Reviews

City by Alessandro Baricco

koen_verbrugge's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

Een spel van schrijfstijlen en ritmes rond een fantasierijk trio. Geschreven alsof je elk hoofdstuk een hoek van de straat omslaat in de stad ... En telkens een nieuwe pittoreske wijk ontdekt.

_noemibonoldi_'s review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Un libro che tempo addietro avevo abbandonato per riprenderlo in mano quest'anno, cresciuta. Questo perchè

la scena dello stupro e conseguente omicidio con la pistola

mi aveva un po' triggerata. Lo definirei un libro strano, onestamente. Mi è piaciuto abbastanza da meritarsi 4 stelle, ma mi ha lasciato un sapore peculiare sotto la lingua. Alcune tra le frasi più famose di Baricco vengono proprio da qui e posso dire che io sono sicuramente una strada, ma una strada che gira intorno ad una piazza.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

tutefan1's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

elinakd's review against another edition

4.0

I couldn't decide between a 3 or a 4 for this book. I really can't say I enjoyed reading it, but I enjoyed the mastery of this book while I was reading it. It's incredible that this isn't one story, but so many stories intertwined while also being completely unconnected. The book's title completely eludes me and in my opinion doesn't evoke the book at all. Fascinating read and I'll check out more from this author.

snowgirl2242's review against another edition

2.0

The author has a very unique way of writing, but the story lines did not gel together or interest me. I'm willing to read another one of his works, just not anytime soon.

williambassinskidisciple's review against another edition

5.0

Si on veut parler de l’expression dévorer un livre j’ai fucking dévoré ce livre

annereads9's review against another edition

1.0

I hate this book. It's weird and the characters are completely unreal. I can't even finish the book - I am only reading it because it was the book selection of my book club.

marta_125's review against another edition

2.0

È il secondo libro di Baricco che leggo, credo proprio che non faccia per me come autore.
Questa lettura è stata un parto, l'ho trascinata due mesi arrancando e rischiando di abbandonarla.
L'autore in quarta di copertina recita «questo libro è costruito come una città, come l'idea di una città. [...] Le storie sono quartieri, i personaggi sono strade».
Posso capire l'idea di partenza e quindi strutturare il libro in modo che dia una sensazione di confusionario come, appunto, una città ma per me non è assolutamente un romanzo riuscito. È noioso da morire, personaggi piatti, pretenzioso, non-sense dall'inizio alla fine, trama inesistente. Un esercizio di scrittura fine a se stesso e mal riuscito.
Il libro più brutto che io abbia letto quest'anno.

marc129's review against another edition

3.0

In general I don't like absurdist stories, but I did really enjoy this one, and that's the first time this happens to me with Baricco. It’s impossible to summarize the story of this book, because there isn’t a real story, with the exception perhaps of the storyline around the young genius Gould. That boy has a disarming charm that made me think of the Owen Meany of John Irving( [b:A Prayer for Owen Meany|4473|A Prayer for Owen Meany|John Irving|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1260470010l/4473._SY75_.jpg|1734019]). Gould is surrounded by some imaginary figures and moves equally imaginary through the boxing world, from which we get many wide drawn-out scenes. Next to him stands Shatzy Shell, a young lady clearly scarred by life and with a big amount of phlegma she tries to steer Gould through his difficult puberty. She also takes us through an imaginary world, that of the westerns, with a few ingenious and above all beautiful stories that more or less stand on their own. And then there are a number of professors that bring some interesting philosophical musings (among other things about the relationship between ideas and reality); through them Baricco also presents a nice satire on quixotic academism.

The title – City – can be surprising, because apparently there is no obvious link, except that we both culturally and geographically appear to be in America (New York?). In the prologue Baricco offers a key on how to read this book, namely as if you walk through a city, populated by strange creatures, with constantly surprises and magnificent views when you turn a corner. It's a nice metaphor, but it’s only a superficial way to read this book, because there's clearly more to it.
So, is there a message in this book? Yeah sure, but I'm going to not reveal it, unless I spoil your reading pleasure; I can only say it has to do with "to be or not to be". In short, this book is a kind of Pynchon-like, but then more flippant and more pleasant to read.

danib0y's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

5.0

Maybe the weirdest book I’ve ever read, and I absolutely loved it