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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
until I reached the end I still wasn't completely sure what I thought and then when I did I felt a strong sense of melancholy even though nothing sad had happened and a desire to read it all over again. the writing is really incredible - I'm usually awful at imagining things but somehow even the short descriptions of each place conjured up whole cities in my head - I felt totally immersed. each concept made me want to think on it more, to imagine it more completely. and each touches on important issues like death, history, justice, memory, meaning... all of it sparked ideas constantly and sometimes made me think of things in different ways. idk. it's hard to explain the feeling. it felt bittersweet, like a feeling of loss for these places which don't and can't exist. I liked it a lot
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
Calvino’s writing creates vivid scenes of sprawling metropolises and quaint villages, each uniquely beautiful and with its own brief history to be found from its current state. I found it relaxing to meditate over these cities and their people in my imagination, thinking about every detail as it was described. Once again, I find Calvino to be the one of the most creative and fun authors I’ve read
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
read this years ago for a class, and you could say this book caused me to switch from being an English major.
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I struggle to find words to describe this book.
The book which is framed as a conversation between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, where he describes various cities that he encountered on his travels. Each of the 55 cities is virtually a prose poem, and in reading them, you end up reflecting on death, time, and human experiences. One tiny excerpt will explain better than words ever could.
Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone.
“But which is the stone that supports the bridge?” Kubla Khan asks.
“The bridge is not supported by one stone or another”, Marco answers, “but by the line of the arch that they form.”
Kulba khan remains silent, reflecting. Then he adds: “Why do you speak to me of the stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.”
Polo answers: “Without stones, there is no arch."
What was not immediately apparent was the structure of the book. The 55 cities are divided into 11 thematic groups of 5 cities each, which are arranged in a strict mathematical structure. When you notice the pattern of repetitions and figure out the pattern, the book lifts itself to the sublime.
A book unlike any other I have read. And one that will stay with me for a long long time.
The book which is framed as a conversation between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, where he describes various cities that he encountered on his travels. Each of the 55 cities is virtually a prose poem, and in reading them, you end up reflecting on death, time, and human experiences. One tiny excerpt will explain better than words ever could.
Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone.
“But which is the stone that supports the bridge?” Kubla Khan asks.
“The bridge is not supported by one stone or another”, Marco answers, “but by the line of the arch that they form.”
Kulba khan remains silent, reflecting. Then he adds: “Why do you speak to me of the stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.”
Polo answers: “Without stones, there is no arch."
What was not immediately apparent was the structure of the book. The 55 cities are divided into 11 thematic groups of 5 cities each, which are arranged in a strict mathematical structure. When you notice the pattern of repetitions and figure out the pattern, the book lifts itself to the sublime.
A book unlike any other I have read. And one that will stay with me for a long long time.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced