Book reading Quote by Italo Calvino
““What is more natural than that a solidity, a complicity, a bond should be established between Reader and Reader, thanks to the book? You can leave the bookshop content, you, a man who thought that the period where you could still expect something from life had ended. You are bearing with you two different expectations, and both promise days of pleasant hopes; the expectation contained in the book - of a reading experience you are impatient to resume - and the expectation contained in that telephone number - of hearing again the vibrations, a times treble and at times smoldering, of that voice, when it will answer your first phone call in a while, in fact tomorrow, with the fragile pretext of the book, to ask her if she likes it or not, to tell her how many pages you have read or not read, to suggest to her that you meet again...””
About This Quote
Source Novel: If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, 1979
Reading creates a bond between people, linking the anticipation of a story with the desire for personal connection through shared experiences.
In simple terms: Books link readers and spark personal connections.
Key Takeaway
Seek shared reading moments.
Themes
connection
anticipation
communication
literature
relationships
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
intimate
Type
literary
conversational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- long-distance relationships
- friendship building
- literary discussions
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Narrative intimacy
shared experience
expectation
social bonding
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a shared story change your view of a friend?
- What expectations do you bring to a new book?
A Different Perspective
The bond may be fragile if expectations clash or communication fails.
![“Harriet Levin [is] a shining poet in her generation… The dynamics of her language and her vigorous voice distinguish all her poems. Levin's fearless willingness to tackle any subject combines with her subtle intelligence to produce a rare reading experience, the moving, psychologically…” quote by Molly Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/molly-peacock-46158_crafts_harriet-levin-is-a-shining-poet-in-her-g_344321.jpg)
