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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
challenging
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
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
adventurous
challenging
reflective
What a treasure. This is what I imagine people are after as they seek religious experiences. This book is for savoring, not for finishing in one sitting. I read it one "chapter" at a time, sometimes with days or even months in between. I took 9 months to finish, which I find amusingly poignant.
Invisible Cities is a meditation, a reflection, a dream sequence. It's allegorical poetry in prose. It's a collection of stories that aren't stories, and which speak of cities that aren't cities.
If it's action and plot you're after; if you want a slim book because you enjoy a quick read; if you like to have things spelled out clearly: please keep looking. If you like to ponder the human experience; if you're willing to embark on a languid journey; if you value what's between the lines; if you long to see the shell of the known (human) universe crack open just a little, then yes: read Invisible Cities.
This is the sort of book that makes me re-evaluate all my previously written 5-star reviews, just to be extra sure that my 5-star-reviews are truly reserved for the rare glittering gem. As an aside (though not really), hats off to the translator and the book designer. The translation, the cover, the choice of paper and typeface, everything about this edition is perfect.
Invisible Cities is a meditation, a reflection, a dream sequence. It's allegorical poetry in prose. It's a collection of stories that aren't stories, and which speak of cities that aren't cities.
If it's action and plot you're after; if you want a slim book because you enjoy a quick read; if you like to have things spelled out clearly: please keep looking. If you like to ponder the human experience; if you're willing to embark on a languid journey; if you value what's between the lines; if you long to see the shell of the known (human) universe crack open just a little, then yes: read Invisible Cities.
This is the sort of book that makes me re-evaluate all my previously written 5-star reviews, just to be extra sure that my 5-star-reviews are truly reserved for the rare glittering gem. As an aside (though not really), hats off to the translator and the book designer. The translation, the cover, the choice of paper and typeface, everything about this edition is perfect.
What a weird, meditative, fantastical ride. 55 vignettical descriptions of "cities," each one predicated on some farfetched logic or relationship between its inhabitants, interspersed with a dialogue between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. Will most definitely reread.
mysterious
reflective
fast-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:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
More a collection of loosely linked prose than a proper novel, Invisible Cities is a sprawling, episodic deconstruction of a travel guide? It's very tough to describe. Imagine 55 tiny little Twilight Zone episodes, but instead of being spooky, they're puzzling, funny, strange. Linking these cities is dialogue between Marco Polo, who is writing these descriptions, and then emperor Kublai Khan. Between the cities and their dialogue, Calvino explores memory, time, and linguistics in a whimsical yet melancholic manner.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
reflective
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