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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Florentino ariza just really needed a hobby
This book was initially a little hard to follow, maybe because a lot of the characters had similar names, but about 100 pages I just surrendered to the confusion. What a stunning book. I finished it marvelling at life’s potential.
A repulsive story told in beautiful words.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking
Minor: Suicide
Very well written but has the syrupy smooth flow of his other books which I find tiring after a while. I loved seeing Urbino's and Fermina's arguments from both perspectives, just wonderful writing. Truly great moment near the end where Florentino is confronted with the ecological disaster of the river boat industry in big, bright images and he could not care the teeniest bit. So many beautiful passages.
Definitely a book along similar lines as Lolita, where the narrator is purposefully obfuscating and rewriting history to some extent. Knowingly and blatantly lying to the "true love" of your life that you've been stalking for 50 years? and this on the heels of finding out that the underage, disgustingly groomed child killed herself after being tossed aside like a broken toy, but Florentino doesn't mind because she didn't leave a note, and he won't get caught. The gall.
Florentino is passion without substance, Urbino is substance without passion
There's definitely some wordplay going on with El cólera: the disease and La cólera: anger, rage, or wrath which is lost in translation.
Definitely a book along similar lines as Lolita, where the narrator is purposefully obfuscating and rewriting history to some extent. Knowingly and blatantly lying to the "true love" of your life that you've been stalking for 50 years? and this on the heels of finding out that the underage, disgustingly groomed child killed herself after being tossed aside like a broken toy, but Florentino doesn't mind because she didn't leave a note, and he won't get caught. The gall.
Florentino is passion without substance, Urbino is substance without passion
There's definitely some wordplay going on with El cólera: the disease and La cólera: anger, rage, or wrath which is lost in translation.
emotional
reflective
slow-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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As soon as Florentino gets in a “relationship” aka grooming a fourteen year old girl, I don’t think that was needed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What is this beauty? I understand now why I hated this book 15 years ago and why I appreciate it too much now.