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4th out of 33 books
—
23 voters
Italian Folktales
Chosen as one of the New York Times’s ten best books in the year of its original publication, this collection immediately won a cherished place among lovers of the tale and vaulted Calvino into the ranks of the great folklorists. Introduction by the Author; illustrations. Translated by George Martin. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book
Paperback, English Edition, 800 pages
Published
November 15th 1992
by Mariner Books
(first published 1956)
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As a tiny child, I read this an enormous number of times -- I remember bringing it in to my kindergarten class to show to my teacher (who, certainly, had doubts that I'd actually read it. Psh. (Yes. I am hugely pretentious.))
Regardless. I've read bits and pieces of it again and again over the years, and it remains one of the most delightful books I know. There is no reason for this not to be a favorite book for kids -- it's exciting, full of an enormous number (200!) of vivid stories perfect in...more
Regardless. I've read bits and pieces of it again and again over the years, and it remains one of the most delightful books I know. There is no reason for this not to be a favorite book for kids -- it's exciting, full of an enormous number (200!) of vivid stories perfect in...more
This is a masterful collection of Italian Folktales, where the reader is lured into a world of flux, of metamorphoses, where kings and peasants, tricksters and saints, and a whole zoology* of extraordinary animals, plants and fish wend their way through the landscape and history of the Italian nation.
Italian Folktales (Fiabe Italiane) is a collection of 200 folktales, collated from various regions around Italy, and from the works of a whole army of collectors, folklorists, ethnologists etc., mak...more
Well, Neil Gaiman gave it five stars...
and Wikipedia had this intriguing insight:
"Over a seven-year period, Calvino wrote three realist novels, The White Schooner (1947–1949), Youth in Turin (1950–1951), and The Queen's Necklace (1952–54), but all were deemed defective.[28] During the eighteen months it took to complete I giovani del Po (Youth in Turin), he made an important self-discovery: "I began doing what came most naturally to me – that is, following the memory of the things I had loved b...more
and Wikipedia had this intriguing insight:
"Over a seven-year period, Calvino wrote three realist novels, The White Schooner (1947–1949), Youth in Turin (1950–1951), and The Queen's Necklace (1952–54), but all were deemed defective.[28] During the eighteen months it took to complete I giovani del Po (Youth in Turin), he made an important self-discovery: "I began doing what came most naturally to me – that is, following the memory of the things I had loved b...more
Delightful stuff, and very readable, which is what happens when an author compiles a book of folktales. Unfortunately, the other thing authors like to do--alter the tales to make them smoother or more interesting--also happened. Calvino admits doing this, however, and in the notes to each story, he acknowledges where he made changes. Anyone hoping to use this book to broaden their knowledge of folktales and how they work should make sure they review the notes for any story they're considering. F...more
I've only read about half of these stories--there are 200 of them. I would like to read the whole book but don't have the luxury being in school. Nonetheless, I think it's a pretty amazing thing that Italo Calvino has done for Italian folklore. He tells the tales simply, like folktales, not poetically in his own style. He was attempting to do for Italian folklore what the Grimm brothers did for German folklore and I think he succeeds admirably. The stories come with extensive source notes and no...more
Ah an oldie but a goodie ... pulled this out to read some of the tales to my 3 year old. While she fell asleep during the 1st one, I kept reading. This is a book I've read before (parts), but enjoy again and again.
مجموعه ای از فولکلور و افسانه های ايتاليایی، کالوینو 200 داستان را از مجموعه افسانه های ایتالیا برگزیده، محسن ابراهیم نیز دست به انتخاب زده و یکصد داستان از دویست برگزیده. داستانها گاه مذهبی، گاهی پند و سرگرمی هستند
افسانه های ملل همیشه اشتراکاتی با دیگر ملل دارند، در کتاب ماه پیشونی، نخودی، حسن تنبل، حسن کچل و حتی افسانه ای از حضرت خضر میتوان یافت، البته که با رنگ و بوی کاتولیکی و ایتالیائی و با نیش قلم ایتالو کالوینو
افسانه های ملل همیشه اشتراکاتی با دیگر ملل دارند، در کتاب ماه پیشونی، نخودی، حسن تنبل، حسن کچل و حتی افسانه ای از حضرت خضر میتوان یافت، البته که با رنگ و بوی کاتولیکی و ایتالیائی و با نیش قلم ایتالو کالوینو
An amusing collection of fairy tales and folk stories that hasn't a whiff of postmodern style. Suck it, lit majors.
