In Calabria

By: Peter S. Beagle

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

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.

Lyrical, gripping, and wise, In Calabria confirms Peter S. Beagle's continuing legacy as one of fantasy's most legendary authors.

©2017 Peter S. Beagle (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Like a dream

This author's writing style is like a refreshing vacation from the high energy action of the common book. At first I listened with the intention of turning off the book and not completing it should it become too sad as The Last Unicorn movie felt to me when I was a child. But listening to this book in my forties is like salve to my soul. I sometimes became confused by the variety of Italian names, but this was no fault of the author's who spent entertaining moments introducing characters with their names and some memorable bits. Seeing unicorns through the eyes of an Italian farmer who feels older than his years and knows he has no immortality. His unabashed opinions of the world outside his travels was entertaining and at times made me think. His thoughtfulness for his own animals and the wild animals that lived on his acreage was charming and made me wish to know this man who knew kindness and had a heart hard to find in this world. His interactions with the few other townspeople gave his character depth and drew a nice map of his countryside. At the beginning of the book, as I wrote, I was hesitant, but at the end of the book I was eager to know more of the story. I like the way the author ended the book, not leaving me feeling like it had been rushed or slowed too much. I would read more by this author. When you need a book to bring you to the Italian countryside away from your own hustle and bustle, read and or listen to this.

Magic Lives in Calabria

Totally captivating! Peter S. Beagle takes you on a journey you'll never return home from.

Catches you.

The beginning is slow but it slowly draws you in and makes it so you can’t put it down. Great reader, definitely creates the mood but doesn’t lose you in over-dramatization. Highly recommend.

Middle of the road read

This was an odd one. The narration made it that way, I think. He voiced the main character like he was 80, not in his 40s, so when the romance came along it felt really inappropriate, and I was so distracted by that I had to go back to the beginning to figure out how old he really was. Then the mafia… it was just an odd book, and the unicorns seemed a strange piece of it all. Not bad if you want something short and feel good by the end.

Beautiful.

You could feel the warmth of the Calabrese countryside and Claudio’s love for his animals, his land and the magical relationships that transform his dour existence. Lovely little fantasy.

Interesting characters, somewhat slow storyline

While I enjoyed the listen, I wasn't riveted. I liked the original characters. I'm not particularly interested in stories of relationships between old men and much younger girls. The narrator did a good job with the Italian accents. I enjoyed the world-building and its mythology. The narrative style of the writing was slow and somewhat self-indulgent, but some of the phrases were truly beautiful and the descriptions were memorable.

Complete surprise!

I absolutely was smitten with this story! I love it. I love the main character. I love the way the community tries to help him. I love his stubborn resistance to threats and the way he would rather die than act contrary to his own convictions. I love the way this is the most intimate romantic story—without ever having being blatant, graphic, or crude. It explores the healing of deep, painful wounds without talking a lot about them. It was masterful.

Beautiful, poignant, triumphant

I am a Bronson Pinchot devotée and I found this by looking him up. I don’t actually know much about Peter Beagle but after this, I am going to investigate his other books. In Calabria is a story about unicorns — two unicorns, to be specific — and it is unlike any unicorn story I have read or heard of. I will just say that they are not girlie unicorns and let you find out the rest. I envy you being able to hear it for the first time!

Simple beautiful and uncomplicated

The narration is perfect, and though I had to adjust the speed of reading, it didn’t lose the easy pace of a story that’s a break from …all of the disappointments people less brave and selfless.

Happy Surprise

This was purchased on a fluke and aside from a small foul language outburst, I enjoyed it.