Italo Calvino's collection of short stories, written mostly in the 1940s to 1960s, deals with the small failures of love in modern life. A soldier on a train is drawn toward a woman he cannot approach. A photographer becomes obsessed with how to capture someone he loves. A married couple, a driver, a poet, and a man with a cold all struggle with misunderstandings or awkwardness. In Calvino's hands, an everyday situation becomes a delicate comic study of desire, hesitation, and self-deception.
The book appeals to readers who like Calvino's more realistic side, rather than his fantasies. It is a good way to sample his style in small portions, and offers stories that could be read on a commute.
Deep, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2002
- Publisher
- Mondadori
- ISBN
- 9788804375906
- Language
- IT
