Palomar

Mr. Palomar is a quiet, observant man who tries to understand the world through careful looking at small things: a wave, a lawn, a gecko on a wall, the stars, a woman sunbathing, cheese shops in Paris. In short numbered sections, Calvino moves from description to meditation, with Palomar hoping to find a sense of order and then recognising that his attention changes what he sees. The book is one of Calvino's last works.

Readers who enjoy philosophical fiction and attention as a practice will find brief, patient pieces that can be read one by one. It is a good book to pick up in small doses.

Deep, contemplative and open-ended; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Literary Connoisseur. Which reader are you?