Big Books of 2026
If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler

Questions About If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler

by Italo Calvino

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Answered Questions (11)

I have just purchased this book and maybe my question is premature, but could someone please explain me the meaning of the book's title, because it seems incomplete to me. Is there some meaning behind the title's phrase 'If on a Winter's Night a Traveller' or is it just me who feels so?
Smallllama Are you sure you bought the book that you think you did? I remember I had some trouble getting ahold of a copy.
…moreAre you sure you bought the book that you think you did? I remember I had some trouble getting ahold of a copy.
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My book stops at page 188, then jumps to page 45, goes all the way up to page 76 and then jumps to page 221, leaving two whole chapters mostly missing. Having in mind what book this is, it's hard to tell whether this was done on purpose or if there's a printing mistake in my copy. I've looked online and there's no mention to this page-jumping business. Is it on purpose or do I have a bad copy?
Adrian Di The publisher's apparently had some confusion and certain runs of the book were misprinted or even contained parts or wholes of other books. If you ta…moreThe publisher's apparently had some confusion and certain runs of the book were misprinted or even contained parts or wholes of other books. If you take it back to the bookstore I'm sure they can point you in the direction of another reader who encountered the same problem and you two can work it out together.(less)
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من از عکس روی جلد این کتاب چیزی نفهمیدم..کسی میتونه کمک کنه ?
Magdalena Gajdel That's the writer playing tricks with you, the Reader. The book is like a maze and it's fun to follow the writer with the game he is playing with the …moreThat's the writer playing tricks with you, the Reader. The book is like a maze and it's fun to follow the writer with the game he is playing with the reader. (less)
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I can see that many people consider this book a work of genius. Can I honestly and genuinely ask for anyone out there to give me a legitimate reason why I shouldn't think of it as a load of pretentious nonsense? I'm open to be convinced.
Greg As the book was intended to lie somewhere in the humor spectrum (slapstick, vaudeville, farce, satire) you may very well find it a "load of nonsense".…moreAs the book was intended to lie somewhere in the humor spectrum (slapstick, vaudeville, farce, satire) you may very well find it a "load of nonsense". It's certainly different, but it's not pretentious. As for a work of genius, well it is far more original than most books in print. At the same time it's art, not science. No work of art, not matter how genial, has absolute universal appeal. There are people who hate Picasso, see nothing funny in old Buster Keaton films and can't stand to hear a Beethoven symphony.(less)
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All these reviews are seriously confusing me. I just must know if it's worth reading or not?
Andi If you like something unusual, then it's for you. If you prefer a straightforward story, it's probably not. …moreIf you like something unusual, then it's for you. If you prefer a straightforward story, it's probably not. (less)
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Unanswered Questions (1)

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