Point Books As The Watcher and Other Stories
| Original Title: | The Watcher and Other Stories |
| ISBN: | 0156949520 (ISBN13: 9780156949521) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Italo Calvino
Paperback | Pages: 181 pages Rating: 3.72 | 472 Users | 23 Reviews
Relation Toward Books The Watcher and Other Stories
Alternate cover edition can be found here.In "The Watcher," a member of the Communist Party is assigned to a polling place in Turin's Hospital for Incurables, where he observes the rejects of humanity and a grotesque parody of the democratic process. "Smog" anticipates a preoccupation with pollution so lunatic that it casts a pall even over the hero's affair with a beautiful woman. "The Argentine Ant" is a piece of sustained horror with farcical undertones, illustrating man's defeat before an enemy too small to be overcome.
Be Specific About Appertaining To Books The Watcher and Other Stories
| Title | : | The Watcher and Other Stories |
| Author | : | Italo Calvino |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 181 pages |
| Published | : | 1975 by Houghton Mifflin (first published 1963) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Short Stories. Literature. Cultural. Italy. European Literature. Italian Literature |
Rating Appertaining To Books The Watcher and Other Stories
Ratings: 3.72 From 472 Users | 23 ReviewsEvaluate Appertaining To Books The Watcher and Other Stories
Maybe in the 3.5 range.So there's three stories in here with The Watcher being the longest. All three were interesting and somewhat bizarre. I think there's more going on in them than my often only-partially-awake reading could unearth.I have read some of Italo Calvino's book and the thing I loved about him is his way to describe even how characters breathe. I hope this book won't be the exception.I am so glad I have the chance the "best story telling/ writer" of Italy.
Three (long) short stories or novellas from a master. In each of these, Calvinos style shines through. The style is not so much fantasy or magical realism as it is one of detailed realism, almost scientifically examined until it becomes absurd.In the title story, The Watcher, a communist party member volunteers to serve as a poll watcher. (From 1943 to 1993 Italy had compulsory voting, although there were no penalties enforced for not voting.) But such a system creates a whole new array of
Two great stories but "The Watcher" is more than a little blah.
I find that the Calvino stories are less convincing, at times, than the set pieces. Maybe I just need to read the folk tales, but the various "musings of men" type of pieces are less lyrical than the scenes and more plot-driven stories.
Three long stories. The one about a neighborhood invaded by ants is amazing. The other two are kind of sleepy pieces that didn't do much for me. BUt in all three, Calvino created amazing last paragraphs. Stunning endings for all his work, even the lesser ones.
I had a difficult time maintaining interest in the title story (all those paranthetical clauses were pretty tedious), but both "Smog" and "The Argentine Ant" were quite good.
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