Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by marc129
City by Alessandro Baricco
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.
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.