Title: Invisible Cities
Author: Italo Calvino
Number of pages: 165
Started: 19 April 2009
Finished: 20 April 2009
Opening words:
"Kublai Khan does not necessarily believe everything Marco Polo says when he describes the cities visited on his expeditions, but the emperor of the Tartars does continue listening to the young Venetian with greater attention and curiosity than he shows any other messenger or explorer of his."
Plot summary:
The most beautiful of his books throws up ideas, allusions, and breathtaking imaginative insights on almost every page. Each time he returns from his travels, Marco Polo is invited by Kublai Khan to describe the cities he has visited...Although he makes Marco Polo summon up many cities for the Khan's imagination to feed on, Calvino is describing only one city in this book. Venice, that decaying heap of incomparable splendour, still stands as substantial evidence of man's ability to create something perfect out of chaos
What I thought:
I was not a fan of this book at all. It was far too ‘poetic’ for my liking and really seemed like a series of disconnected excerpts. Not my cup of tea at all.
4 comments:
Still impressed.
I am taking 2 books on holiday.
A james Patterson novel and a Tess Gerritson novel.
Blood, guts and gore.
Not very impressive!
Kahless - This book was not very impressive. I have never got any very well with James Patterson books. I was put off by a friend who said they were very anti-women. I had never picked up on this myself, but somehow he put me off.
I keep meaning to try Tess Gerritson.
Enjoy!
I think her best book is The surgeon though it is scarey.
Kahless - Thanks. I'll have a look at that. But maybe not too late at night.
Post a Comment