Italo Calvino you are my new literary hero.

My basis for "judging" art, whether it be literature, film or paintings, is quite simple: it should be an orgasmic experience. yes perverts, orgasmic. experiencing works of art is like having sex. great work = great sex. i know i'm being such a nerd about it, but that's really how i feel when i'm reading a good book. a good book takes you to all sorts of highs -- and never brings you to a low. it's consistently good, and when it reaches its peak, it's GREAT. and when you're finished with it you feel as if you're in a daze, tipsy but not drunk, just the right type of high you feel when you smoke marijuana.

I would love to quote a few lines from the book, but there are so many that I like and it would be pointless for me to write them down in bullets because unlike Coelho quotes, you can't fully grasp them unless you read the whole damn thing. So to you reading this: READ ITALO CALVINO.