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jillaay_h's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
jayisreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
I didn’t expect this novel to be as lighthearted and humorous as it ended up being. Chilean Poet is raunchy, yes, but it’s also full of warmth and earnestness. The novel, for the most part, follows Gonzalo, an aspiring poet. He has an unexpected reunion with his first love, Carla, at a nightclub in Santiago, and rekindles a relationship (of sorts, it’s never clearly stated) with her. In addition, he ends up becoming something of a stepfather to Carla’s six-year-old son, Vincente. Ultimately, the novel follows these three individuals through life and its unexpected curveballs, especially after Gonzalo’s departure from the family to move to New York for his studies.
One thing this novel focuses on is familial love, which Zambra addresses through Gonzalo and Vincente’s relationship. It’s not quite a father–son dynamic, especially when Vincente is a young adult, but the tenderness is present in how the two understand the impact one has left on the other. Another focus of this novel is that it’s an homage of sorts to Chilean poetry, celebrating poets, famous and otherwise, for their contributions to the literary world. I’m not as familiar with Chilean poetry (other than Pablo Neruda), so a lot of this went over my head, but you can sense the enormous care and pride Zambra has as a Chilean himself.
I did feel that there were some pacing issues, but all-in-all, I enjoyed this novel enough that I want to check out Zambra’s previous novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Excrement
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death and Fatphobia
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i enjoyed the voice of the narration that travelled through various characters. each voice was unique but attached together. i was confused at times wondering what the author was trying to convey in the story, but he did it so stunningly well that i had to give it five stars. a really insightful and also direct story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
kinddog2073's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every time I read more Zambra I fall deeper in love with his writing. His is a wellspring of joy. In fact reading this for the first time brought me up from deep lows to a survivable state.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
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