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timrichardson's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
tentatividiauro's review against another edition
non sono molto sicura che gli amori siano sempre difficili, ma ne ho praticamente la certezza.
in ogni caso, sicuramente calvino li racconta da dio, gli amori.
da leggere e da mordere.
in ogni caso, sicuramente calvino li racconta da dio, gli amori.
da leggere e da mordere.
martip5's review against another edition
4.0
Un Calvino diverso, un Calvino che parla d'amore come solo Calvino può fare. Lui stesso lo definì come un racconto dell'impossibilità di comunicare a pieno, storie di silenzi di desideri nascosti, storie di persone semplici.
Personalmente ho preferito: l'avventura di un soldato, l'avventura di un poeta, l'avventura di un lettore, l'avventura di un miope.
All'inizio volevo dare 3 stelle perché mi aspettavo di più, ma pensandoci su questo libro mi ha lasciato qualcosa in più che vale sicuramente 4 stelle.
Personalmente ho preferito: l'avventura di un soldato, l'avventura di un poeta, l'avventura di un lettore, l'avventura di un miope.
All'inizio volevo dare 3 stelle perché mi aspettavo di più, ma pensandoci su questo libro mi ha lasciato qualcosa in più che vale sicuramente 4 stelle.
ania2204's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hawkia75's review against another edition
5.0
I'm only in the middle of the book, but even if the rest of the stories are complete duds, it still deserves five stars!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The rest of the stories confirmed my opinion of this collection. The only other Calvino I've been able to finish was _If on a Winter's Night a Traveller_ which made me feel alternately frustrated and inspired. These stories deal with less abstract concerns than usual for Calvino. We have characters, narrative, plot(!) - all things I can get excited about anyway. But Calvino's mastery of language (of course, in translation. Sigh.) and his sense of people make each story luminous. I would pick out favorites, but it's impossible, they're all that good (except maybe one or two, but I'm not holding *that* against him).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The rest of the stories confirmed my opinion of this collection. The only other Calvino I've been able to finish was _If on a Winter's Night a Traveller_ which made me feel alternately frustrated and inspired. These stories deal with less abstract concerns than usual for Calvino. We have characters, narrative, plot(!) - all things I can get excited about anyway. But Calvino's mastery of language (of course, in translation. Sigh.) and his sense of people make each story luminous. I would pick out favorites, but it's impossible, they're all that good (except maybe one or two, but I'm not holding *that* against him).
abbeyreadthis's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5/5
Perhaps I should've started with a novel by Calvino instead of this short story collection. Regardless of format, I felt that there was so much misogyny present in these stories. I know Calvino was born in the 20s, and died in the 80s, so at the time maybe this subject wasn't addressed or critiqued as much but it didn't age well in that regard.
I also felt that the translation was odd. Or, I'm assuming its the translation. The sentence structures felt clunky and after looking through another one of his books translated by the same person, I feel as if the translator botched the English translation into oddly segmented sentences. I'm not sure though... I don't speak Italian and couldn't read this in its original language.
Perhaps I should've started with a novel by Calvino instead of this short story collection. Regardless of format, I felt that there was so much misogyny present in these stories. I know Calvino was born in the 20s, and died in the 80s, so at the time maybe this subject wasn't addressed or critiqued as much but it didn't age well in that regard.
I also felt that the translation was odd. Or, I'm assuming its the translation. The sentence structures felt clunky and after looking through another one of his books translated by the same person, I feel as if the translator botched the English translation into oddly segmented sentences. I'm not sure though... I don't speak Italian and couldn't read this in its original language.
met_'s review against another edition
I have to admit this one didn't convince me completely
amyrezende's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
joreadsalot's review against another edition
2.0
‘He had only to seek it within himself, closing his eyes, or clasping the telephone token in his hand, and that sense of squalor was defeated, only he existed, alone, facing the adventure of his journey.’
.
This was my first Calvino and maybe I haven’t chosen the right book because it didn’t live up to the expectations I had since I keep seeing this author everywhere. This book is a collection of 11 short stories (just a few pages in) about complicated feelings that characters have. I liked the Traveler the most however it was difficult to connect with the writing style - descriptions that go on and on forever, feeling a bit flat in the end. I didn’t find how women were portrayed too great either.
.
Should I give Calvino another go with a different book?
.
This was my first Calvino and maybe I haven’t chosen the right book because it didn’t live up to the expectations I had since I keep seeing this author everywhere. This book is a collection of 11 short stories (just a few pages in) about complicated feelings that characters have. I liked the Traveler the most however it was difficult to connect with the writing style - descriptions that go on and on forever, feeling a bit flat in the end. I didn’t find how women were portrayed too great either.
.
Should I give Calvino another go with a different book?
camil7156's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75