Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Tachyon Publications (2017), 176 pages
Description
"Claudio Bianchi has lived alone for many years on a hillside in Southern Italy's scenic Calabria. Set in his ways and suspicious of outsiders, Claudio has always resisted change, preferring farming and writing poetry. But one chilly morning, as though from a dream, an impossible visitor appears at the farm. When Claudio comes to her aid, an act of kindness throws his world into chaos. Suddenly he must stave off inquisitive onlookers, invasive media, and even more sinister influences" -- provided by publisher.
User reviews
LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
On the surface, Claudio Bianchi seems a bit of a curmudgeon. He’s grumpy, prefers solitude, avoids most human contact outside of the man who delivers his mail every Friday or the man’s sister who occasionally takes his place. In fact, Bianchi’s only close friendships are with the animals on
In Calabria is the latest book by author Peter S. Beagle. It s a relatively short book, almost a novella and is written in the beautifully lyrical prose he is best known for. It is an engaging and heartwarming tale similar in some ways to his earlier and most famous book, The Last Unicorn, combining and contrasting the noise, chaos, and loneliness of modernity with the magic and happily-ever-after of a Grimms fairy tale awaiting the protagonist as long as he remains brave against all odds and keeps his promise to protect the innocent.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tachyon Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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his farm. But there is another side to him, one rarely seen by others – he writes poetry, not good poetry by his own admission and nothing he would show others despite the teasing he gets about it but it gives him comfort in his loneliness. Then one day, a pregnant unicorn appears and makes her nest in his field and soon Bianchi’s life is turned upside down. The unicorn’s arrival will bring chaos and even danger as people learn about her existence. But it will also bring love and a kind of purpose and contentment to his life that Bianchi never thought he’d find. In Calabria is the latest book by author Peter S. Beagle. It s a relatively short book, almost a novella and is written in the beautifully lyrical prose he is best known for. It is an engaging and heartwarming tale similar in some ways to his earlier and most famous book, The Last Unicorn, combining and contrasting the noise, chaos, and loneliness of modernity with the magic and happily-ever-after of a Grimms fairy tale awaiting the protagonist as long as he remains brave against all odds and keeps his promise to protect the innocent.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tachyon Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member Dokfintong
John W. Campbell once observed that the best science fiction writing begins with the world as we know it and changes one thing. We can quibble over whether Peter Beagle is writing SF or fantasy but "In Calabria" begins with the everyday life of an ordinary farmer in Calabria who walks out of his
I received a review copy of "In Calabria" by Peter S. Beagle (Tachyon) through NetGalley.com.
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farmhouse one day to find a unicorn grazing in his field. That's it. That's the story, and it is wonderful wonderful writing. Another Peter Beagle libro bellissimo.I received a review copy of "In Calabria" by Peter S. Beagle (Tachyon) through NetGalley.com.
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LibraryThing member Stewartry
Like most people who are able to read and enjoy fantasy, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Peter S. Beagle. That's not to say I'm a real fan, however; he's a remarkable writer, and uses language like a virtuoso uses a violin, but I've just never warmed to him.
And In Calabria is a perfect
But, for me, there's some … thing lacking. I have no idea what. Something holds me back, creates a distance. It was gorgeous and I'm glad I read it, and parts of it will stay with me – but, still…
In any case… while neither this nor any of the other Beagles I've read will ever be my very favorite book, it was still a remarkable experience. I saw one review which complained that there was nothing new here, that Beagle has "done" unicorns before, didn't have to do it again – but I think that's … well, insane. It's been a while since I read The Last Unicorn, but I don't think this bears much of a resemblance to that, apart from the obvious: the cataclysmic effect a creature of legend can have on ordinary life. It's not a well, which can be dipped into too often - it's a river, a force of nature, never the same two moments running. Maybe that's why I've never been fonder of Peter Beagle - his extraordinarily comforting last name notwithstanding, his are simply not comfortable books.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
And In Calabria is a perfect
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example of why. It's a beautiful book. The characters are marvelous. The intrusion of the rare and beautiful into the life of a reclusive and misanthropic man is intense and utterly real. But, for me, there's some … thing lacking. I have no idea what. Something holds me back, creates a distance. It was gorgeous and I'm glad I read it, and parts of it will stay with me – but, still…
In any case… while neither this nor any of the other Beagles I've read will ever be my very favorite book, it was still a remarkable experience. I saw one review which complained that there was nothing new here, that Beagle has "done" unicorns before, didn't have to do it again – but I think that's … well, insane. It's been a while since I read The Last Unicorn, but I don't think this bears much of a resemblance to that, apart from the obvious: the cataclysmic effect a creature of legend can have on ordinary life. It's not a well, which can be dipped into too often - it's a river, a force of nature, never the same two moments running. Maybe that's why I've never been fonder of Peter Beagle - his extraordinarily comforting last name notwithstanding, his are simply not comfortable books.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
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LibraryThing member andreablythe
In Calabria presents a lovely story of an ornery old farmer and unicorns who choose to take up residence on his land. A miraculous event that unsettles his quiet life as visitors come from far and wide to get a taste of the miraculous themselves. While it did not quite have the same level of wonder
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for me as The Last Unicorn, this was beautiful in its own way. Show Less
LibraryThing member fuzzi
This is a tale of modern Italy, about a middle-aged curmugeon who cares only for his few animals and rundown property, until one day he is surprised by the appearance of a unicorn, and realizes nothing will ever be the same.
