Reviews

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

freddyteddy's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Very interesting concept and truly creative ideas and thoughts. For me it was a bit too long and convoluted. One moment I was enjoying the book and the next I was bored and wanted nothing but to finish the section. Also the misogyny was baffling at times.

lanark90's review against another edition

3.75

incredibly interesting and novel approach even if i didn’t feel moved by it 

notfrances's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

This one’s for sensitive little babies who also love literary theory and I cried at the end of this goofy metatextual novel and I want to read it for the first time again. 

meadowlurk's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I really like this book, its mindbending form reminds me so much of House of Leaves! Sometimes it went a bit over my head. Also towards the end it increasingly involved

a lot of gross sexual depiction and assault, which I really dislike.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape

elleynnreads's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

carlomartinez__'s review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

insearch's review against another edition

challenging funny medium-paced

4.0

lilcurious's review against another edition

Acho que levei esse livro mais numa boa do que deveria. A história é interessante e esquisita quando se lê assim descompromissado, acho Calvino sempre muito engraçado, mas consegui avistar bem demais como seria uma experiência melhor caso parasse pra analisar o livro. Então não vou dar nota por enquanto, só numa releitura. 

Mas só para dar uma visão geral, digo que o livro explora muito temas envolvendo livros: o que significa ser um leitor, diferentes tipos de livros (representados pelos dez inícios de livros que lemos), qual seria o objetivo de escrever e etc. A edição que li da Companhia das Letras tem um texto adicional escrito pelo próprio Calvino respondendo a um crítico que é interessantísimo. O problema mesmo é só que vi a genialidade de canto de olho e fiquei com preguiça de recomeçar o livro com cuidado pra encarar ela de verdade.

terryskylark's review against another edition

adventurous challenging lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A

4.25

laurasauras's review against another edition

4.0

I loved the experimental and unique format of the book and each of the chapters was engaging in its own way. It clearly took a lot of skill to produce. I only wish I'd felt a greater connection to the characters.