Hermit in Paris (2003) (edit title/settings)

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Liked It 2 of 2 members found this review helpful Rated 4 stars “I loved his American Diaries and his urban studies like discussions. I enjoyed reading his views on communism and everything he had to say about his life experiences, how all the big political issues that I've only read about in history books actually affected him. I loved his I Would Love To...” see full review » see other reviews »

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  • Rated 4 stars

  “Well... I recommend it if you are a Calvino fan. If not, it may be a little too didactic in the sense of: Why would you care about these attempts at "auto-biography", posthumously, since Calvino himself could never commit to the definitions of his life. However, the American Diary section is uncanny in his observations of the cities and towns outside of New York – from Los Angeles to Savannah, Georgia – he dives deep to find these immutable truths that still stand the test of time. They could have been written yesterday. In other words, certain "things" about places never change and there is some comfort in that, as well as, a reason for all of us to find those non-transitory aspects of our environments and meditate on those. And, finally, my favorite excerpt from the book: "Irony is the announcement of a possible harmony."”

  P.Shaw wrote this review Tuesday, June 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  2 of 2 members found this review helpful

  • Rated 4 stars

  “I loved his American Diaries and his urban studies like discussions. I enjoyed reading his views on communism and everything he had to say about his life experiences, how all the big political issues that I've only read about in history books actually affected him. I loved his I Would Love To Be Mercutio paragraph, that blurb is fantastic and sweet. Despite being born in one place, raised in another, and having travelled all over the world, having months in Paris at various times in his life... my edition of this book ends with the "My City is New York" interview (although he did not title that interview) and I find that very endearing. I love that he loves John Updike (some of my fondest Literature class memories are of reading John Updike short stories) and Vladimir Nabakov and Kafka. This book just makes me that more interested in reading his other works, such as Baron in the Trees and If On a Winter's Night a Traveler. Excellent read for a fireside or even a cold subway ride... as long as its wintery and there is courderoy available. :-)”

  A.K. Klemm wrote this review Monday, December 22, 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No