If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

My thoughts on the book and the reading experience.
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[@tartanhandbag]

If you liked this book, another book that uses a similarly meta structure is Pale Fire by Nabokov, which is also often considered a masterpiece of meta fiction 😊

[@1book1review]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@juditkovacs1205]

I read it and really liked it. But I was annoyed with all the running around and dragging around me the actual reader for a while, but then I got the fun of it, and the freedom of not having to keep reading some of the stories, but that I could get back to the part about the meta reader and his love story. I really enjoyed how crazy it was, and what I liked about it was that by doing this, it showed how many types of books someone who really loves reading can enjoy. And I thought all the sections very pretty different which makes me appreciate the talent of Calvino. In some sense it reminded me of Cloud Atlas, which also has this switching back and forth and very different writing styles, so that it feels that you are reading multiple books at the same time. Now that I think of it, it is strange that I don't like to read multiple books in parallel (not physically at the same time), but I really enjoyed it the way this book did it. Probably because I thought all of the sections were well written, which might not be the case when it comes to actual separate books.

[@1book1review]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think if I didn't think the stories so lame I might have enjoyed his writing more, for me they just blended into the same.

[@BonzoDrummer]

My favorite book. I try to reread once a year.

[@1book1review]

That's great!

[@asitmohanbaghel7731]

I came to know about this book in a Ted Ed video n I had just finished it reading ... N believe me I m very glad that i came to know about italo calvino ...I m looking forward to read invisible cities soon PS - love from india ❤️

[@1book1review]

Glad you liked it.

[@tortoisedreams6369]

I have this on my shelf but I may not get to it quickly ... thanks for the review!

[@1book1review]

Let me know what you think if you ever do.

[@tejasdeepsingh456]

Am planning to read this book. I don't know why but whenever you negatively rate a book - It makes me curious to check it out & read it. Maybe because the things you hate are the very things I like! Something similar happened with War And Peace as well. Liked the video & subscribed (because of the channel not because of the book) PS :- Love From India 😀

[@1book1review]

Well, it's a valid way to find books you'll like. Hope it works with this one as well.

[@Kristofur77]

If you two didn't like War and Peace and this book it's possible that you don't enjoy books that jump around extensively. That is a characteristic of these 2 books, you would know better then me, just an observation. I enjoyed War and Peace more, this book was insightful enough made it worth reading. Glad it wasn't as long as War and Peace I wouldn't of kept entertained that long.

[@muhammadsanwal57]

i'm a Pakistani i'm student of M.phil. i read two or three piece of summary. the novel is a good piece of postmodern fiction. calviano very beautifully described the issues of postmodern man. the stories with in the story forces a reader to read more stories. it develop a sense of reading different stories. the main protagonist in the novel is no other but "you". you are the reader and also protagonist,. the choice of different stories resemble your choice in the real world. it becomes difficult for you to read which story. please guide me more about it. and please mention why it is a postmodern fiction. thanks

[@1book1review]

Well Wikipedia describes postmodern literature as a form of literature that is characterized by the use of metafiction, unreliable narration, self-reflexivity, intertextuality, and which often thematizes both historical and political issues. All of these things are present in the novel. I still maintain that it is not a good book and that it has missed its mark a bit. For example the "You" is a nice idea, but it doesn't really address every reader, it only works for the male reader, but not for the female, making it seem artificial and lacking in execution. The different stories in my opinion don't work either as in style/genre/topic they all seem similar and interchangeable, which makes reading the book rather tedious, repetitious and boring. I like the idea of the book, but I think it doesn't work as well today anymore as it did when it was published, as we are tired of reading and praising books that only address the male thriller reader who has morphed ideas of romance and relationships. Or at least I am.

[@muhammadsanwal57]

@@1book1review thanks

[@rudymercado1824]

Agree with u, characters undeveloped or uninteresting. Once i start a book i have to finish it, This book was brutal to finish. I picked the book because it was recommended to me & it didn't seem very long, but oh my God did it drag on.

[@1book1review]

Yes, drag on describes it well.

[@ayushrisubba6500]

I feel the same…. Thank you for this review. I was all over the place while reading it. Ditto 😢

[@1book1review]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@poojasaravan6002]

The beginning was so swell that I ended hating the end :3

[@1book1review]

Understandable.

[@fabrizio483]

You can usually remove these stickers with a blow dryer. I'll melt the glue and you can take it off.

