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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite book by Garcia Marquez... Not quite enough of the magical realism that I usually enjoy in his works.
salbulga's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
maria_94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
4.25
jalalslava's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
The fragile peace in an unnamed town unravels as lampoons regarding the citizens are posted on doors and houses. There is an oppressive heat and atmosphere pervading the town that lends many a dream like quality to the novel. Political grievances take over the narrative and I did find it helpful afterward to read a little about the political landscape of the time when GGM was writing. A very fragile peace...
rubbercitykitten's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
tonytharakan's review against another edition
2.0
I can't say I have read everything Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote, but "In Evil Hour" (La Mala Hora) doesn't seem to be his best work. First published in 1962 (in a bowdlerized version that Marquez disowned), it is now considered a forerunner to "One Hundred Years of Solitude", his masterpiece.
In a Colombian town, lampoons appear on walls and doors, targeting its residents. Everyone is worried that they may become the subject of the malicious rumours. And a murder later, things get really serious.
As usual the novel is populated with some great characters, but my problem with "In Evil Hour" is I didn't care enough for them. Some of the minor ones seemed to just drop off the pages, never to be seen or heard again. And the mystery of the lampoons is never solved.
"It's the whole town and it's nobody," says a fortune-teller from a travelling circus and that enigmatic reply is supposed to satisfy the reader.
Marquez fans would never forgive me but this novel seemed more like a collection of good character sketches of people going about their daily lives. (Some weird ones there, btw)
Maybe I am supposed to see the larger picture. Perhaps I should wait till my Spanish is good enough to read the original. Or maybe I should stick to his later, and more famous, works.
In a Colombian town, lampoons appear on walls and doors, targeting its residents. Everyone is worried that they may become the subject of the malicious rumours. And a murder later, things get really serious.
As usual the novel is populated with some great characters, but my problem with "In Evil Hour" is I didn't care enough for them. Some of the minor ones seemed to just drop off the pages, never to be seen or heard again. And the mystery of the lampoons is never solved.
"It's the whole town and it's nobody," says a fortune-teller from a travelling circus and that enigmatic reply is supposed to satisfy the reader.
Marquez fans would never forgive me but this novel seemed more like a collection of good character sketches of people going about their daily lives. (Some weird ones there, btw)
Maybe I am supposed to see the larger picture. Perhaps I should wait till my Spanish is good enough to read the original. Or maybe I should stick to his later, and more famous, works.
cat_literary_world's review against another edition
5.0
"A hora má: o veneno da Madrugada" é, a par com "Cem anos de solidão", o meu livro preferido de García Marquez. Na verdade, esta é uma história curta que se passa numa povoação onde são colocados pasquins. Ninguém sabe quem os coloca, o que é escrito não é uma novidade - é, até, do conhecimento geral - mas parece que o ato de escrever torna a ofensa/crime/transgressão mais grave. A realidade materializa-se nas palavras escritas.
Esta história mostra-nos a importância da escrita, o impacto que tem na vida dos demais, e os problemas que advém dos boatos, como isso pode ter um impacto negativo na vida de alguém.
Esta história mostra-nos a importância da escrita, o impacto que tem na vida dos demais, e os problemas que advém dos boatos, como isso pode ter um impacto negativo na vida de alguém.
pltslrjhnna's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
stonecoldjaneausten's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25