If on a winter's night a traveler
This book is perfect. That's it.
If on a winter's night a traveler is a love letter to readers and reading, and an insight into the process of writing. I think it's important to know the structure of this novel to really love it, especially if you are not keen on post-modern literary devices. First, the majority of the novel is written in second person, so the reader is actually the Reader and protagonist. I think this is great fun and, although I'm not a thirty-something white male, I didn't care obliterating myself temporarily and becoming this Reader for better enjoying this amazing piece of writing. Kind of a choose your own adventure book, only you don't really get to choose. Second, this is heavily influenced by a great tradition of tale-tellers, best represented by Arabian Nights (and Raymond Queneau), which means that we start several stories and the only one that ever finished is that of the Reader (you!). I thought this trick would soon tire me and wondered how Calvino would invent ten different excuses to justify abruptly cutting the ten diffent incipits, but he does and I grew more interested, if possible. Of course, after a while, it starts turning a bit surreal, like magical realism. It helped that that one is a genre I already love. I was positively invested on the Reader (my!) quest to find the missing novels, as I was also (mildly) irritated when the stories suddenly halted. After all, I am a committed reader and simply need to know what happens next. After a while, though, I started considering the incipits as fully developed short stories, and found them amazing on their own. I also think everyone who considers him or herself a reader should read If on a winter's night a traveler, or at least the first chapter. I identified with the Reader buying this book in a bookshop. Such a simple act from the outside, but such a battle on the inside, as we face the difficult task of choosing one single book to bring back home (like adopting an abandoned kitty!). One of my favorite passages.
I have a feeling I'll be coming back to this book.
If on a winter's night a traveler is a love letter to readers and reading, and an insight into the process of writing. I think it's important to know the structure of this novel to really love it, especially if you are not keen on post-modern literary devices. First, the majority of the novel is written in second person, so the reader is actually the Reader and protagonist. I think this is great fun and, although I'm not a thirty-something white male, I didn't care obliterating myself temporarily and becoming this Reader for better enjoying this amazing piece of writing. Kind of a choose your own adventure book, only you don't really get to choose. Second, this is heavily influenced by a great tradition of tale-tellers, best represented by Arabian Nights (and Raymond Queneau), which means that we start several stories and the only one that ever finished is that of the Reader (you!). I thought this trick would soon tire me and wondered how Calvino would invent ten different excuses to justify abruptly cutting the ten diffent incipits, but he does and I grew more interested, if possible. Of course, after a while, it starts turning a bit surreal, like magical realism. It helped that that one is a genre I already love. I was positively invested on the Reader (my!) quest to find the missing novels, as I was also (mildly) irritated when the stories suddenly halted. After all, I am a committed reader and simply need to know what happens next. After a while, though, I started considering the incipits as fully developed short stories, and found them amazing on their own. I also think everyone who considers him or herself a reader should read If on a winter's night a traveler, or at least the first chapter. I identified with the Reader buying this book in a bookshop. Such a simple act from the outside, but such a battle on the inside, as we face the difficult task of choosing one single book to bring back home (like adopting an abandoned kitty!). One of my favorite passages.
I have a feeling I'll be coming back to this book.