mollygu's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
jola_g's review against another edition
4.0
IMAGINE…
Imagine a book whose first sentence is a huge spoiler: it summarizes the plot and tells you what will happen at the end.
Imagine a book which is a moving homage to literature and its ironic mockery at the same time.
Imagine a book in which its author invites you to participate in an intellectual game and winks at you in conspiracy from time to time.
Imagine a book filled to the brim with literary allusions.
Eyvind Earle, Bonsai, 1987.
Imagine a book which will enrich your To Be Read list.
Imagine a book which will make you ponder what some passages of classics would sound read aloud in an erotic voice.
Imagine a book which will make you understand – in case you are still not convinced – that literature not only provokes philosophical questions but also gives sheer joy.
Imagine a book by an author whose prose is 'as compact as a grain of gunpowder, but its allusions and ramifications branch out and illuminate even the most remote corners of our minds', according to Valeria Luiselli. She adds that it feels like 'someone’s shooting fireworks inside my head'.
Alfio Giuffrida, BONSAI Exp5, 2017.
Imagine a book which will make you wonder what a bonsai symbolizes from the author’s point of view. Literature? 'Caring for a bonsai is like writing, thinks Julio. Writing is like caring for a bonsai, thinks Julio.' Or maybe art in general? How about love? 'They decided to buy a bonsai to symbolize the immense love that united them.' Life? Illusory hopes? Needless to say, all the answers might be correct.
Imagine a book in which the plot, based on a love story, serves only as a catapult for reflection on writing and reading.
Imagine a book which will leave you hungry for more.
Imagine… Actually, you don’t have to imagine anything. Just read Bonsai (2008) by Alejandro Zambra.
Ee Suchin.
Imagine a book whose first sentence is a huge spoiler: it summarizes the plot and tells you what will happen at the end.
Imagine a book which is a moving homage to literature and its ironic mockery at the same time.
Imagine a book in which its author invites you to participate in an intellectual game and winks at you in conspiracy from time to time.
Imagine a book filled to the brim with literary allusions.
Eyvind Earle, Bonsai, 1987.
Imagine a book which will enrich your To Be Read list.
Imagine a book which will make you ponder what some passages of classics would sound read aloud in an erotic voice.
Imagine a book which will make you understand – in case you are still not convinced – that literature not only provokes philosophical questions but also gives sheer joy.
Imagine a book by an author whose prose is 'as compact as a grain of gunpowder, but its allusions and ramifications branch out and illuminate even the most remote corners of our minds', according to Valeria Luiselli. She adds that it feels like 'someone’s shooting fireworks inside my head'.
Alfio Giuffrida, BONSAI Exp5, 2017.
Imagine a book which will make you wonder what a bonsai symbolizes from the author’s point of view. Literature? 'Caring for a bonsai is like writing, thinks Julio. Writing is like caring for a bonsai, thinks Julio.' Or maybe art in general? How about love? 'They decided to buy a bonsai to symbolize the immense love that united them.' Life? Illusory hopes? Needless to say, all the answers might be correct.
Imagine a book in which the plot, based on a love story, serves only as a catapult for reflection on writing and reading.
Imagine a book which will leave you hungry for more.
Imagine… Actually, you don’t have to imagine anything. Just read Bonsai (2008) by Alejandro Zambra.
Ee Suchin.
folkstar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
keegan_leech's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A strange, enchanting little story about falling in and out of love with a kind of melancholy self-seriousness that I actually really liked. Certainly not for everyone—I imagine it could easily come off as too pretentious—but I found it very charming.
The novel can be whimsically funny, insightful, and emotional in a kind of stilted way that reminded me of some of Sally Rooney or Jeanette Winterson's work. It's more academically-minded moments have the kind of bizarre metaphorical bent that's common to writers like Borges. The sort of thing that can come off as pretentious waffle if you dislike it, but which I enjoy.
At its heart though, Bonsai is a story about falling in and out of love. Finding and then losing connections. And how even brief relationships can change us forever. I think that's a theme worth getting a little pretentious about.
The novel can be whimsically funny, insightful, and emotional in a kind of stilted way that reminded me of some of Sally Rooney or Jeanette Winterson's work. It's more academically-minded moments have the kind of bizarre metaphorical bent that's common to writers like Borges. The sort of thing that can come off as pretentious waffle if you dislike it, but which I enjoy.
At its heart though, Bonsai is a story about falling in and out of love. Finding and then losing connections. And how even brief relationships can change us forever. I think that's a theme worth getting a little pretentious about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse
nachabau's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
rayuelita's review against another edition
2.0
No me ha gustado... A ver cuándo me pongo a seguir con Poeta chileno por donde lo dejé. Me da penita que no me haya gustado.
renlikeren's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bethanycornelius's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5