I wish my parents had read this aloud to me when I was little- perhaps one of the best collections of fairy tales I've ever read. Calvino finds a very strong narrative voice while still managing to balance his own typical style and the speaking style of those who told him the stories in the first place.
My favorite is a similar story to little red riding hood except with an ogre...
"Grandmother, what a big neck you have..."
"I've always worn such heavy jeweled necklaces my dear."
"Grandmother, what...more
My favorite is a similar story to little red riding hood except with an ogre...
"Grandmother, what a big neck you have..."
"I've always worn such heavy jeweled necklaces my dear."
"Grandmother, what...more
Calvino es un autor que me gusta. Su ensayo de por qué leer a los clásicos brindó siempre geniales discusiones en mis clases. Corazón Jaguar siempre ocupará un lugar especial en mi corazón de alcachofa. Peeeero descubrir esta joya fue extraordinario.
Leerlo con un vaso de leche y galletitas, disfrutar cada una de las historias, volverse niño no preguntar, no decir eso no me lo creo, no cuestionar. Disfrutar solamente todas estas historias de hadas, príncipes, brujas, dragones y magia tanta. Volve...more
Leerlo con un vaso de leche y galletitas, disfrutar cada una de las historias, volverse niño no preguntar, no decir eso no me lo creo, no cuestionar. Disfrutar solamente todas estas historias de hadas, príncipes, brujas, dragones y magia tanta. Volve...more
Give it back, Pierson.
Fiabe italiane è una splendida raccolta curata da uno degli scrittori italiani che amo di più. Italo Calvino, in questo cofanetto di tre volumi, è riuscito a condensare il fiore della tradizione fiabesca italiana. Ricchi mercanti, orchi, principi, inganni, sorelle invidiose, geniali popolani (a volte imbroglioni) e perfino Gesù e San Pietro sono soltanto una piccolissima parte degli elementi che popolano i libri.
Raccontate senza fronzoli, le fiabe di Calvino provengono da tutte le regioni italia...more
My Grandmother, from Italy, would tell my brother and I Giufa stories every night. We loved them. I have become the teller of Giufa stories. I was convinced that my Grandmother had made all these stories up about this poor farmboy, and his mother.
When my eldest son was in 1st Grade, he asked me one night after a Giufa story, "Is Giufa real, Dad."
Wanting my son to believe these stories to get the full impact, I replied, "Of course."
Then my son said, "Then tomorrow when we go to the library we c...more
When my eldest son was in 1st Grade, he asked me one night after a Giufa story, "Is Giufa real, Dad."
Wanting my son to believe these stories to get the full impact, I replied, "Of course."
Then my son said, "Then tomorrow when we go to the library we c...more
Most traditional stories were past down from generation to generation in an oral tradition which made for well paced and entertaining stories. Sadly they are often retold in the hands of someone with a pace that is comparable to a three legged horse in a race, and sadly not as entertaining. (I know some of you are thinking I'm awful for that right now and are taking a moment to think the worst of me.) Thankfully, Italo Calvino lent his hand to the collecting and retelling of Italian folktales an...more
One of my favorite writers at his ever-best. Cosmicomics rocked my world when I was assigned it in college, and I've read or re-read his work near-yearly ever since.
Humor meets science-iness meets vivid storytelling. Plus this one and Cosmicomics come at you in short bursts, so if you feel a tad overwhelmed by these tales at any point, you can pause and pace yourself and return to Calvino's intellectual funhouse once you've processed and fortified yourself for the ride.
Humor meets science-iness meets vivid storytelling. Plus this one and Cosmicomics come at you in short bursts, so if you feel a tad overwhelmed by these tales at any point, you can pause and pace yourself and return to Calvino's intellectual funhouse once you've processed and fortified yourself for the ride.
Just read about a third of it, because I wanted to get a taste of it, after enjoying Calvino's other work so much. It's not really a "Calvino" book, as much as it's a "folktale" book. That said, Calvino has done a great job of selecting and retelling these tales, without dumbing them down, or prettying them up. Much like the original versions of the tales from the Brothers Grimm, I like the fact that he's retained the many dark and gruesome moments that you don't expect if you're only used to th...more
For grades 5 and up, ages 10 and up
Review:
Quirky, funny, adventurous stories from Italy that is fantastic for reading aloud. There are not the ones that you grew up with. These tradition village folktales offer magic, fantasy and adventure for the kids and adults. The stories vary in length and will make perfect bedtime stories. May easily become a family favorite and a new family tradition.
Review:
Quirky, funny, adventurous stories from Italy that is fantastic for reading aloud. There are not the ones that you grew up with. These tradition village folktales offer magic, fantasy and adventure for the kids and adults. The stories vary in length and will make perfect bedtime stories. May easily become a family favorite and a new family tradition.
