A review by becklabeck
Collection of Sand by Italo Calvino

4.0

The introduction to these essays says that one of Calvino's main themes in this collection is sight. From art exhibits to books Calvino read to travels through Japan, Mexico, and Iran, I was impressed by the ability of these different essays to often return to the same central concepts of observation and perception, and the limitations of both. I found all of the essays pretty interesting, though some definitely struck me more than others. Calvino is great at stirring the imagination even in the observation of seemingly mundane objects, like a collection of sand or a trove of stamps. His curiosity made everything he fixed his eye on shine with allure and intrigue. This was an interesting assortment of essays, and I enjoyed reading them.