Each work I've read of Calvino's has been very different from every other work, so I can't say 'Read this because it's a representative work.' 'Baron' and 'If on a Winter's Night', however, are two that I've read over and over again. I had trouble with 'Invisible Cities', but have a friend who says it's one of her favorite books. Mr. Palomar is a fine book, but almost an intellectual exercise - I wouldn't start with it.