EL-336. Calvino. Chapter 1, Inconclusive
"You cast another bewildered look at the books around you (or, rather: it was the books that looked at you, with the bewildered gaze of dogs who, from their cages in the city pound, see a former companion go off on the leash of his master, come to rescue him), and out you went." (Calvino, p.6)
It was as if I wore the author's eyes. I was immersed in a world of grays and blurs. I was a nobody watching everybody. I like how the author almost hypnotizes you into the story. He fumbles and clogs words so that the reader goes onto the next sentence to make sense out of the previous sentence. It was almost like a "Where's Waldo?" book. hat's in the suitcase? It reminds me of a "Choose your own adventure" book. I was torn of the era that the situation was taking place and the people involved, they sort of hid behind an imaginary curtain. Visible but invisible. I enjoy the author's style.
Comments
The author tells you exactly how you are feeling about the jerkiness of the book. He was dead on for me most of the time. The fact that he knows how you feel is a mark of genius. Though I see a very tiny, thin story line, I am intrigued as to how the book actually will weave together.
Posted by: Daniella Choynowski | March 3, 2008 7:32 PM
I enjoyed the way Calvino seemed to read the reader's mind, too.
It's almost like he invented a new perspective for writing (it's kind of a cross between first-person and second-person perspectives).
Posted by: ChrisU | March 4, 2008 10:05 AM