One of my favourite books, I have several, is ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller’ (Se una notte d’inverno un viaggiatore) by Italo Calvino (1923 – 1985). Only read in English. I can’t pass a telephone ringing in a room I am passing without the book coming back to me.
On the back of this I made the effort to read more of his work. A trip to the library and I came away with ‘The Castle of Crossed Destinies’ (Il castello dei destini incrociati).
Disappointed was not the right word for what is a very inventive and creative book (and short) but it didn’t invoke the same feelings in me as ‘If on a Winter’s’, which was one of his later works.
Back to the library and this time I came away with a much larger tome entitled ‘Fantastic Tales’ (Racconti fantastici dell’ottocento). This time my disappointment came much earlier when I realized that Italo Calvino was not the author but rather the editor of a collection of stories. Still, I had it in my hands by then and so gave it a try and glad I am too.
Each story carefully selected and well worth the read. Back to the library then as I have at least another fifteen works left.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 