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A review by abbeyreadthis
Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino
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.