Reviews

Why Read The Classics? by Italo Calvino

frahorus's review against another edition

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4.0

Un classico è un'opera che provoca incessantemente un pulviscolo di discorsi critici su di sé, ma continuamente se li scrolla di dosso. (Calvino).
Calvino è, come me, un lettore onnivoro, e il leggere questa raccolta di articoli che ha scritto durante la sua vita è stato arricchente e interessante. Proprio l'anno scorso ho letto un libro simile a questo ma riguardante George Orwell, Letteratura palestra di libertà. Saggi su libri, librerie, scrittori e sigarette. Inutile fare l'elenco degli autori che lui recensisce, ma sono stato contento di scoprire, tra quelli che ci presenta, che lui amava Stevenson e i libri di avventura.

martsinwonderland's review against another edition

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3.5

Una raccolta di articoli che parlano di letteratura scritti da Italo Calvino, cosa volere di più! 

Ho molto apprezzato la sua analisi sugli scrittori da lui proposti, nonostante a tratti l'abbia trovata un po' pesante (probabilmente dovuta al fatto che alcuni di questi autori non mi piacciano per niente). 
Avrei apprezzato ancora di più se ci fosse stata la presenza di qualche scrittrice donna, ma tutto sommato non è stata una pessima lettura. 
Consiglio a tutti gli appassionati dei saggi sulla letteratura! 

mges's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.75

macht lust auf mehr, auch wenn es lang gedauert hat

moudi's review against another edition

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challenging informative relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

gaiamolinaro's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.5

alexandraemjly's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

The titular essay in this book is pertinently relevant even in the modern day and is greatly thought-provoking. The rest of the essays require a solid background in and knowledge of classic and ancient literature and the essays where one hasn't read the original book are not accessible. 

_moshi_moshi_'s review against another edition

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1.0

epa que grande merda tá masé calado n dizes pão 14 reasons why looking ass

melanieolmo's review against another edition

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Too repetitive

zarakrais's review against another edition

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3.0

Couldn't figure out whether the why in the title meant that it would get me interested in reading the classics or as a way to share anecdotes about classics that are already shared between the author and the reader. It's a mix of both so I'll have to come back to it when I make my way individually to the classics mentioned in the book.

daaave's review against another edition

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4.0

It feels kind of like cheating to say that I read this, because in reality, I read Calvino's essay about classics at the beginning of the book, then read the essays which I was knowledgeable enough to follow (which still amounted to a few essays). I love Calvino's thoughts on classics and their importance in our lives as readers. He talks about the difference in reading something in one's youth as opposed to reading it as an adult which I found really interesting. He said that as an adult, we should set aside time to read the books that were most important in our youth. This is because of the natural change that occurs when we have seen a bit more of what life has to offer and we have different context for a number of situations and circumstances. It left me wanting to revisit 1984, A Wrinkle in Time and others.

The text does come across as pretty dry from time to time, very dense with literary criticism "lingo." However, after a short period of adjustment, it didn't trip me up too badly. It definitely made me want to look more critically at what I read and spend a bit more time thinking about what it means in general and what it specifically means to me. It was an inspiring read and I think it would be very handy to read the opening essay in any literary criticism/discussion class.