If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler
by Italo Calvino
read: circa 1997

Lost in the Funhouse reminded me of a novel I read years ago that explored the nature of writing, reading, and fiction: Italo Calvino's If on a Winter's Night a Traveler.  If on a Winter's Night is light-hearted, a fun exploration of the joy of reading, particularly the joy of discovering new books.  The book alternates first chapters of fake novels in various styles with chapters following a reader's quest - in second-person! - to find the rest of the books.  Ultimately he (you?) fails but achieves a deeper understanding, or something, I don't really remember.  It's kind of a tease but it's well done.