Drifts by Kate Zambreno

Oftentimes when I am reading a pre-publication book for review, I will have a notebook by my side in case I want to jot down a sentence or a thought that I may want to use. Suffice it to say, after reading “Drifts” by Kate Zambreno, I need a new notebook.

The references that Zambreno uses are ample and remarkable. They are primarily literary, but also from film, music, painting, sculpture, dance, and architecture. In many cases they are references that I recognize and want to re-explore. In others, I just want to drop what I am doing and go down whatever rabbit hole Ms. Zambreno suggests, trusting that it will give me an experience I will never forget. (Rainer Marie Rilke — I promise that I will get back to you ASAP).

I am not sure how to classify “Drifts”. It’s probably best to not classify it at all. I suppose it is autofiction, a Sebald for our day and time. Most importantly it totally absorbed me. I could follow along on each hill and valley, the good days and the bad, the euphoria and the depression. A wonderful treat for serious readers and a must read for aspiring writers.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC.