Scan barcode
saara's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
solarpunkwitch's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
Calvino is Kafka with a luckier neurochemistry, a laughing Kafka. And the focus on physics and biology fits as well -- Walter Benjamin wrote that Kafka was feeling toward an uncanny and impossible world that we didn't know to be our world until the quantum physicists proved it was so.
The book is funny. Whimsical. Also sad and nostalgic. These stories aren't metaphors for "real life," but they are crucial to that life all the same.
"we should always bear in mind how space breaks up around every cherry tree and every leaf of every bough that moves in the wind, and at every indentation of the edge of every leaf, and also it forms along every vein of the leaf, and on the network of veins inside the leaf, and on the piercings made every moment by the riddling arrows of light, all printed in negative in the dough of the void, so that there is nothing now that does not leave its print, every possible print of every possible thing, and together every transformation of these prints, instant by instant, so the pimple growing on a caliph’s nose or the soap bubble resting on a laundress’s bosom changes the general form of space in all its dimensions."
The book is funny. Whimsical. Also sad and nostalgic. These stories aren't metaphors for "real life," but they are crucial to that life all the same.
"we should always bear in mind how space breaks up around every cherry tree and every leaf of every bough that moves in the wind, and at every indentation of the edge of every leaf, and also it forms along every vein of the leaf, and on the network of veins inside the leaf, and on the piercings made every moment by the riddling arrows of light, all printed in negative in the dough of the void, so that there is nothing now that does not leave its print, every possible print of every possible thing, and together every transformation of these prints, instant by instant, so the pimple growing on a caliph’s nose or the soap bubble resting on a laundress’s bosom changes the general form of space in all its dimensions."
robbiewardhaugh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Electrifying
nyx255's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
maxreads1720's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.5
This book is a collection of short stories of this individual who experienced the birth of the universe as well as its whole existence. There is no continuity between each story. It’s very silly to say the least; the book does not take itself seriously whatsoever. I did find that the author would repeat himself constantly, to the point where it bored me. But there were some really nice moments and messages, too. It was overall an okay book.
carolin_wendt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
brireading's review against another edition
5.0
this book was unlike anything i’ve ever read before! in a good way. it was so unique!!!! i did, however, find it difficult to grasp certain aspects of each of these short stories, and i had to look up general summaries of each story for clarification and better understanding for the overall plot. BUT, his writing is so interesting and i do not know how on earth he came up with all of these ideas.
my favorite stories:
-games without end: about two young playmates and their game of marbles in the beginnings of the universe. their game of marbles consists of using hydrogen atoms, and this game quickly escalates when these atoms begin to bond together to form galaxies, creating an entirely new and grander competition.
-the light years: protagonist sees an ambiguous sign that says “I SAW YOU” from their telescope while observing galaxies. they have always kept a diary, and they calculate the amount of time that it takes for these signs to reach them and they review their diary entries to understand what action that the other galaxies had seen them perform. From these signs, they are now aware that other celestial bodies are watching them, and they try to manipulate what actions of theirs the galaxies see in order to control their narratives of them, in favor of themself, and the character that they wish to front.
my favorite stories:
-games without end: about two young playmates and their game of marbles in the beginnings of the universe. their game of marbles consists of using hydrogen atoms, and this game quickly escalates when these atoms begin to bond together to form galaxies, creating an entirely new and grander competition.
-the light years: protagonist sees an ambiguous sign that says “I SAW YOU” from their telescope while observing galaxies. they have always kept a diary, and they calculate the amount of time that it takes for these signs to reach them and they review their diary entries to understand what action that the other galaxies had seen them perform. From these signs, they are now aware that other celestial bodies are watching them, and they try to manipulate what actions of theirs the galaxies see in order to control their narratives of them, in favor of themself, and the character that they wish to front.
atagarev's review against another edition
3.0
It was an initially fascinating read and each story had some unique idea to it. Unfortunately the approach was very consistent and repetitive so what felt fresh and surprising in the first part eventually grew a bit stale.