Forty-plus years after the publication of The Last Unicorn, this author
Forty-plus years after the publication of The Last Unicorn, this author
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still has the ability to not only immerse us in a world of magic and wonder, but does so very differently from the typical contribution of the genre. Highly recommended! Show Less
LibraryThing member Narilka
A new unicorn story by Peter S. Beagle? Sign me up!
Claudio Bianchi has lived alone on his farm in Southern Italy for many years, writing poetry and tending his animals. Set in his ways and resistant to change, his life is turned upside down one morning when an impossible visitor arrives: a unicorn
This was not the kind of story I was expecting. The focus of the story is on Claudio and his isolated life in modern Italy. It's an interesting tale to see how the impact of having a unicorn on his property forces him back into the world and provides an unfortunately realistic view of a potential reaction from the world when others find out that unicorns are real. While the unicorn does have a part to play, she's more of a catalyst for Claudio's personal growth than the main focus. The writing is lyrical and lovely as always. I was just hoping for more unicorns!
Claudio Bianchi has lived alone on his farm in Southern Italy for many years, writing poetry and tending his animals. Set in his ways and resistant to change, his life is turned upside down one morning when an impossible visitor arrives: a unicorn
Show More
seems to have taken a fancy to his orchard.This was not the kind of story I was expecting. The focus of the story is on Claudio and his isolated life in modern Italy. It's an interesting tale to see how the impact of having a unicorn on his property forces him back into the world and provides an unfortunately realistic view of a potential reaction from the world when others find out that unicorns are real. While the unicorn does have a part to play, she's more of a catalyst for Claudio's personal growth than the main focus. The writing is lyrical and lovely as always. I was just hoping for more unicorns!
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LibraryThing member therapite
At some point all I read were books about unicorns.
They were my escape from the mundane and my outlet into the fantastic and I utterly devoured the books that I could get my hands on. Especially... well, you know the one. The last of her kind, and the king who kept the rest behind a veil of foam
For some reason, it stopped.
I got to thinking recently how amazing it would be to have the moments back where I was reading those unicorn books again for the first time, those heartbreaking moments of discovery and knowing that truthfully they were real and everyone else was wrong and there was good and magic and honesty and this wild spirit in the world still, hidden from everyone except those precious few. We can never really get those moments back of course, those first times of reading and experiencing something so intense and personal and intimate.
This book though. This book does excellent job at bringing that all back again. No spoilers but I cried, I was 13 and reading a unicorn book again, and it was all going to be alright again. Thank you, Peter S. Beagle, for bringing that sensation back again.
They were my escape from the mundane and my outlet into the fantastic and I utterly devoured the books that I could get my hands on. Especially... well, you know the one. The last of her kind, and the king who kept the rest behind a veil of foam
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and salt and the bull who guarded them. I think I read that book a hundred times if I read it once. There were others of course, there were excerpt books and unicorn treasuries and movies (though I somehow skipped Legend until in my twenties?) and figurines and blankets and all the rest.For some reason, it stopped.
I got to thinking recently how amazing it would be to have the moments back where I was reading those unicorn books again for the first time, those heartbreaking moments of discovery and knowing that truthfully they were real and everyone else was wrong and there was good and magic and honesty and this wild spirit in the world still, hidden from everyone except those precious few. We can never really get those moments back of course, those first times of reading and experiencing something so intense and personal and intimate.