[@Burps___]

Fabrizio And nail polish remover (aka acetone). 💅🏻

[@fabrizio483]

@@Burps___ It can work, but it depends on what type of cover it is, because acetone can remove the colour of it if it's not protected by some layer of plastic. It happened to me hhahaha

[@1book1review]

I've never heard of the blow dryer trick, must try it. The nail polish remover ruined a book before so never using that one again.

[@Burps___]

@@1book1review 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@deantheodosiou2886]

This book is not about the stories it contains. They are illusions, as are the book's stated character ("you" supposedly) and Ludmilla. Don't even try to delve deeply over how important they are, for, in the end, there's not much to find. Their "importance" is mainly a ruse. This book is essentially about the personal, inviolable act of reading. Of course, it does not say so explicitly; rather it is up to you, the book's Ultimate Reader, to give its true ending it by contemplating what the very act of reading means for yourself. Consequently, Calvino's genius appeals to a universal audience because he validates essentially everyone who reads his book, and thus, by extension, all of those who thrive by calling themselves readers.

[@1book1review]

Great comment, thanks for sharing!

[@grinselamm]

I have read the book few years ago. The idea is quite different, which I really liked. I had difficulties with the style and it was a bit hard to finish. Where there characters? I only remember the story beginnings and the frame story as a glue for them. Greetings :) Hope you are well :)

[@1book1review]

Exactly! The characters were just a means to an end, a hull so to say. *waves back* Hope things are going well with you as well :D

[@jamshaidbaloch2349]

Hey... You can put the book down now, Ma'am! 😁😆. Seriously tho, liked your review!

[@1book1review]

Thanks.

[@bluejjay]

I like the few intricacies of reading it discusses, but the expositioning got a bit tiring.

[@1book1review]

Agreed. I think he had some interesting ideas, but the repetition of the same type of book beginnings were just boring.

[@discorobot9394]

I appreciated what the book way trying to do...but it makes the same point over and over and over again. I was ready for it to be done a little less than half way through.

[@1book1review]

yes, that.

[@skylarkportraitstudio]

Perhaps. We are all ignorant to one degree or another on many subjects. I am certainly ignorant on many subjects, however not on this particular one. It’s not brave to call someone ignorant. It’s simply impolite.

[@1book1review]

I see, you don't like being on the receiving end of impolite comments, but you think it is okay to be impolite by telling me I didn't get the book, implying I'm not smart enough to understand it, without ever giving any proof of what I didn't get, or what makes you an expert on this topic. All the way being ignorant about my background in reading postmodern literature. But sure, I am impolite in pointing that out directly instead of hiding in vague insulting comments.

[@paulwinchell6904]

Its bad when you can't figure whats the book is about sounds like im not starting this one. However i now really want to peel that sticker off.

[@shmoolicious]

It really isn't. It means that you may have to read about the book first, find out why it's considered a masterpiece, learn something and then attempt to read it. This is postmodernism, not YA

[@1book1review]

I have said this many time before and I will continue to say it: If you have to read up on a book and have its greatness explained to you it isn't well written A good book will present that on its own and you will know why it is regarded highly by many - even if the reading isn't enjoyable. This is not my first postmodern rodeo and it is not the worst either.

[@ofbooksandtrees]

Yeah, don't think I'll be reading this..

[@1book1review]

ha, yeah, can't see you liking it at all.

[@duffystrings9680]

Good choice

[@adorno_gang37]

Well I think the absurdity, bizzarre plotline and verbose writing style are all intentional. It puts a constant distance between the reader and the book, which is frustrating but that's also exactly what the book is about. I moreover found this frustration to become very bearable because of how subtly hilarious this book is. You can't deny there is some comedy in the idea of terrorist splinter groups waging civil war over the way a novel should be interpreted. Or in the meticulously detailed description of feeling two people's left and right nipple push against you at the same time while you are picking flowers. Or in the idea of sitting in a library's reading room and suddenly having an extremely verbose and philosophical conversation unfold between everyone who is present about how they perceive the act of reading. That being said, the philosophical parts can be a bit too much even if it's intentional. I liked the book a lot but it shouldn't have been longer than it is.

[@1book1review]

I think everything about it is intentional, but I think it was to make you part of the text and not distance you from it. I mean "you" are the main character, which is the whole point of it, making you feel inside the book, part of it, identify. It just doesn't work for people who are not like "you" (mostly male). What you find funny I've seen done better But hey, glad you enjoyed it.

