From the Bookshelf of On Paths Unknown…

If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler

Italo Calvino,

William Weaver (Translator)

Start date: November 6, 2015

Discussion: POSTMODERNISM ITALIAN STYLE

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 7 topics — 153 comments total

POSTMODERNISM ITALIAN STYLE

* Calvino: The Castle of Crossed Destinies: Thread 1. The Tale of the Ingrate and His Punishment
By Amy (Other Am… · 24 posts · 29 views

last updated Jan 19, 2016 03:40AM

The Castle of Crossed Destinies. [ENDING SPOILERS]
By Amy (Other Am… · 4 posts · 8 views

last updated Feb 02, 2016 02:51PM

showing 4 of 4 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Apr 27, 2015 Cecily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: postmodern-meta, lit-crit-and-about-lit, unreliable-narrators, relationship-betwixt-book-reader

“I rather enjoy that sense of bewilderment a novel gives you when you start reading it.”

[ 1 ]

“You are about to begin reading” Cecily’s review of her first Calvino. “Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you fade. Best to close the door; the TV is always on… Find the most comfortable position… Adjust the light so you won’t strain your eyes… Try to foresee now everything that might make you interrupt your reading.” A drink within reach? “Do you have to pee? All right ...more

139 likes · Like · see review

Jan 24, 2014 Brian rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
But, of course, you’ve clicked to reveal the Review, because whether you’ve read If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler isn’t the thing, you’ve been invited here by the Reviewer to discuss his Review, and if you’ve anything to say about it, you’ll of course need to have first read it. You’ve checked your watch again, and he’s now twenty-three minutes late to this dingy pub in a part of town you wouldn’t typically frequent. “Another pint?” the bartender shouts at you from across the pub – a place empt
But, of course, you’ve clicked to reveal the Review, because whether you’ve read If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler isn’t the thing, you’ve been invited here by the Reviewer to discuss his Review, and if you’ve anything to say about it, you’ll of course need to have first read it. You’ve checked your watch again, and he’s now twenty-three minutes late to this dingy pub in a part of town you wouldn’t typically frequent. “Another pint?” the bartender shouts at you from across the pub – a place empty except for you at this corner table, reading from your laptop. You’ve had two, a third might make you hazy, and you’ve decided anyway that if the Reviewer doesn’t show up soonish that you’re leaving. You shake your head to his offer and ask instead to the direction of the toilets. He points without real specificity somewhere to your right. Leaving your belongings, you head down the hall and are confronted with two doors. One says Fixer. The other says (view spoiler)[

And of course you’ve chosen the door that says Spoiler, it seems the most appropriate name for what goes on here. It’s a hopeless place, as most pub toilets are, and there is a man in here that is leaning against the hands air-dryer like he has been there for an age. You’ve not seen him come through the pub, so he’s been here for at least half an hour, and he looks the worse for wear inhaling the fetid air in this room. “There you are,” he says to you as you walk in. “I was about to give up on you.” You ask if he is the Reviewer, mentioning at the same time that suggesting to meet in a pub toilet is much different than suggesting to meet in a pub. “No, I ain’t him,” the man replies gruffly. “I was supposed to come here to take you to him. He couldn’t make it and asked me to come pick you up instead.” It still doesn’t make sense why he’s here in the toilet, but before you can protest further he tells you to do your business and then meet him at his car in front of the pub. So you do your business, collect your things from the pub table, and exit the bar to see a cherry red, street racing vehicle sporting illegal enhancements to its chassis. The Reviewer’s man is leaning against the (view spoiler)[

on the rear of the car in a pose of impatience as if he’s been there for hours. He must be one of the world’s great leaners. “Get in,” he says as he enters the car himself. You race through the streets like you’re on the lam, and to distract yourself from the fear of this car ride ending in metallic violence you ask the man if he’s ever read the Reviewer’s Review of If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler. “Not much of a reader myself,” he replies as he makes a hairpin turn around a corner, narrowly missing a group of businessmen crossing the street – who now hurl insults at your retreating form. “We’re nearly to his flat and you can speak to him about his Review yourself.” Seconds later you screech to a seatbelt groaning halt in front of a nondescript apartment building and emerge from the car as one disgorged from a rollercoaster seat the moment before the ride collapses. “Second floor, flat number seven, key is under the mat,” the leaner shouts from the interior of the car and then accelerates away from the curb in an acrid blue cloud of laid rubber. The flat looks like no one has been here for months. You open your laptop and connect to Goodreads to hopefully read the Review before meeting the Reviewer when your stomach begins to growl in earnest. You go to the kitchen, thinking the Reviewer wouldn’t mind if you were to nosh on a morsel here, given all that you’ve been put through today. You open the refrigerator and are assaulted by a wave of putrefaction. At some point during the Reviewer’s absence the electricity to the flat must have gone out because the appliance has gone from a device of cold storage to one of warm decay; the Meat Drawer smells of a Meat Wagon, its Crisper now a (view spoiler)[

