Mr. Palomar
by Italo Calvino
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Read in December, 2007
Describes a man almost overwhelmed by his attempts not to live an unexamined life - his abstract notions about how to be a better, more fulfilled person tend to suffer from how annoying actual other people are. One of the most engaging chapters is on a visit to a cheese shop - with an undercurrent of commentary on the difficulty of almost unlimited choice in consumer culture, Mr. Palomar nonetheless thinks through a delighted rhapsody of appreciation for natural and agricultural diversity and bo...more
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recommends it for:
high social monitors
not as good as his other work, but worth reading. especially if you contemplate your every move. hey. don't close this review without considering the consequences.
mr. palomar happens to consider everything. while walking upon the shores of italy he finds a topless woman sun bathing (as all women in italy do). he thinks: should i look away and be seen as polite? but if i look away, will she think i find her repulsive? okay. maybe a small stare. but not long enough to seem lecherous... et ce...more
mr. palomar happens to consider everything. while walking upon the shores of italy he finds a topless woman sun bathing (as all women in italy do). he thinks: should i look away and be seen as polite? but if i look away, will she think i find her repulsive? okay. maybe a small stare. but not long enough to seem lecherous... et ce...more
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Read in April, 2008
A plotless series of reflections on the relationship between the part and the whole, through the eyes of the almost completely abstract and socially anonymous Mr Palomar. It would've been hard to read, except that the chapters were only 3-4 pages long and the book as a whole only 126 pages. So it was over before I really recognized how formless and unreadable it was. Which (take notes) if you're going to write an unreadable book, is the way to do it.
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The Naked Bosom is my favorite story in the collection - a perfect piece of truthful humor. There's a mathematical structure to the book as a whole that corresponds to the thematic focus of each story - I haven't completely disentangled this, but its fun to approach with this in mind.
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For a person who appreciates the absurd and asinine.
D. H. Lawrence has a cycle of poems called "Tortoises" that parallels "The Love of Tortoises." The reader of this book might be interested in comparisons.
D. H. Lawrence has a cycle of poems called "Tortoises" that parallels "The Love of Tortoises." The reader of this book might be interested in comparisons.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
philosphers
This book, is all about a man being a Philosopher. It really does capture Calvinos thoughts very well and his thought process.
Very good. I enjoyed it.
Quick read.
Very good. I enjoyed it.
Quick read.
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The serach for meaning by looking at the big picture. Calvino tries to get an idea of life from a view from high up.
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Read in February, 2004
love the character. goofy, italian, innocent. need i say more? probably, but i won't.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in October, 2007
Very descriptive. Translated from Italian.
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