REVIEW: "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino (Postmodern Reflection)

This time I talk about Italo Calvino's 1972 reflection on geography and identity, "Invisible Cities". Marco Polo tells Kublai Khan about dozens of cities he's visited - but do they exist? What do they represent? Is the city the people or the location? Many questions like this come up, and are addressed in Calvino's distinctive style. Tell me what you think in the comments.

[@Pfeffa]

Great one

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Absolutely

[@iiling7]

Wonderful review! Truly enjoyed your interpretations of this book Owen. Just like the book, it was short but dense with thought-provoking nuggets. I read the cities (back and forth multiple times!) as a device through which Calvino reflects and expresses the complexity and diversity of human existence. I love the plotless aspect and that one could pick up the book and read it from any point and with a different frame of mind. The conversations between Marco and Kublai are just as imaginary but at the same time, craftly tie the stories together so beautifully. Multiple realities become simultaneous. There is no other book quite like it, except perhaps The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery? What other Calvino books have you enjoyed and would recommend?

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

The only other Calvino book I have firm memories of - I think I've read one or two others - is "If once on a winter's night a traveller". Even more playful than Invisible Cities, about as interested in structural experiment. I may have preferred Invisible Cities

[@andreapais5787]

As much as I have understood. The cities are people. A very philosophically abstract book. Thankful to my professor for introducing me to this book.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

That's an interesting reading, thanks for sharing, that's made me think!

[@Reza-uf9ql]

I'm going to start reading this book and this was a cool introduction to hear! Thank you

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

Thanks! Tell me how you find it.