and as you’re attempting to settle your rising gorge the front door to the flat opens. At last, you think, now we can get on with it, this Review, but before you can say anything a surly burly man bursts in and shouts, “Right, where is he then?” You explain that you just got here, that you aren’t his friend, that you let yourself in with the key under the mat and as you speak the words you realize how ridiculous they all sound. “He hasn’t been here in months,” the surly burly man interrupts you. “If he doesn’t pay all the rent he owes by Friday, he’s out. You tell him that when you see him!” He exits as suddenly as he entered, returning you to the empty apartment. This is too much, really, and you’ve decided it’s time to ditch this Review and its Reviewer. You leave the flat, not even bothering to lock it, and head down the street to a pastry shop you remember passing in a vehicular blur some few minutes ago. A croissant and black coffee in hand - you haven’t even had the first sip or the first bite, when a man smiling like a cat with all the cream takes an uninvited seat at your table, extends his hand in greeting, and says “At last we meet.” You limply shake his hand and let him know all that you have suffered over the last hour just to discuss this ridiculous Review. “Well, what did you think?” the Reviewer asks excitedly. You are so irritated at the entire situation that you say that frankly, you haven’t even finished reading it. The Reviewer doesn’t look shocked or annoyed. He’s waived over to the table the little man behind the counter that served you your croissant and coffee. As he puts in an order for a bun and a tea; without a pause he returns to his conversation with you and encourages you to take out your laptop and finish reading the Review, that he doesn’t want to accidentally reveal any (view spoiler) (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]
...more

39 likes · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2012 Arun Divakar rated it really liked it

Don't we all know someone like Hermione Granger from our school days ? For every question (s)he has an answer, every assigment is accounted for and the bugger writes pages upon pages in exams while you sit gazing at the walls muttering Wait, wasn't this supposed to be the math test ! I have no clue why Italo Calvino reminded me of such a personality as I finished this book. For one thing he was extremely clever in his way of structuring this novel & was as elusive as a snow leopard when I trie ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2009 Nate D rated it it was amazing

Shelves: post-modernism, italy, read-in-2009, favorites, oulipo

Read-read, September 2011 :: Well, my Other Reader just tore through this little masterpiece and reminded me of how thoroughly perfect it was. And so, despite a sack of new library books to peruse, I will temporarily lay aside the Thrill of Beginning a New Novel and instead spend a couple days basking once again in this splendid construction of highly active design and imagination.

I think it is safe to say that this has moved out of the pile of
-Books I Have Read and Loved
veered wide of
-Books I ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Aug 11, 2012 Karl-O rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction, mitchell

I finished reading this book a couple of days ago. Reading the last pages while being unsure about what it is exactly. It was really enjoyable, I don't deny that. But what if after one year someone or something reminds me of the book, what would I think of it? What's the label that I would use to describe it? Life is unthinkable without labels.

I had several pages of notes taken while reading the book. I started reading these to formulate a review, but couldn't finish them. Then I started writin ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2008 Antonio Gallo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: saggistica, comunicazione, bibliomania, letteratura, scrittura, favoriti, autore, riletture, luoghi, fantasia

"Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore" di Italo Calvino è un romanzo unico e affascinante che sfida le convenzioni letterarie tradizionali. Pubblicato nel 1979, il libro è diventato uno dei capolavori più celebri di Calvino, dimostrando la sua abilità nel creare un'opera narrativa sorprendente e innovativa.

Il romanzo si apre con una premessa intrigante: il lettore si trova a essere un protagonista, un lettore che si immerge in una storia solo per trovarsi interrotto dopo poche pagine. Questa in "Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore" di Italo Calvino è un romanzo unico e affascinante che sfida le convenzioni letterarie tradizionali. Pubblicato nel 1979, il libro è diventato uno dei capolavori più celebri di Calvino, dimostrando la sua abilità nel creare un'opera narrativa sorprendente e innovativa.

Il romanzo si apre con una premessa intrigante: il lettore si trova a essere un protagonista, un lettore che si immerge in una storia solo per trovarsi interrotto dopo poche pagine. Questa interruzione è solo l'inizio di un'intrecciata struttura narrativa, in cui Calvino gioca con le aspettative del lettore e mette in discussione la stessa natura della lettura.