This book though. This book does excellent job at bringing that all back again. No spoilers but I cried, I was 13 and reading a unicorn book again, and it was all going to be alright again. Thank you, Peter S. Beagle, for bringing that sensation back again.
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LibraryThing member cindywho
Another charming unicorn tale...
LibraryThing member pwaites
As a new unicorn story by the acclaimed Peter S. Beagle, I had high expectations for In Calabria. Unfortunately, this novella didn’t do much for me.
For many years, Claudio Bianchi has lived alone on his farm in Southern Italy, writing poetry and tending to his three cows and other animals. Then
The focus of In Calabria is Claudio Bianchi. He’s cut himself off from other people and been living in isolation. But when the unicorn chooses him and his farm it makes him reconnect with others and reevaluate his own worthiness. More than anything else, the unicorn functions as a catalyst for Claudio’s personal growth.
After Claudio and the unicorn, the most prominent character is Giovanna, the younger sister of Claudio’s friend the postman. Giovanna did not impress me. She felt like the typical one dimensional sexy love interest who has an inexplicable interest in the much older male protagonist. I also found it annoying how frequently the narrative mentioned that her eyes were green. I get it, she has striking green eyes! Move on!
In Calabria is fairly short – under two hundred pages – but it took me a while to read. I kept putting it down and having to come back to it. I just feel so apathetic about it. The writing is lovely (this is Peter S. Beagle after all), but there’s not much more I can say about In Calabria. It is possible people of a more literary bent might enjoy this one more than me, but I won’t be recommending it in the future.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received a copy of In Calabria from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For many years, Claudio Bianchi has lived alone on his farm in Southern Italy, writing poetry and tending to his three cows and other animals. Then
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one morning, he discovers a unicorn has arrived at his farm. The arrival of the unicorn will change Claudio’s life forever.The focus of In Calabria is Claudio Bianchi. He’s cut himself off from other people and been living in isolation. But when the unicorn chooses him and his farm it makes him reconnect with others and reevaluate his own worthiness. More than anything else, the unicorn functions as a catalyst for Claudio’s personal growth.
After Claudio and the unicorn, the most prominent character is Giovanna, the younger sister of Claudio’s friend the postman. Giovanna did not impress me. She felt like the typical one dimensional sexy love interest who has an inexplicable interest in the much older male protagonist. I also found it annoying how frequently the narrative mentioned that her eyes were green. I get it, she has striking green eyes! Move on!
In Calabria is fairly short – under two hundred pages – but it took me a while to read. I kept putting it down and having to come back to it. I just feel so apathetic about it. The writing is lovely (this is Peter S. Beagle after all), but there’s not much more I can say about In Calabria. It is possible people of a more literary bent might enjoy this one more than me, but I won’t be recommending it in the future.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received a copy of In Calabria from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member SamMusher
Ugh, you too, Peter? Setting up the 20-something woman to be the miraculous joy to come into the life of a man twice her age, without giving her any agency of her own or making it clear why on earth she suddenly loves him, is GROSS. She's in parallel with a UNICORN, no less: both magical,
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mysterious creatures who come to the main character to shine a light through his cantankerous late middle age. UGH UGH UGH Show Less
LibraryThing member ThomasPluck
Very different from, but just as delightful as his most famous unicorn story.
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
This gentle tale of unicorns in today's world both soothed my soul and amused me with its observations about life. Poetry and inspiration are the twin hearts of the book. Who are we, what is the best person we can be, what is love, what is poetry, what makes magic enter this world and our lives?
I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy. It is a gem and well worth the reading.
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These are all questions this tender book touches upon.I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy. It is a gem and well worth the reading.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: I borrowed the audiobook of this through Audible Plus.
Story (3/5): This was a well written story. It involves a stubborn Italian farmer who is set in his ways and a unicorn who decides to give birth at his farm. The beginning of this story is very beautiful and magical.
Characters (4/5): I was impressed by how well the characters were developed and how beautifully things were described. Claudio’s relationship and connection to the animals on his farm was very well done. I also enjoyed the side characters and the unicorn a lot too.
Setting (4/5): I loved the Italian farm setting. It gave a modern day story a very nostalgic feel. The description was very well done and I could picture everything about the setting perfectly.
