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The Watcher and Other Stories
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In "The Watcher," a member of the Communist Party is assigned to a polling place in Turin's Hospital for Incurables, where he observes the rejects of humanity and a grotesque parody of the democratic process. "Smog" anticipates a preoccupation with pollution so lunatic that it casts a pall even over the hero's affair with a beauti ...more
In "The Watcher," a member of the Communist Party is assigned to a polling place in Turin's Hospital for Incurables, where he observes the rejects of humanity and a grotesque parody of the democratic process. "Smog" anticipates a preoccupation with pollution so lunatic that it casts a pall even over the hero's affair with a beauti ...more
Paperback, 181 pages
Published
1975
by Houghton Mifflin
(first published 1963)
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Showing 1-30
Three (long) short stories or novellas from a master. In each of these, Calvino’s style shines through. The style is not so much fantasy or magical realism as it is one of detailed realism, almost scientifically examined until it becomes absurd.
In the title story, The Watcher, a communist party member volunteers to serve as a poll watcher. (From 1943 to 1993 Italy had compulsory voting, although there were no penalties enforced for not voting.) But such a system creates a whole new array of issu ...more
In the title story, The Watcher, a communist party member volunteers to serve as a poll watcher. (From 1943 to 1993 Italy had compulsory voting, although there were no penalties enforced for not voting.) But such a system creates a whole new array of issu ...more
I just read the "argentine ant" (I was searching for this story and find it in this book which consist of two other short stories. After I finished the "argentine ant" I started to read the other stories, but I did not like them that much. That made the whole rating of three star. If I want to rate just the "argentine ant" story, I will give it four star! :)
Three long stories. The one about a neighborhood invaded by ants is amazing. The other two are kind of sleepy pieces that didn't do much for me. BUt in all three, Calvino created amazing last paragraphs. Stunning endings for all his work, even the lesser ones.
Almost every Calvino work has at least one great story or segment. The titular story of Under the Jaguar Sun is excellent, the beginning chapters of Mr. Palomar are great, The Road to San Giovanni has a great essay on garbage, even the subpar collection Numbers in the Dark features a story I consider excellent ("Wind in a City"). This is to say nothing of Calvino's works that are brilliant throughout, foremost among them Invisible Cities and If on a Winter's Night a Traveller. Sadly, The Watcher
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Hey listen, either you like Italo Calvino or you're a senseless philistine with no sense of beauty and what is important in our lives. No biggie.
But in all seriousness, Calvino is one of the Great Writers of history with a capital 'W'. And because of his reputation and the amount of praise heaped upon him, some people don't get it. These people are probably lacking in a fundamental way a part of them that truly makes them human, but hey, whatever!
Personally, as a non-sub-human offense to creatio ...more
But in all seriousness, Calvino is one of the Great Writers of history with a capital 'W'. And because of his reputation and the amount of praise heaped upon him, some people don't get it. These people are probably lacking in a fundamental way a part of them that truly makes them human, but hey, whatever!
Personally, as a non-sub-human offense to creatio ...more
I'm an on and off fan of Calvino. Sometimes it seems he spends too much time in the Philosophy Dept. of the Ivory Tower, which I might have enjoyed more in my early 20's -- Oh, the Salad Days!! -- Still, I must say the middle story, "Smog", about a determined nihilist being manipulated and also manipulating public opinion on smog in the big city is amazing. I sat down to read this 65 or so page story and did not get up until I was finished. Absolutely top-notch. As for the other stories, "The Wa
...more
The title story, about a member of Italian Communist Party assigned to observe voting at a hospital for "incurables," is a breath-taking story! It's much darker in tone than typical Calvino story -- at least ones in Difficult Loves and Marcovaldo -- but retains the quintessential Calvino compassion and humanity. Scene with elderly peasant father sharing almonds with his brain-damaged son is a microcosm of the story's quietly moving tone.
(I'm jumping around in my reading some these days, so it mi ...more
(I'm jumping around in my reading some these days, so it mi ...more
I gave this high marks based on "The Watcher" alone since this is the only distant past read book and will review. "The Watcher" helped form my little tag line on outreach that once you are aware of somes situations, one is compelled to do what one can to help. What else can one do when faced with many of the tragedies of life?
Maybe in the 3.5 range.
So there's three stories in here with The Watcher being the longest. All three were interesting and somewhat bizarre. I think there's more going on in them than my often only-partially-awake reading could unearth.
So there's three stories in here with The Watcher being the longest. All three were interesting and somewhat bizarre. I think there's more going on in them than my often only-partially-awake reading could unearth.
I find that the Calvino stories are less convincing, at times, than the set pieces. Maybe I just need to read the folk tales, but the various "musings of men" type of pieces are less lyrical than the scenes and more plot-driven stories.
This took me several times starting over the last few years to get into. Ultimately, my perseverance was rewarded, but I still would not recommend this to someone who doesn't already know and appreciate Calvino's better known works.
Maybe you have to be Italian to appreciate these stories.
Or maybe something was lost in the translations.
I got it for "The Argentine Ant" story which has the reputation of being a notable work of fiction on ants.
Tedious.
Or maybe something was lost in the translations.
I got it for "The Argentine Ant" story which has the reputation of being a notable work of fiction on ants.
Tedious.
The Watcher: too dull to finish = 0 stars
Smog: intriguing idea with not a great deal of substance and a lackluster finish = 1.5 stars
The Argentine Ant: probably the best story, but also not a great ending = 2 stars
Not up to par with other Calvino works I have read
Smog: intriguing idea with not a great deal of substance and a lackluster finish = 1.5 stars
The Argentine Ant: probably the best story, but also not a great ending = 2 stars
Not up to par with other Calvino works I have read
I have read some of Italo Calvino's book and the thing I loved about him is his way to describe even how characters breathe. I hope this book won't be the exception.I am so glad I have the chance the "best story telling/ writer" of Italy.
Calvino, yay!
Calvino is simply brilliant.
I remember nothing of this book I had to read for a book club.
Two great stories but "The Watcher" is more than a little blah.
Worth checking out. I especially liked the story called "Smog", which is about an anti-social guy working for an environmentalist magazine in Italy in the 50s. Interesting parallels to today.
I liked argentine ant the best, the other two I wasn't so crazy about.
I had a difficult time maintaining interest in the title story (all those paranthetical clauses were pretty tedious), but both "Smog" and "The Argentine Ant" were quite good.
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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 easy to classify; much of his writing has an air reminiscent to th ...more
His style is not easy to classify; much of his writing has an air reminiscent to th ...more
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“In politics, as in every other sphere of life, there are two important principles for a man of any sense: don't cherish too many illusions, and never stop believing that every little bit helps.”
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