Reviews

Marcovaldo ovvero Le stagioni in città by Italo Calvino

escahg's review against another edition

4.0

marcovaldo, how can we have a grip on ourselves, when the world around us is, for better or worse, changing rapidly, and there is nothing we can do other than watching it spin?

sofiii292929's review against another edition

funny informative reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

3.25

emurnane's review against another edition

5.0

Hilarious and genius. Calvino makes commentary on poverty and the hypocrisies of modern/urban life through the character Marcovaldo, who highlights the disconnect between city dwellers and nature. Marcovaldo in the blurb is described as not very bright, but his misunderstandings of the world shows how bizarre the world and capitalist society is. I particularly like the story about his children mistaking a billboard for a tree and cutting it down for firewood - because what use is a billboard to humans? Marcovaldo is trying to live off the land, only he lives in a city where the rivers and polluted, and there is always a fee to pay to gain entry to what the rich have. Although a perceptive reader can see the sadness at the heart of the stories, Calvino has written comedy gold, and often I felt like I was reading a Buster Keaton sketch. 

bookbookbookbookbook's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

5.0

turpial23's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

<3
Este libro me acompañó en muchas noches difíciles, y me dio compañía, humor, y ternura. Gracias, Calvino! 

bookishrose_'s review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

mdsl's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

kaetha's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

wahistorian's review against another edition

5.0

This little book was the perfect diversion from a universe of terrible news. Told in bite-sized discrete stories, the urban life of Marcovaldo is enlivened by every encounter with nature in the city. Whether he’s tracking feral cats or rescuing the company’s potted plant or taking his children out of town to see a forest, Marcovaldo is filled with wonder at the natural world; even when it disappoints, he learns something useful. Calvino’s language is magical at bringing the Italian city to life on the page and recreating how birds, trees, animals, and plants refuse to be crowded out by humans and their ways.

erinheff's review against another edition

5.0

I read this book in my Italian class and really enjoyed it! It is generally marketed as a book for young students or kids, but it really has a lot of commentary about the state of Italy in the 50s and 60s. I really developed a fondness for Marcovaldo's character and what he represents! Not sure if it is available in English or not, but I really enjoyed it.