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arasandel's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
josemclr's review against another edition
5.0
Al principio no me convencía mucho e incluso abandoné la lectura algunos días pero decidí darle otra oportunidad. Me calló la boca, realmente lo hizo. Se me hizo super interesante, divertida y conmovedora. Aprendí mucho de poesía, de quienes escriben poesía y de quienes escriben poesía y además son chilenxs.
anyajulchen's review against another edition
4.0
Es un libro maravilloso que toca temas desde la paternidad por pareja a las vicisitudes de los artistas en contextos de Latinoamérica. La escritura fantástica, se lee tan sencillo y, a la vez, es tan profundo el subtexto, que no te da sino a reflexionar cada detalle y suceso.
Seguro cuando lo relea encontraré lecciones nuevas.
Seguro cuando lo relea encontraré lecciones nuevas.
ccmedicen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
quizlitbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This charming novel follows Gonzalo, an aspiring poet, from his teen-age sonnets and sexual escapades to his relationship with a girlfriend, Carla, and her son, whom Gonzalo adopts as his stepson. (Gonzalo notes the unfortunate resonance between the Spanish for stepfather, padrastro, and poetastro, bad poet.) The stepson, Vicente, also wants to be a poet, and the second half of the novel sends up the Chilean literary scene as he guides a gringa journalist through a country where poetry is a national passion. As one character says, “Being a Chilean poet is like being a Peruvian chef or a Brazilian soccer player or a Venezuelan model.”
Modern and inventive, Zambra is both playful yet potent in his prose. This is a fascinating insight into the rich Chilean history of poetry as well as being a personal portrayal of a young poet's longings, loves and family. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read, at times funny, sometimes poignant but never dull.
I included Chilean Poet in my Best of 2022 Recommendations on my blog
https://quizlit.org/best-books-2022
Modern and inventive, Zambra is both playful yet potent in his prose. This is a fascinating insight into the rich Chilean history of poetry as well as being a personal portrayal of a young poet's longings, loves and family. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read, at times funny, sometimes poignant but never dull.
I included Chilean Poet in my Best of 2022 Recommendations on my blog
https://quizlit.org/best-books-2022
jay_catsby's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cancille's review
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
4.0
At first this book was gonna get a 3.75 because the middle kinda lost me but the ending brought it back up. I don’t know much about poetry and I don’t think I have exercised my brain enough in the poetry department to know how to appreciate but I liked how this book was a glimpse into the Chilean poetry scene. This book made me want to 1) learn more about poetry and actually read some and 2) go to Santiago. There’s a poem at the end of this book called “Garfield” that absolutely ripped my heart out.
danacanterino's review against another edition
4.0
Es el primer libro que leo del autor y me gustó muchísimo. Es bastante largo, y a pesar de eso me lo leí en dos días, porque es interesante y directo, nada pretencioso, presenta personajes tan normales y típicos que creo, esa es la gracia de la historia. No es nada espectacular ni original, son historias comunes de gente que se enamora, tiene familia, estudia y vive una vida relativamente normal, pero la forma de narrar del autor, hace que cada evento, a pesar de ser ordinario, sea atrapante de leer.