Reviews

In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle

ducktective's review

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

emilyparagraph's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

argorden's review against another edition

3.0

Not bad. Three and a half, if the ratings were more granular.

ilewis28's review

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

moongoblin38's review

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Beagle's writing is very beautiful, he is a skilled craftsman of whimsy and magical mystery. However, the could-be greatness of this book is lost about ¼ of the way through. The introduction of a romance between a 47 year old man, and a young woman in her 20's spoilt this for me, and that's most of the story! I did not like the way the protagonist referred to his young love interest, along with constantly reminding her how he remembers her as a child, even as she is stood in front of him naked as an adult.
A real shame, because the story of a lonely farmer in Italy during the winter being met my a pregnant unicorn, was really lovely, it could have been much more than it turned out to be.
Should I even mention the Italian gang that starts threatening him and murdering his animals? Not sure that needed to be wedged in.
A missed opportunity for something better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Gore, and Animal death

Moderate: Death

Minor: Violence, Miscarriage, Grief, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury

mihai_andrei's review against another edition

4.0

3.5/5

fearoflung's review

5.0

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. It was beautiful and perfect, and reminded me why Peter S. Beagle is my favorite author.

christianbistriceanu's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

marobbins's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

caustic_wonder's review

5.0

Peter Beagle’s stories are never long enough for me. I love them so much.