Reviews

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

killallrockstars's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

wetsmoke's review against another edition

4.0

This was a beautifully written book.

I wish I had known what it was going in, just so I could have luxuriated in the writing more than trying to follow a plot that I thought I might have been missing. I now see it as a collection of poems, and from that perspective, it was great.

ivantiroideo's review against another edition

5.0

Esperienza trascendentale

pizzacruuuuust's review against another edition

4.0

I read this over a very long period between reading other things, but I liked it like that, dipping in and out of these fantastical descriptions of cities. There are so many pages I folded over (sorry not sorry) to come back to visit the cities again.
Made me think about how we interact with city spaces a bit different I think.
Would definitely be useful to draw ideas from for anyone running a big Ttrpg game or something

feather_mcgraw's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

This book was amazing for the 1st half. However, it became slightly repetitive towards the middle and end. I enjoyed the break between the descriptions of the cities when Kublai and Marco would discuss the cities together. I think I would have appreciated it more if I understood its meaning better. 

alirizvi1's review against another edition

4.0

A captivating journey through the writers imagination. Off-setting narrative (or lack thereof) at first but did end up making quite the impression

sonnetson's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I was really sold on this in the last third or so. The sections on the cities of the dead, the cities of the sky, the continues cities, and the hidden cities were by far the best. Some of the early stuff, while interesting and beautiful, was not as imaginative as the ending. It all builds up to great philisophical reflection on humanity, which was surprising and impactful considering its more lighthearted start. I think I would have to reread this to fully appreciate it.

kaiolenatac's review against another edition

3.25

Reminded me a lot of Einstein's Dreams! Quite enjoyable and quick.

mattrose's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

caffeinatedbookwoorm's review against another edition

inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0