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amyodell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
glia's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gwit's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Fanciful adventures of a city-dwelling dreamer.
cranberry__sauce's review
4.0
If you were like 10-year-old me and had a longing desire to escape into the woods and live off nature—à la The Boxcar Children and My Side of the Mountain—you're sure to like Marcovaldo.
It's a collection of twenty short stories, focusing on the titular character, Marcovaldo. The book cycles through the four seasons five times: one story is set in spring, another in summer, followed by fall, then winter, and so on.
Marcovaldo is desperate to escape the city life he is trapped in; so often he dreams of far-away valleys, of cows in pastoral fields. His schemes to improve the lives of himself and those around him frequently fail—but he stays determined.
A few of the stories are imbued with just a touch of magical realism: Marcovaldo's sneeze completely clearing a courtyard of snow; a potted plant growing to the size of a tree; and a city completely abandoned—except for Marcovaldo—for almost a month.
This magical realism is mixed deftly with social commentary by Calvino, who comments on our tendency to want more: more presents, more groceries, more things. (This is done quite well in "Marcovaldo at the supermarket," the penultimate winter story.) The last story, "Santa's Children," touches on corporations' willingness to turn almost anything into profit-generating commodities, even if those things might be dangerous. After Marcovaldo's kids gift a rich man's son a hammer, slingshot, and matches—which he uses to destroy all of his gifts—his father gets the idea to turn these into "Destructive Gifts." The father, ecstatic about the earnings his company will surely receive, is described as being in "seventh heaven"; this allows the reader to be even more shocked when it's revealed the father's house has burnt down because of his son's antics.
I also have to mention "The poisonous rabbit," which may be one of the funniest stories that discusses. At the end of the story, the rabbit, "surrounded and consumed by its pain," tries to jump off a building but is caught by a fireman. It is "foiled even in that extreme act of animal dignity"—its suffering is still not over.
My one minor complaint is that Marcovaldo's wife is basically a stereotype of the nagging wife—reminiscent of Dame Van Winkle in Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle"—though this may be because of the length of the collection, which is only 120 pages or so.
Like its titular character, Marcovaldo is a joy to experience. Calvino's writing shines—undoubtedly due in part to the English translation by William Weaver. All of the stories are a delight to read. Buy this book!
It's a collection of twenty short stories, focusing on the titular character, Marcovaldo. The book cycles through the four seasons five times: one story is set in spring, another in summer, followed by fall, then winter, and so on.
Marcovaldo is desperate to escape the city life he is trapped in; so often he dreams of far-away valleys, of cows in pastoral fields. His schemes to improve the lives of himself and those around him frequently fail—but he stays determined.
A few of the stories are imbued with just a touch of magical realism: Marcovaldo's sneeze completely clearing a courtyard of snow; a potted plant growing to the size of a tree; and a city completely abandoned—except for Marcovaldo—for almost a month.
This magical realism is mixed deftly with social commentary by Calvino, who comments on our tendency to want more: more presents, more groceries, more things. (This is done quite well in "Marcovaldo at the supermarket," the penultimate winter story.) The last story, "Santa's Children," touches on corporations' willingness to turn almost anything into profit-generating commodities, even if those things might be dangerous. After Marcovaldo's kids gift a rich man's son a hammer, slingshot, and matches—which he uses to destroy all of his gifts—his father gets the idea to turn these into "Destructive Gifts." The father, ecstatic about the earnings his company will surely receive, is described as being in "seventh heaven"; this allows the reader to be even more shocked when it's revealed the father's house has burnt down because of his son's antics.
I also have to mention "The poisonous rabbit," which may be one of the funniest stories that discusses
Spoiler
suicideMy one minor complaint is that Marcovaldo's wife is basically a stereotype of the nagging wife—reminiscent of Dame Van Winkle in Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle"—though this may be because of the length of the collection, which is only 120 pages or so.
Like its titular character, Marcovaldo is a joy to experience. Calvino's writing shines—undoubtedly due in part to the English translation by William Weaver. All of the stories are a delight to read. Buy this book!
hoffmann_fanatic's review against another edition
5.0
The best book I have read in the past few years.
It is so light, warm, and utterly hilarious. The character of Marcovaldo is one we all aspire to be, a modern-day court jester who finds beauty in everything, is constantly beaten down but gets back up, and appreciates every minute of life regardless of how it goes.
As usual for Calvino - impeccably paced. The way the realist humor progresses slowly to fantasy and absurdism is so well done.
Highly recommended for everyone.
It is so light, warm, and utterly hilarious. The character of Marcovaldo is one we all aspire to be, a modern-day court jester who finds beauty in everything, is constantly beaten down but gets back up, and appreciates every minute of life regardless of how it goes.
As usual for Calvino - impeccably paced. The way the realist humor progresses slowly to fantasy and absurdism is so well done.
Highly recommended for everyone.
gayos's review against another edition
3.0
libro semplice e simpatico, carino da leggere in mezzo a letture più pesanti
leo_seven's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jaquie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
What a vibrant, cohesive, episodic slice-of-life of Marcovaldo and his family’s lives. I often found myself smiling at the mishaps or the events that transpired to these characters. In each framed story, you were put in the minds of the characters, narrating their observations, ideas, perspectives, making the prose feel natural and easily digestible. Calvino’s word play, perspective building, and his shifting narrative can also oftentimes delightfully subvert your expectations.
erikanatale_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5