Upon opening the book, and beginning to read the first chapter, it felt as though the author was introducing me to the book as if in real life. The author spoke as if he wasn't telling the story, but instead preparing you for the story. The fact of the matter, is that he was doing both. Calvino was preparing the reader for the first story of the book by listing the best ways to read a book by removing any distractions and getting comfortable. Reading this was very hard going, as the first chapter to me it read like a set of stereo instructions and it made me think I don't need to be told the best way read a book, as the best way to read a book is all down to personal preference. However, in reflection it is quite amusing, as at first we don't really...