[rcarr]

I might be wrong but I think I remember reading that the book is meant to be a love letter to the Italian city Venice and that all the “cities” are actually just describing Venice from different perspectives.

Edit: Just had a quick look at the Wikipedia page.

> In one key exchange in the middle of the book, Kublai prods Polo to tell him of the one city he has never mentioned directly—his hometown. Polo's response: "Every time I describe a city I am saying something about Venice."

[cableshaft]

Yeah, I was trying not to spoil that, but that's what I meant when I said "(or is it? one passage suggests maybe that's not the case)".

That was interesting to think about when I got to that point, but wasn't enough for me.

[rcarr]

Ah fair enough. I think I went into the book knowing that already so I enjoyed it. I think I’d either recently visited Venice or went shortly after reading the book so it resonated with me. I think if I was going into the book expecting a standard novel then I would be disappointed.

[cableshaft]

I've never been to Venice so perhaps I would appreciate it more after that.

I did become a bit more interested in visiting Venice after watching this one video by DamiLee on Hurry Sickness and how the structure of Venice is like a labyrinth, designed to slow you down and encourage you to wander, as if it were somewhat of a soul-healing mechanism. She also mentions Invisible Cities in the video:

https://youtu.be/iuIZuUCKd84

[rcarr]

It’s absolutely incredible. It literally feels magical, like you’ve stepped through a portal into another realm. We walked around and deliberately got lost just to see where we ended up. One moment you’re on some bustling tourist street with throngs of people, the next you’re on some quiet passageway where all you can hear is the water, turn another corner and all of a sudden you’re in a courtyard and there are couples ballroom dancing in the moonlight. It really is an amazing place.