Textual Media

Similar to the comic strip by Scott McCloud we engaged in completing a simple story earlier we are not given the underlying explanations to the complications in a chronilogical order. Which can be quite fascinating in movies and novels because it leads you to certain assumptions. Often leading you in certain directions purposely but in Calvios novel there have been numerous instances in which it seemed there was no particular direction the writer had in mind for your conclusions. However as the story ensued it has become appearant that he lead us through the readers’ narrative. Never knowing what to expect has kept me fascinated. The moment there is a comfort level, that is to say, I finally know what to expect from the style, he throws in another trick.

I have also considered the idea of reading and writing in different gender roles and have found that some books written in the female role to be less beleivable. It seems to have a slight effect when written in the opposite role of disconnection. Not that I enjoy a story any less either way but that I am less connected as one as I am more aware that it is not me. So, I found it quite interesting to compare more directly the effect upon the point of view and to see another characters function from within as I am not often allowed that chance. (I know it’s late, I just got off work ;)

This weeks readings promted a few different things for me to think about. First off, I was thinking about the differences that are possibly created for someone reading this book based on their gender. As Calvino briefly switched the point of view to that of Ludmilla, it made me think of the fact that for most of the book “The reader” had been through the viewpoint of a male, which could create an entirely different way of reading/taking in the book for those readers that are female. Our gender most definitely plays a role in how we percieve others actions, and I’m sure its no different in what we read as well. I could be way off, but it was just something I hadn’t really thought about before reading that particular page.

Secondly, it occurred to me that Silas Flannery was possibly a representation of Calvino, at least to some degree. Perhaps Calvino was having trouble finishing his stories, so he figured he’d throw them all into one book and came up with a very uniqe plot to tie them all together. Regardless of whether that is true or not (most likely not), I still wouldn’t be surprised at all if Calvino put at least some of himself in Flannery.

It is quite humorous that the “main” character in Calvino’s novel is having a difficult time tracking down all the ends or “connections” to stories that he is reading. He keeps reading stories that just end on him and it is very frustrating for him. This definitely parallels with us as the readers not being able to finish any of the stories that Calvino has written for us to read in this novel. I feel like this was purposely written with this sense of irony because it makes us as the readers really jump into the characters’ shoes — the character being the “I” or the “you” that the novel refers to here and again. I tried to keep this in mind while writing my own Calvino-esque story. I was trying to jump into the story in what would seem to be the middle of it. I felt that it was hard to do this, however; mainly because if you were really to jump into the middle of a novel or movie, you likely wouldn’t be able to get the background information that you missed at the beginning. I found it difficult to not present some background information though in my piece. Also like this novel, I inserted a hybrid of the names given by Calvino by presenting a character named “Cimbrian Marana.” While it was a fun excersize and homework assignment, I did find it sort of difficult because I didn’t want it to sound too off the wall. I think I was afraid of it not sound very legit, so I took it slowly to make sure I cover most questionable issues. Also, I haven’t written a story since probably 4th grade so it was different getting back into that story-telling frame of mind. I enjoyed the challenge though and felt that what I produced was pretty good.

I was doing some research on Calvino and read that he was part of the Italian resistance during WWII. I also read that he was involved in many “fantasy” writings earlier in his career, or before our current book. My question is do you think that going through war; especially at a time when war was much more hands on and brutal,( not that it isnt brutal now), had any psychological influence into why Calvino writes the way he does. I cant imagine any truly sane person being able to write as he does, do you think that if he had not been part of the resistance that he would be the same writer, did what he saw and what he experienced change him forever and bring something out in him that might not have been able to escape. We were talking about tormented writers in the last class and how one is either tormented or productive. It is my oponion that Calvino was both, but only because of his experiences during the 40’s. Would he be the same writer, was he the same writer before the war, did the war turn him from simply a productive writer to a tormented and productive writer? I suppose its impossible to tell, but interesting to ponder. Wes

