Reviews

VIDA PRIVADA DE LOS ARBOLES, LA by Alejandro Zambra, Alejandro Zambra

monovev's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 The writing is good but it felt very flat for me, and I enjoyed the bonsai and tree stories much more than what the actual story was about.

I can't say if it's cuz I was sleepy (even though I had 7 hours of sleep) or not but they were several points where I almost dozed off in my seat despite how short the novel is. Maybe if I reread this again later I'll get it.

sanmeow's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.0

a short read about julian reading a sweet bedtime story about trees to his stepdaughter daniela. like every other night, he's waiting for his wife veronica to come home after her art class. this time, julian fears that veronica won't return because she's a bit late. he talks about his fear of being alone and losing her, as well as his fear of daniela growing up without her. 
this was just pretty nice to read. i thought the style was good and fitting for the story. i liked how the author discussed love, family, and the fear of losing a loved one, it was insightful. the characters aren't super well developed, but i didn't expect them to be considering how short the book is. i can't say it had a strong impact on me, but i enjoyed it. 

opedrosantos's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 nunca tinha lido nada do Zambra, apesar de ter escutado/visto seu nome pelos círculos literários. após a recomendação de uma amiga, finalmente li um livro do autor, ou de certa forma, dois! essa edição reúne dos dois "romances" Bonsai e A Vida Privada das Árvores e aí mesmo vem uma pergunta: o que é um romance, uma novela ou mesmo um conto? seriam mesmo um romance tendo somente por volta de 70 páginas cada? enfim, é uma boa pergunta, mas não venho tentar respondê-la. terminei a leitura de Bonsai com sentimentos mistos, enquanto A Vida Privada das Árvores me assolou e me fez pensar e repensar tanta coisa. como gostei mais da segunda história, meus comentários são mais direcionados a ela. o Zambra consegue escrever de uma maneira muito singela e afiada, cada palavra tem o peso certo e o atinge acho que justamente pelo seu caráter mundano, cotidiano. consegui me identificar bastante, algumas frases e momentos pareciam feitos para mim, mas além disso apreciar a história que ele construía enquanto eu a lia. ele consegue navegar família, amor, laços, propósito, existência & tempo de maneira tão despretensiosa (principalmente em AVPDA), me peguei pensando "é isso que quero fazer." tem muita vida e me vejo concordando até, meio pueril - sem fazer pouco caso do conto nem da novela, claro: isso seria sim um romance! de certa forma, fiquei encantado mesmo, mas um encanto de mesma natureza da escrita do autor: simples, um sorriso honesto a um estranho estonteante de passagem, mero vislumbre, once-in-a-lifetime; o tipo de sorriso em resposta ao tipo de beleza que somados fazem seu dia. termino o livro curioso, foi um bom primeiro encontro, agendando já um segundo.

Bonsai: 3/5; A Vida Privada das Árvores: 5/5 

eulrch's review against another edition

reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sabkapink96's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

madibrazzle's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

xirasoles's review against another edition

5.0

«se ama para dejar de amar y se deja de amar para empezar a amar a otros, o para quedarse solos, por un rato o para siempre. Ese es el dogma. El único dogma»
precioso precioso precioso

jola_g's review against another edition

4.0

Dear authors of Oxford Learners Dictionaries, Macmillan Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English et altri,

Could you kindly consider adding a new word, zambrastic, to your lexicons? It would make writing reviews of books by Alejandro Zambra, a Chilean poet writer, simpler. To save you time I have already prepared the dictionary entry. Please, find it below.

Thanks in advance for granting my request.
Respectfully,
Jola

zambrastic /zæmˈbræstɪk/ adjective
​(informal)
1. conceived by an unrestrained imagination of Alejandro Zambra;
2. quirky and remarkable, bizarre;
2. extravagantly fanciful or capricious;
3. incredibly great or extreme; exorbitant;
4. extremely good, in a way that makes you feel excited and happy.

SYNONYMS: bedazzling, tremendous, excellent, impressive, outstanding, marvellous, brilliant.

The Private Lives of Trees (2007) turned out to be a perfect embodiment of zambrastic. This novella is a playful and moving tribute to literature and the power of words and symbols (for example a tree versus a bonsai) over our imagination. In my view, it is more likeable and reader-friendly than Alejandro Zambra's previous book, but to be honest, [b:Bonsai|3374076|Bonsai|Alejandro Zambra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320559832l/3374076._SX50_.jpg|2959716] appealed to me a bit more. By the way, it is amazing how the two novellas are entwined.

One of the keys to Alejandro Zambra's success is the fact that his books give you the impression you are reading something ambitious, profound and remarkable while the experience is surprisingly effortless and instantly gratifying. The Private Lives of Trees is a living proof. Zambra's hallmark: he does not force you to run your brain through a meat grinder for hours but still offers a thought-provoking, enlightening and delightful read. Simply zambrastic.


I'd forgotten how non-textual nature could be.

Cartoon by Carole Cable.

leenanorms's review against another edition

relaxing sad slow-paced

2.0

thenorpa's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0