Finalmente sono riuscita a leggere il secondo volume della trilogia de I nostri antenati e devo dire che pur apprezzandolo l'ho trovato leggermente inferiore al precedente.
La scrittura resta meravigliosa ma mentre ne Il visconte dimezzato le atmosfere erano fiabesche, qui ci muoviamo sul terreno del realismo magico e della sospensione dell'incredulità e quindi è tutto meno spettacolare: ammetto che qualche passaggio nella parte centrale l'ho trovato tedioso; troppi aneddoti fini a se stessi e troppi dettagli di vita quotidiana che non erano utili ai fini della trama e di sicuro non aggiungevano fascino al racconto.
Anche dal punto di vista dell'allegoria e dell'interpretazione mi sembra che quella de Il visconte dimezzato fosse molto più sfaccettata, con un continuo ribaltamento di punti di vista; qui il messaggio per quanto potente e profondo è chiaro fin da subito: la disobbedienza come riscoperta dell'individualità, un individualismo che però non si concretizza in egoismo ma semplicemente come superamento delle convenzioni (familiari, culturali e sociali) per scoprire un senso di umanità più alto e universale.
Naturalmente non mancano momenti di altissima letteratura, come le pagine dell'amore tra Cosimo e Viola o lo struggente finale: insomma lettura di grande valore ma non sempre avvincente. ( )

Ho provato più volte a terminare questa lettura, ma proprio non ci riesco. Il viscobte dimezzato e il cavaliere inesistente invece mi sono piaciuti moltissimo ❤️ ( )

Some time ago Audible offered for free a number of books originally written in languages other than English. (If I recall correctly, it was a promotion in support of International Reading Day.) Of those I selected from the list, [b:The Baron in the Trees|9804|The Baron in the Trees|Italo Calvino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344432724l/9804._SY75_.jpg|865256] has easily been the most enjoyable.

To begin, this edition is a success on all counts - the writing is brilliant, the translation fluid, and the narration perfectly attuned to the text. It can easily be read and enjoyed simply as an amusing fable of a young noble of the mid-18th century, from a province along the Italian Riviera, who in typical teen-age fashion declares that he is renouncing his family. What is not so typical is that he follows through on this impetuous stand by taking up residence in the local trees - and not putting foot on the ground for the rest of his life.

Behind this adventurous tale (no other word will appropriately describe the nature of the story, which relates a series of episodes in sparkling prose), [b:The Baron in the Trees|9804|The Baron in the Trees|Italo Calvino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344432724l/9804._SY75_.jpg|865256] exists as an allegory for the social, economic and political changes of the time. Our hero, Cosimo, looks down from his arboreal residence, carefully nurtured to create pathways among the trees to facilitate his movements, on a continuously changing world. He sees the ideals of Voltaire and Rousseau and other key Enlightenment figures give way to the French Revolution, followed by the rise and fall of Napoleon.

He encounters many colorful individuals along the way, perhaps most notably Viola, a childhood neighbor who reappears later in his life as the embodiment of free love, stimulating both passions and intellectual argument. Viola's strategy for gaining independence she craved is notable: she married an elderly man, confident that before long he will die and she will have his extensive wealth at her command, with no one to rein her in.

Although the Italian portions of the book are all translated into English, at times brief passages appear in other languages, most notably French, but also a little Spanish and Russian. My limited linguistic skills failed me during the longer discourses, although I could discern the meaning through context.

But that is a small quibble. No way around it, this is a gem of a book. ( )

One of Calvino’s earlier works. He is an amazing writer so everything he writes is worth reading. However, this is definitely not his best work (My favorites remain Cosmicomics and t zero). I wouldn’t start reading Calvino with this book.

Although it seems to be a frivolous fairy tale, it is actually a quite depressing take on love, politics, and humanity in general, particularly towards the latter part of the book. Perhaps the pessimism is a reflection on his disillusionment with Communism (apparently he wrote it right after his break with the Italian Communist party). ( )

Funny, moving, Borges-esque but warmer ( )