I found this section (or sections, however you want to look at it) of Calvino’s novel to be the most interesting so far. By now the reader already should have an idea that this is a group of novels contained within one larger novel, but Calvino also starts including stories within stories within a single chapter. He also starts shifting the point of view around by letting you see from Ludmilla’s point of view, then the man’s point of view, in the same chapter. It’s a little disorienting at first, but it makes you wonder, who does Calvino want us to be as the reader of this novel? Calvino forces us to examine this novel from many different ways – as an outsider, examing the events that unfold; as a ‘reader’ in relation to the ‘writer’; and finally, as a character in the novel itself. It’s a little mind-boggling, but it’s pretty interesting nonetheless.

Again, I must say that I am actually coming to understand the writer’s repertoire. I have even begun to anticipate his next move, his next form of bizzarre antics, a kind of personal banter that only he truly understands; it’s interesting really, because initially I had concluded that I would never truly enjoy, or find in any way, this book some what entertaining. But, I must confess, I have traded this annoyance for a new form of an inquisitive detective-like instinct, attempting to figure out Calvino’s next move. ~ lindsey ps: I’ll come up with a question to ask in class :)

By directly addressing the reader in the first section of the book, Calvino uses this as a method to set the pace for the rest of the book. This technique has several effects on the reader. One is that the reader is caught off guard by being spoken to in an upfront manner, not only does this bring the reader closer to the book, but almost makes he or she a character in the plot. After the reader feels this connection, it is confusing to detect who the “I” from whose perspective each story is told. Thus, one is taken down the perputual rabbit hole bouncing from story to story. On a side note, in the introduction it seemed as if Calvino was boasting, knowing that “we” have purchased his book and dictating how it should be read. Just an idea.

If On a Winters Night a Traveler has been a very intriguing read so far. Italo Calvino, as an author, is quite different than any other author I’ve come across. He draws the reader into the story, but he does it in a completely unconventional way. My first thought, once I realized that this book was not one book, but several parts of several books split into chapters, interrupted by a seperate continuing story, was that Italo Calvino was putting on an exhibition. He was trying to see just how many different stories he could squeeze into one book while maintaining one story, as a whole. Of course this most likely wasn’t his intention, but it was an interesting way to look at the book. I then began to think of this book being presented in other forms of media. If this book was made into a movie, I can’t help but think that it would either drive the audience crazy or deeply draw people into the plot. Every few minutes, a new plot, completely new characters, yet something underlying that remains the same. A male narrator trying to involve himself with a female character.

As I’ve continued to read through page 130, I’ve noticed that I prepare myself for each story, knowing that I’ll only be reading a chapter or two of each story. Because of that, its a lot easier for me to take interest in the story between The Reader and Ludmilla. Italo Calvino sure did create a very interesting new aproach to the novel, one that I’ve never encountered before. But why did he choose to write the novel in such a way?

Through this exploration into Italo Calvino’s train of thought, I have found myself reminiscing upon the trail. Although quite appearant that the narratives have little connection to one another. As of yet, other than the convoluted publishing escapade. It is like watching television with someone else surfing the channels or trying to follow someone’s journey on the web.

I encountered the same frustration as the readers whose narrative is stringing the partial stories together. The stability of this underlying story lineates the process. I hadn’t considered finishing the stories as was mentioned in a reflection. However, subconsciously I did perveive a make-shift conclusion once I gave in to a depart from the preceding story. Which I suppose allows a an element of interactivity within the whirlwind.

It may be because of the second person narration and my initial reaction that the author was speaking to the actual reader (us, me, you ;) but it as though I am playing a character as in an adventure game. Especially at the moment when the narrator is abandoned in the office of the publisher to read “Looks down in the gathering shadow.” Even though I could not get up and explore the room myself and was thus thrust into another tale. Although in actuality we are passively reading, the reader’s internal narrative convinces us to continue. As Ludmilla states, “Reading is going toward something that is about to be, and no one yet knows what it will be….” If it has not been written, it can be anything.