think and behave; they are often ridiculous and embarrassing and just plain bizarre. It's the kind of writing that makes you laugh with the characters, laughing with an understanding of having lived in similar situations, or simply the ability to percieve yourself acting the same way.
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