Reviews

The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino

cggs's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful relaxing medium-paced

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

00liz's review against another edition

3.0

An interesting story, I did got into it after half way through but overall it is not my thing. Not fan of any kind of folk/fairy tale and I should really check before buying the book next time

annabel_105's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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? No

5.0

lesserjoke's review against another edition

3.0

This 1957 Italian novel presents the whimsical tale of an eighteenth-century nobleman who climbs a tree as an obstinate child avoiding his dinner and then proceeds to spend the rest of his life up there. Roaming the countryside from branch to branch, he has a series of swashbuckling adventures that are fairly episodic but still good fun. I'm reminded of The Swiss Family Robinson, both for the treetop setting and the tendency for the text to focus on the logistics of this peculiar lifestyle rather than any pressing plot. It also sort of works as a metaphor for sticking to one's own principles, but it's all a bit too silly to take seriously. I would call it a good book for children were it not for the occasional arboreal sex scene.

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gaius_bouns's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

wintermute9's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

phalange03's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

4.0

neartaking's review

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

dibujared's review

Everything strictly related to trees and how Cosimo learned to adapt to living in trees (like the hunting chapter with the Dachsund) I liked. The early chapters especially were fun and whimsical. But as the novel went on, it focused more and more and generic experiences (love, war) and the tree stuff felt increasingly incidental. My interested waned steadily and by the end I just didn't care anymore.

randipity's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25