Marcovaldo ovvero Le stagioni in città

Marcovaldo is an unskilled worker at a Turin company who has a deep connection to nature. The book is made up of twenty short stories, arranged by the seasons across five years. In each one, he looks for traces of the natural world in the city: mushrooms that sprout in a bus stop, snow that surprises the street, a night spent in a hospital bed that smells of the forest. His attempts usually end in comic failure, as the modern world resists his dreams.

A gentle, funny read for people who enjoy short fiction with a fable-like touch. Calvino's book can be read in small bites, and it is a good first step into his more playful side.

Thought-provoking; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?