Ten Italian Folktales (Penguin 60s S.)
by Italo Calvino, George Martin | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0146000390 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0146000390 Global Overview for this book
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by TheGreenMan from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, February 21, 2005
I've had this for a while now and, though it's been a while since I read it, I remember not being particularly excited by it.
I had really enjoyed a couple of Italo Calvino's original novels and was very much struck by his strategic approach to narrative and his enthusiasm for structural 'game-playing' (reminiscent of what Peter Greenaway does in cinema) - which was not something I had come across before at that point.
The idea of Calvino applying that approach to traditional folktales was intriguing - but, to be honest, that's not what's going on in this slim sampler. The tales themselves, in general, didn't particularly grab me. They are told fairly straight (from what I can tell) and the whole thing failed to catch light for me, I'm afraid. Just far too whimsically folksy in tone (like reading Tolkein's short (fairy) stories for children after finishing LOTR). Guess I just prefer my traditional tales a bit more elemental, a bit more vivid/lurid/bizarre or just a bit more psychological and I just didn't get that here.
Releasing in the genuine hope, however, that future readers get more out of these tales than I did...
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TO BE RELEASED AT FEBRUARY'S BC (YORK) MEET.
I had really enjoyed a couple of Italo Calvino's original novels and was very much struck by his strategic approach to narrative and his enthusiasm for structural 'game-playing' (reminiscent of what Peter Greenaway does in cinema) - which was not something I had come across before at that point.
The idea of Calvino applying that approach to traditional folktales was intriguing - but, to be honest, that's not what's going on in this slim sampler. The tales themselves, in general, didn't particularly grab me. They are told fairly straight (from what I can tell) and the whole thing failed to catch light for me, I'm afraid. Just far too whimsically folksy in tone (like reading Tolkein's short (fairy) stories for children after finishing LOTR). Guess I just prefer my traditional tales a bit more elemental, a bit more vivid/lurid/bizarre or just a bit more psychological and I just didn't get that here.
Releasing in the genuine hope, however, that future readers get more out of these tales than I did...
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TO BE RELEASED AT FEBRUARY'S BC (YORK) MEET.
I don't remember how I got this, but I've had it for a while and only recently opened it and noticed the bookcrossing label. Anyway, I have a bookcrossing account now!
I quite enjoyed the folktales, although I agree the writing doesn't especially stand out. Also this book is tiny (one of those little Penguin 60s editions), so it's going in a geocache if I ever get a chance to go geocaching again!
I quite enjoyed the folktales, although I agree the writing doesn't especially stand out. Also this book is tiny (one of those little Penguin 60s editions), so it's going in a geocache if I ever get a chance to go geocaching again!
