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petabuc's review against another edition
5.0
Un libro che non può mancare nella mia libreria. Piccole pillole che esaltano la capacità narrativa (che adoro) di Tabucchi. Bastano poche frasi di un racconto per immergerti nel mondo dei protagonisti e per farti trasportare emotivamente da figure più o meno familiari. Come le tutte cose belle, non appena ne finisci uno resti così, sospeso tra quello che è stato ed hai appena letto e quello potrebbe essere e che non leggerai mai.
briancrandall's review against another edition
4.0
It was a pinkish creature, soft looking, with small yellowish arms like a plucked chicken's, bony, and two feet which again were very lean with bulbous joints and calloused toes, like a turkey's. The face was that of an aged baby, but smooth, with two big black eyes and a hoary down instead of hair; and he watched as its arms floundered wearily, as if unable to stop itself making this repetitive movement, miming a flight that was no longer possible. It had got caught up in the branches of the pear tree, which were spiky and warty and at this time of year laden with pears, so that at every one of the creature's movements, a few ripe pears would fall and land splat on the clods beneath.
thomasgoddard's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the third or fourth book I've read by Tabucchi.
What I love is the combination of the fantastical and the mythical. A blend of the religious and the surreal in the spirit of Calvino. The sort of text where the inner world bleeds onto the exterior one and really it is up to the reader to decide if it is madness or miracle.
I found this one a little too self-referencial. The first story really intrigued me, but thereafter the other stories seemed a little weightless and vague.
Ahhh. I'm torn. The same skill is evident. He narrates with a rare and extravagant ability. But at the same time... these were little more than sketches. They needed more to them.
I have to call this above average but below his own abilities.
If you've read everything else by Tabucchi... Pick this up.
Until then... Better to pick up something else.
What I love is the combination of the fantastical and the mythical. A blend of the religious and the surreal in the spirit of Calvino. The sort of text where the inner world bleeds onto the exterior one and really it is up to the reader to decide if it is madness or miracle.
I found this one a little too self-referencial. The first story really intrigued me, but thereafter the other stories seemed a little weightless and vague.
Ahhh. I'm torn. The same skill is evident. He narrates with a rare and extravagant ability. But at the same time... these were little more than sketches. They needed more to them.
I have to call this above average but below his own abilities.
If you've read everything else by Tabucchi... Pick this up.
Until then... Better to pick up something else.
whogivesabook's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the third or fourth book I've read by Tabucchi.
What I love is the combination of the fantastical and the mythical. A blend of the religious and the surreal in the spirit of Calvino. The sort of text where the inner world bleeds onto the exterior one and really it is up to the reader to decide if it is madness or miracle.
I found this one a little too self-referencial. The first story really intrigued me, but thereafter the other stories seemed a little weightless and vague.
Ahhh. I'm torn. The same skill is evident. He narrates with a rare and extravagant ability. But at the same time... these were little more than sketches. They needed more to them.
I have to call this above average but below his own abilities.
If you've read everything else by Tabucchi... Pick this up.
Until then... Better to pick up something else.
What I love is the combination of the fantastical and the mythical. A blend of the religious and the surreal in the spirit of Calvino. The sort of text where the inner world bleeds onto the exterior one and really it is up to the reader to decide if it is madness or miracle.
I found this one a little too self-referencial. The first story really intrigued me, but thereafter the other stories seemed a little weightless and vague.
Ahhh. I'm torn. The same skill is evident. He narrates with a rare and extravagant ability. But at the same time... these were little more than sketches. They needed more to them.
I have to call this above average but below his own abilities.
If you've read everything else by Tabucchi... Pick this up.
Until then... Better to pick up something else.
stacialithub's review against another edition
4.0
An entertaining collection of snippets, ideas, short stories, writings. Humorous, bittersweet, sad, funny, intellectual, & surreal are some of the descriptions that come to mind for the various parts.
Too bad Tabucchi passed away in 2012; reading his writing makes me want to be pen pals with him.
Too bad Tabucchi passed away in 2012; reading his writing makes me want to be pen pals with him.
ancaszilagyi's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous, dreamy prose. Some of the stories feel insubstantial, which the author mentions in his foreword--they are sketches. Still magical, nonetheless. I've taught the title story, which is a wonderful vision of the artistic process.
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