So far I have read three of his books. If on A Winters Night a Traveler, Invisible Cities, and Complete Cosmicomics and I have bought more as well. I heard nothing about this writer, I just saw his books and thought the covers looked cool so I picked them up. I first read If on A Winters Night a Traveler and I was a little taken aback at first, not really getting it and concerned that the writer was trying a little too hard at something. Then I kept reading and I was like. “Okay, I get it now.” and I really enjoyed it. Of the three I read, I think Invisible Cities might be my favorite. Cosmicomics reminds me of something Mark Twain would have written and I really enjoyed those stories too. I could tell from the first book I read that he’s more of a short story writer than a novelist and he has a way of weaving his stories in his own way that I’m learning to enjoy.
If any one else has read his books I’d love to know what you think.
by NotBorris
11 Comments
Check out the baron in the trees, it’s one of my favorites.
Mr. Palomar is a good one, too. Albeit a bit different from his other works.
His writing style is exceptional, and I loved the introspection 🙂
I’ve read ”The Invisible Cities” this summer and absolutely loved it. The imagery and framing device were great and the cover of the Polish translation (which is what I read) is really pretty.
I think what I’ve liked best about the book is that the descriptions of cites can be read and interpreted in so many different ways.
Also read his short essay collection ”The Narrative of Trajan’s Column” which IMO some parts were good (“When the last fire goes out, time too will be finished” is such a great turn of phrase) but overall liked it less than Invisible Cities.
Currently I’m waiting for my physical copy of “If on a Winter‘s Night a traveler“ and generally plan to read more of Calvino’s books.
I am currently reading if on a winters night a traveler, and I felt exactly how you did at first. It seemed like just a gimmick, but after reading a couple chapters I really came to admire his writing. I think the english translator did an excellent job as well because it reads a lot better than other translated works I’ve read
he compiled something called Italian Folktales that i read as a child until the cover the fell off. it’s a funny collection.
when i went to italy, i picked up an old battered Il visconte dimezzato that i plan to read to help with my italian.
I’ve never read anything by Italo Calvino and hadn’t even heard of him until this year when BBC Radio broadcast an adaption of *Marcovaldo.* Whimsical good fun.
More recently BBC Radio aired [If on a winters night a traveler](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001qt49) with Toby Jones and Indira Varma that’s available for a month. It’s an adaption that leans heavily into meta-commentary but if you’ve read that book, it could be worth checking out.
Don’t forget ‘The Castle of Crossed Destinies’.
They are stories told with Tarot cards. It is a great example of Calvino’s way of experimenting with narrative techniques. It is smart, fun to read and it makes you think about the way stories can be told.
The Path to the Spiders Nests is about partisans in WWII Italy.
Calvino is one of my very favourite authors. He was a genius. I’ve read the same books as you, except not the *Complete*, just the original *Cosmicomics.* I must get the expanded version one of these days, Qwfwq is my favourite character (well, equal favourite) of all time.
Next up, *Our Ancestors*, the book a friend had which first alerted me to Calvino.
I read “the Cloven Viscount” and “The Baron in the Threes” and really enjoyed them! I really suggest you reading these two books, while I wouldn’t recommend so much the “The Nonexistent Knight” (maybe I should read it again after years and give it a second chanse).
I also read “Marcovaldo”, which are short stories and found it nice.
I can’t say the same thing about “The Castle of Crossed Destines”. Some people loved it, but I really couldn’t understand a thing.
I liked “The Path to the Spider’s Nest” and his short stories.