[@shmoolicious]

This may be an unpopular comment, but I feel I would like to share it anyway... I have an issue with people (my friends, random people, KZbinrs) who feel they can criticize masterpieces... It's like staring at the Monalisa and saying "it's meh... I've seen better. She's not pretty. Many painters can paint better. I would prefer it if she wore pink". Of course everybody can say what they like (I'm all for free speech), but I just wish we didn't apply this "I like-I don't like" label to some things. Some works of art/books were revolutionary and/or are considered masterpieces for reasons other than "they appeal to many people". There are millions of more "pleasant" and "relatable" books than the one you talk about in this video, but they can be terrible quality. Does this mean people should now be allowed to talk about classics is they didn't appreciate them? Absolutely not. But I think that some books should be judged using different criteria than just like-dislike...

[@1book1review]

I think it depends on what you want to achieve. I don't think we shouldn't criticize things only because they are classics, as there will have been negative reviews before they were classics as well. And only because something achieved the masterpiece status it doesn't make it a great book for everyone If you'd like me to analyze the book I would still go for bland writing, the stories that start are only one type and follow the same structure - which is rather boring and not well done in my opinion. Looking at the characters and the plot of the readers they are flat unconnected and often just don't make sense. Yes, you may call that great and experimental, I would say I read better books playing with the ideas of meta - that were written before this one. Yes, it does have some interesting ideas, but imo the execution was not good. Reading classics doesn't mean you have to like them and turn off what you like and look for in books only because random strangers decided the book is a masterpiece. Like everything, there is a subjectivity to it and not being allowed to mention that is a way of muting voices. We may disagree on the issue of what I say about the book, but who would you allow to criticize masterpieces? Or are they untouchables forever? Things change and if we never reevaluate what once was great how can we grow?

[@grinselamm]

I am asking then: And who decides what a masterpieces is and what not? Who knows which current books will be classics?

[@hannahdunne7966]

Also, I would argue artwork is made for people to have a discussion about, to form opinions on. In the same way I think a novel should be talked about, if I were an author I would encourage the reader to form their own opinions. After all, isn’t it the opinions of the people taking in the work that decide weather it is deemed a masterpiece or not.

[@jasminevirdi9637]

This book is a masterpiece. Respectfully disagree.

[@1book1review]

Glad you liked it.

[@hannahdunne7966]

I agree. I think it was too philosophically heavy for me. I didn’t like the lack of character development but I believe that was sort of the point, the author left each character open hoping you the reader could kind of become them in a sense. It was an interesting concept and I can recognize that Calvino is an incredibly smart author but it just wasn’t for me.

[@1book1review]

Agreed, it was a nice idea.

[@skylarkportraitstudio]

You simply did not get it, so you did not like it. Try again. Maybe this time with a more open mind and few less expectations.

[@1book1review]

Sorry, you obviously didn't get my video, maybe try again with an open mind and less expectations.

[@skylarkportraitstudio]

Sorry you didn’t get the book. Brave of you expose your lack of understanding so openly though. Good for you.

[@1book1review]

@@skylarkportraitstudio I still see you didn't listen to my criticism of the book. I won't call you brave as just assuming I didn't get the book because I don't agree with what you think the book is about is not brave but ignorant.

[@skylarkportraitstudio]

I was neither vague nor insulting. I simply said that you didn’t get the book. I rewatched the video a second time to see if I had misjudged it’s content. I found I had not. You simply didn’t get it. Maybe that’s why you didn’t like it. As I read the comments here on your video, I can that I am not alone in thinking so.

[@1book1review]

@@skylarkportraitstudio Saying I didn't get the book without saying what I didn't get is vague and insulting. Assuming that I don't like the book because according to your opinion I didn't get it is vague and insulting. I got the book. I think the writing is boring and the style of books the character reads are not books I'm drawn to. The book doesn't work if the reader is a woman, as "you" is a man. So please tell me what didn't I get that made this book so valuable, and your opinion more right than mine. As that's all it is an opinion. Something that is subjective by nature.

[@duffystrings9680]

Completely hated this book. I would say I wasted my time but now I know I don’t like Italo Calvino’s writing. Don’t recommend unless you have to read it. I think this is called postmodern literature? Garbage more like

[@1book1review]

Postmodern literature is not always this bad, his ideas were interesting, unfortunately his writing and implementation of said ideas failed in many ways.