Writing Style (4/5): This is the first story I have read by Beagle and he has an amazingly beautiful writing style. If he had left out the gangsters and some of the cruel violence towards animals this would have been a five star read for me. Still I loved the beginning and ending and thought the unicorns and characters were amazingly well done.
My Summary (4/5): Overall this made me want to go and read Beagle’s other books. It is beautifully written and magical in a gentle way. Beagle does an amazing job with description and with creating very human characters that are easy to care about. Some of the violence and crime in this story soured it for me, I think it would have been a fine story and a lot more enjoyable without those elements.
Story (3/5): This was a well written story. It involves a stubborn Italian farmer who is set in his ways and a unicorn who decides to give birth at his farm. The beginning of this story is very beautiful and magical.
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Unfortunately, two thirds of the way through gangsters and media folks get involved in the story and things went downhill from there. When a cat was tortured and killed that really soured things for me.Characters (4/5): I was impressed by how well the characters were developed and how beautifully things were described. Claudio’s relationship and connection to the animals on his farm was very well done. I also enjoyed the side characters and the unicorn a lot too.
Setting (4/5): I loved the Italian farm setting. It gave a modern day story a very nostalgic feel. The description was very well done and I could picture everything about the setting perfectly.
Writing Style (4/5): This is the first story I have read by Beagle and he has an amazingly beautiful writing style. If he had left out the gangsters and some of the cruel violence towards animals this would have been a five star read for me. Still I loved the beginning and ending and thought the unicorns and characters were amazingly well done.
My Summary (4/5): Overall this made me want to go and read Beagle’s other books. It is beautifully written and magical in a gentle way. Beagle does an amazing job with description and with creating very human characters that are easy to care about. Some of the violence and crime in this story soured it for me, I think it would have been a fine story and a lot more enjoyable without those elements.
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LibraryThing member renbedell
A fantasy story of the wonder of a unicorn appearing on a man's farm. The story is wonderful, whimsical, and well-written. The novella is essentially in two parts, with the excitement of a unicorn and then the tension. It is a great story with great characters. It is a very emotional and magical
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book. It is very different then The Last Unicorn, but if you enjoyed that book you will likely enjoy this one as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
I'm not sure why Beagle chose to ruin his legacy by writing a story that just happened to include a unicorn, but is mostly an old man fantasy about being with a young woman - but here we are. The actual ages in the story are around 24 and 48, but the 48 year-old is written like he's 60+ which makes
I mean if a grown woman wants to mess around with a guy twice her age, sure have some fun, but this was written as a love story, which means soon she's 40 and he's 64, then 50 and 74? At which point she can be changing his diapers, just like he used to change her's when she was a baby. See what I mean? It's creepy. In the book he calls her "child" and mentions seeing her walk for the first time. Are there really men out there watching a girl grow up just waiting them to become legal? Don't answer that.
Other than that, there was some beautiful/entertaining writing, but that was ruined by the hint that "Oh no, this is going to be about this old guy sleeping with this young girl" and then it happened. The end is a surreal blur that doesn't really make any sense.
If you're a fan of The Last Unicorn, do yourself a favor and skip this.
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it even more creepy because that's closer to the author's age.I mean if a grown woman wants to mess around with a guy twice her age, sure have some fun, but this was written as a love story, which means soon she's 40 and he's 64, then 50 and 74? At which point she can be changing his diapers, just like he used to change her's when she was a baby. See what I mean? It's creepy. In the book he calls her "child" and mentions seeing her walk for the first time. Are there really men out there watching a girl grow up just waiting them to become legal? Don't answer that.
Other than that, there was some beautiful/entertaining writing, but that was ruined by the hint that "Oh no, this is going to be about this old guy sleeping with this young girl" and then it happened. The end is a surreal blur that doesn't really make any sense.
If you're a fan of The Last Unicorn, do yourself a favor and skip this.
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Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Novella — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017-02-14
Physical description
176 p.; 5.25 inches
ISBN
9781616962487
Local notes
Claudio Bianchi has lived alone for many years on a hillside in Southern Italy’s scenic Calabria. Set in his ways and suspicious of outsiders, Claudio has always resisted change, preferring farming and writing poetry. But one chilly morning, as though from a dream, an impossible visitor appears at the farm. When Claudio comes to her aid, an act of kindness throws his world into chaos. Suddenly he must stave off inquisitive onlookers, invasive media, and even more sinister influences.