Castle of Crossed Destinies

"Calvino's real subject is fiction. The making of it (we see several writers and we read more than a dozen styles) and the reading of it (here he spreads his wings and flies). He can be comic, and he is, but for the most part he is serious, positive, celebratory. The eight readers in the library at the end say fine things about reading, and the reader of these things is properly appreciative. But also a bit dazzled. So many fine things have been said already...The Other Reader says many excellent things about her interest in fiction. One hopes that she will say more, every time. But no, Calvino goes on to other pleasures. He even includes a description of his novel in his novel. One notes it with amusement. And then one comes upon another description of it, different but equally persuasive. And then another! It can never be satisfied, the mind, never."Calvino, Italo is the author of 'Castle of Crossed Destinies', published 1979 under ISBN 9780156154550 and ISBN 0156154552.