You Should Read This Book

[joggerjayne]

I dont think I've spontaneously recommended a book before, so here goes.

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino is magical and brilliant, and I'm SO hooked on it. Jeanette winterson said it was the book she'd want if she was alone on a desert island.

It's hard to explain without it sounding a bit bland, but here goes.

In 1200 and something, Marco Polo apparently met Kublai Khan. So in this book, Marco Polo is having a conversation with Kublai Khan. He is describing the wondrous cities that he has visited. But, as the book goes on, it starts to seem as though Marco Polo is not actually describing lots of different cities, but something rather different.

That's as much as I can tell you. You'll just have to get the book. And yes, I'm a bit biased because I really like Calvino's books, but this one is really good.

So, recommend one back to me ... I need a few new books to read.

[MarkRae]

I've read it. Superb book.

[joggerjayne]

Thank you, MR. You'll understand why it's a bit difficult to say too much about it.

Have you read If On A Winter's Night A Traveller ... ?

That was the book that got me into Italo Calvino. I bought it on impulse in Daunt's in Marylebone, and loved it ... supporting the case that online book suppliers must never replace real book shops.

[sunny-dave]

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Best book I've read this year

[joggerjayne]

You know, Dave ... I came THIS CLOSE (imagine my thumb and finger being held close together) to buying that.

Right ... I'll get it this week.

[MarkRae]

I have read "Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore", yes. I think my favourite of his remains "Il castello dei destini incrociati".

[joggerjayne]

Okay, so you've read them in the original language?

You're not going to tell me you've also read Umberto Eco in Italian ???

[MarkRae]

Er, yes and yes.

[joggerjayne]

The Castle Of Crossed Destinies?

I'll see if Daunt's have got it next time I'm in town. Otherwise, I'll order it.

[MarkRae]

Amazon will surely have it

[joggerjayne]

Crikey. Eco is hard enough in English !!

Hang on ... the guy who translates a lot of Eco also did something else. I can't remember what it was.

Sorry to type the vaguest post of the day. It will come to me in a minute. Or it might not, actually.

[Stargazer]

I have made a note to get these books as I prefer to have books recommended. Two of my recent favourites are The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor.

[joggerjayne]

I have this sort of "anti-Amazon" thing.

[Wharton]

j/j - if you liked 'Invisible Cities' you'll love 'The Periodic Table' by Primo Levi - although I'll guess you have read it anyway.

[joggerjayne]

Okay, stargazer ... they're now on my shopping list for this week.

[joggerjayne]

Wharton ... I haven't, but they had it in Daunt's. I looked at it, and didn't buy it.

I can feel a book shopathon coming on.

:0)

[joggerjayne]

Sleep time now. Back in the am. x

[Stargazer]

Another amazing book, not too long a read, but exceptional in that is is a true story is Sky Burial by Xinran. I read it through twice straight off and then bought it for friends.

[joggerjayne]

Thanks, stargazer ... I've just looked up that Sky Burial book ... and it's on my shopping list.

:0)

[pastafreak]

"Invisable Cities" is now on my Amazon wish list...(sorry it's Amazon,jj..though it's one of their second hand dealers)...thanks for the post ;-))

[emmie]

confess that i loved One Day by David Nicholls, though wouldn't waste time money on the film