Book Review: What We Tried to Bury Grows Here

Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

A dynamic tale built of different voices and the comprehensive struggles of war

In 1936, Isidro Elejalde leaves his Basque village in Northern Spain to join the combat against the fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War. In the middle of this chaotic conflict, he shares a brief yet meaningful encounter with a writer named Mariana.

Although circumstances force them to go their separate ways, their emotional bond endures as they struggle to keep their beliefs alive and fight to protect their loved ones. Through multiple perspectives, the novel explores the challenges and personal sacrifices imposed by war, interlacing the stories of various characters along with Isidro’s.

“Of all the nightmares this war had delivered to the human body, I wanted a moment of beauty with ours, to escape, but each sensation, each thought and action, was framed by the reality outside, what it’d done to ours. It made me sad for us, for everybody.”

While Isidro serves as the story’s central figure, his journey unfolds through a web of compelling voices, all telling of his life and simultaneously exposing the larger story. These roving points of view enhance the narrative greatly, allowing us to explore the repercussions of war and the struggles faced by those affected, including a female soldier, a teenager whose parents are at war, children involved in the conflict, and many more. 

In most of the chapters, one secondary character takes the leading voice. And how easy and natural it is to adapt to the new guiding narrative in each section! Even when the chapters provide only a brief glimpse into Isidro’s journey, many of the new perspectives prove addicting in and of themselves. Sometimes I wished for clearer resolutions for some of the characters, but these open endings mirror real life; we often don’t know what happens to those we crossed paths along the way. The author weaves each story into a magnificent tapestry.

“I want the life we had before the others started this war.”

The longing for life before the war is a recurrent theme in the transformative paths of many of these characters. Readers should be aware that some passages will be emotionally challenging as they deal with human suffering and the struggle for survival while maintaining one’s humanity. War was, is, and will continue to be a nightmare. Nevertheless, it is important to reflect on it and not forget its repercussions on society.

This captivating novel will spark a desire in many to explore more about the Spanish Civil War and will prove a valuable addition to the shelves of those who already know some of its stories.

In What We Tried to Bury Grows Here, you’ll embark on a tense journey filled with profound reflections and heavy emotion during this transformative, damaging time in World History. Zabalbeascoa’s debut is a sharply compelling exploration of complex war-time themes, featuring a propulsive narrative structure and a story that challenges readers to consider the need for human empathy in difficult times.

“I want this war to end,” I said, “but I want to preserve life. Are both things possible?”

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