"Se una notte ... " è composto da dieci capitoli, ognuno dei quali inizia con una narrazione in prima persona che coinvolge il lettore. Tuttavia, ogni capitolo interrompe bruscamente la storia e si trasforma in un altro libro, che il lettore è invitato a leggere. Questo approccio metanarrativo crea una serie di storie all'interno della storia principale, che coinvolgono personaggi differenti, generi letterari diversi e ambientazioni varie.

La genialità di Calvino risiede nella sua abilità di creare personaggi memorabili e suscitare emozioni in modo magistrale. I lettori si trovano immersi in un mondo di avventure, misteri e intrighi, spaziando dalla fantascienza al giallo, dal romanzo storico al realismo magico. Ogni capitolo offre una prospettiva unica e un'esperienza di lettura coinvolgente.

Inoltre, Calvino esplora temi profondi come l'amore, la solitudine, l'identità e la frustrazione dell'atto di leggere stesso. Attraverso la narrazione, l'autore invita il lettore a riflettere sul potere della lettura e sul modo in cui le storie influenzano la nostra percezione del mondo.

La prosa di Calvino è lirica, elegante e ricca di immagini suggestive. La sua scrittura è fluida e coinvolgente, creando un ritmo incalzante che spinge il lettore a continuare a leggere, desiderando sempre di scoprire cosa accadrà successivamente.

"Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore" è un libro straordinario che sfida le convenzioni letterarie e coinvolge il lettore in un'esperienza di lettura unica. Italo Calvino dimostra la sua maestria nel creare una narrazione complessa e coinvolgente, in cui la lettura stessa diventa protagonista. Questo romanzo è un must per gli amanti della letteratura sperimentale e per coloro che sono alla ricerca di una storia originale e stimolante. Il romanzo che mette in discussione il concetto stesso di narrazione e di lettura. Attraverso una struttura narrativa complessa e innovativa, Calvino esplora il ruolo del lettore e la sua interazione con il testo.

Uno degli aspetti più affascinanti del romanzo è la sua struttura a spirale. Il libro si apre con una premessa intrigante, in cui il lettore si trova coinvolto e poi interrotto nella lettura di una storia. Questa interruzione diventa il punto di partenza per una serie di capitoli, ognuno dei quali presenta una storia diversa, scritta da un diverso autore immaginario. Queste storie, che sono parte integrante del romanzo, creano un labirinto narrativo che si sviluppa in modo circolare, portando il lettore a una serie di false partenze e culminando in un finale aperto.

Calvino gioca con le aspettative dellettore, mettendo in discussione la linearità e la continuità della narrazione. Questo approccio metanarrativo invita il lettore a interrogarsi sul significato e sullo scopo della lettura stessa. Calvino suggerisce che la lettura non è solo un atto passivo, ma un'esperienza attiva e interattiva in cui il lettore è coinvolto nella costruzione del significato.

Inoltre, il libro affronta il tema dell'identità. Il protagonista del romanzo è un lettore senza nome, che si trova in una continua ricerca di sé stesso attraverso la lettura. Ogni storia che legge è un riflesso di aspetti diversi della sua personalità e delle sue aspirazioni. Calvino suggerisce che l'identità non è qualcosa di fisso o definitivo, ma un processo in continua evoluzione influenzato dalle esperienze e dalle storie che incontriamo lungo il nostro cammino.

Il romanzo esplora anche il potere delle storie nel plasmare la nostra percezione del mondo. Le storie che il lettore incontra nel corso del romanzo sono piene di suspense, intrighi, emozioni e visioni del mondo uniche. Calvino sottolinea che le storie sono veicoli per l'immaginazione e la comprensione umana, e che attraverso la lettura possiamo vivere vite e realtà diverse, ampliando così la nostra prospettiva.

La prosa di Calvino è ricca di immagini evocative e di giochi linguistici. Utilizza uno stile lirico e poetico, che rende la lettura stessa un'esperienza piacevole e coinvolgente. La sua scrittura è caratterizzata da una grande attenzione ai dettagli e da una profonda riflessione sul significato delle parole e della letteratura stessa.

"Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore" è un romanzo straordinario che sfida le convenzioni letterarie e invita il lettore a una riflessione profonda sul processo di lettura e sulla natura delle storie. Calvino dimostra la sua genialità nel creare una struttura narrativa complessa e coinvolgente, offrendo al lettore un'esperienza di lettura unica e stimolante. Questo romanzo rimane un capolavoro della letteratura sperimentale e una testimonianza dell'ingegno di Italo Calvino come scrittore. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 24, 2010 [Name Redacted] rated it did not like it

Shelves: tripe, real-world

A tiresome, tedious book which seemed to smirk and wink with each turn of page. Smugly self-satisfied with its own supposed adorable genius, "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" isn't even clever enough to be pretentious. ...more

Like · see review