A review by buddhafish
The Private Lives of Trees by Alejandro Zambra

3.0

130th book of 2022.

3.5. A strange little book, my first Zambra as I've continually failed to find a copy of Chilean Poet. Clocking in at 80 pages exactly, it can be read in an afternoon, really, though my reading was staggered either side of work. The novel is framed around the narrator waiting for his stepdaughter's mother to return for the night. It is even said, something like, The novel can end when she returns. Coming to the end one does feel this like a little timid but strangely powerful wave, like the sort that bowl you over when you're sitting playfully within the first foot of seawater. At once it's forgettable in a way (I have a tricky relationship with short novels, I must admit, I'm in love with sprawlers), but also poignant. Now, even more so, my look for more Zambra continues. This is published by Fitzcarraldo in February next year and I recommend it as an afternoon's read. Thanks to Fitzcarraldo for the advance copy to review.