Questo libro ce lo siamo letti mio figlio, la mia compagna ed io. E' diventato uno dei libri della buona notte, uno dei preferiti di Tommaso.
Un libro che racconta un'Italia che non c'è più, un paese dalla straordinaria fantasia e cultura, un excursus straordinario da nord a sud, accompagnati da una guida di valore eccelso.
Che volere di più?
Un libro che racconta un'Italia che non c'è più, un paese dalla straordinaria fantasia e cultura, un excursus straordinario da nord a sud, accompagnati da una guida di valore eccelso.
Che volere di più?
"Not well received by reviewers familiar with Calvino's original collection." What? This is a really fun book. C'mon: Cecino, the Chickpea Boy? Here is humor, fairy tale, superstition...no, it's not "Calvino", but it is definitely Italian. And well worth a read. I can't wait until I can read them to my son at bedtime. It's already next to his bed!
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my folk/fairy tales (not the Disney kind, but the real, kind of horrific at times, yet magical and beautiful). So it really isn't any wonder that I adored this collection and will be adding it to my book shelves permanently. What a superb collection of tales Calvino has supplied for us! I particularly like that at the end of the book he provides a bit more background for each tale.
These were the stories (and the book) that my father used to read to me as a child. Since I purchased the book a few years ago, I have revisited several of sections of the book to refresh my memory and relive a bit of my childhood. I intend to read these to my childred as they get old enough to sit still through a short story without pictures.
These are some seriously crazy fairy tales.
I finally finished this book.
I've been reading it, with varying degrees of intensity, since early 2004.
It is a 700+ page book of 200 folktales with notes and intros.
I tried to read one fairy tale every day. I failed that goal, but I came close at times.
These stories were so crazy, and yet most echoed motifs and structures of the fairy tales of other cultures.
I am so completely fascinated with the psychological need in society that has perpetuated the...more
I finally finished this book.
I've been reading it, with varying degrees of intensity, since early 2004.
It is a 700+ page book of 200 folktales with notes and intros.
I tried to read one fairy tale every day. I failed that goal, but I came close at times.
These stories were so crazy, and yet most echoed motifs and structures of the fairy tales of other cultures.
I am so completely fascinated with the psychological need in society that has perpetuated the...more
Grande lavoro di raccolta e catalogazione delle favole popolari delle regioni italiane. Calvino non mette molto di suo occupandosi solo della loro trascrizione. Questo, vista la natura di queste favole, non rende la lettura particolarmente piacevole ne' le maggior parte delle favole raccontabile.
May 07, 2009
Gerardo
added it
I am having fun with this book not only because the tales are really short, but becuause I am experiencing the folk tale mode that makes story telling unique. There are many good and interesting tales that makes me think about possible ways of interpretation and re-telling the same tale over and over....!
We are reading this as a part of our study of Italy. I love the crazy stories, though the overabundance of princesses who need rescuing, or who are 'sold off' to the most worthy prince gets frustrating. Great collection, though, and especially interesting when individual stories are compared to similar tales in other cultures.
5/7/2012: Eight hundred pages, with 200 folk and fairy tales from Italy. I've read about 40 tales so far, and am not even a fourth of the way into the book. I enjoy these kinds of stories, but they have enough in common with each other that I'm starting to get burned out. I will probably set this one aside and read something else for a while, then come back to this with a fresh outlook.
6/3/2012: Never did get back to this book. I'm returning it to the library unfinished. I enjoyed the tales I re...more
6/3/2012: Never did get back to this book. I'm returning it to the library unfinished. I enjoyed the tales I re...more
Generally speaking, I don't post books on Goodreads that I have read more than 20 years ago. I read this extraordinary and deep collection in 1990, but parts of it still haunt me.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I searched for a book of fairy/folk tales. Although the stories often end abruptly, I settled upon this book because of its lyrical writing.
so LONG!!! and while I liked the story line and the historical aspect, I could have done without the physical relationships of all of the characters...
I remember my grandmother telling me a few of the tales that appeared here...I felt as thought I was listening to her tell them once again.
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Italo Calvino was born in Cuba and grew up in Italy. He was a journalist and writer of short stories and novels. His best known works include the Our Ancestors trilogy (1952-1959), the Cosmicomics collection of short stories (1965), and the novels Invisible Cities (1972) and If On a Winter's Night a Traveler (1979).
His style is not easily classified; much of his writing has an air of the fantastic...more
More about Italo Calvino...
His style is not easily classified; much of his writing has an air of the fantastic...more
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