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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
reflective
fast-paced
I have to admit that it was really difficult for me to read this book.
Not because of the writing, which is excellent and finely crafted, but because of the main character. I would have appreciated more a whole book about his memories and regrets, I'm sure I would have loved that. The trigger here is his 90th birthday and the present he wants to give to himself. When he starts obsessing about his own desire to own a poor 14-years-old girl, who happens to be sold as a prostitute and still has to experience and learn what intimacy is, the story became honestly disgusting for me. I also didn't appreciate the fact that we don't know the real name of the girl, as she remains sadly just something that this creepy old man wants to possess, and not a (very unfortunate) character with a voice.
2 stars only because of the brilliant writing style.
Not because of the writing, which is excellent and finely crafted, but because of the main character. I would have appreciated more a whole book about his memories and regrets, I'm sure I would have loved that. The trigger here is his 90th birthday and the present he wants to give to himself. When he starts obsessing about his own desire to own a poor 14-years-old girl, who happens to be sold as a prostitute and still has to experience and learn what intimacy is, the story became honestly disgusting for me. I also didn't appreciate the fact that we don't know the real name of the girl, as she remains sadly just something that this creepy old man wants to possess, and not a (very unfortunate) character with a voice.
2 stars only because of the brilliant writing style.
I'm torn. The writing style is lovely, but the subject matter is incredibly taboo. Protagonist unlikeable, though honest.
This novel is like 'love in the time of cholera' literally. A 90-yr old man fell in love for the first time to a 14-yr old Lolita/whore in the making.
Somehow like Lolita but there is more love involved here, which is nicer. The story is disturbing and twisted but is elegantly written.
Somehow like Lolita but there is more love involved here, which is nicer. The story is disturbing and twisted but is elegantly written.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Uncomfortable read but worth it. What I took from it was an interesting commentary on colonialism/power and journalism: that the two are inseparable.
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Fluttuavo fra nuvole erratiche e parlavo con me stesso davanti allo specchio nella vana illusione di accertare chi ero":
García Márquez riesce, con assoluta eleganza, a raccontare la storia di un uomo che non ha mai conosciuto l'amore e che, per sua stessa ammissione, non è mai andato con una donna senza pagarla.
"Memoria delle mie puttane tristi" raccoglie i pensieri di un protagonista che, al momento di compiere novant'anni, riflette sulla mancanza di amore nella sua vita, sulla prostituzione nella sua afosa città sudamericana e sulla vita solitaria di un pensionato senza legami. È una toccante riflessione sulla vecchiaia e sulla morte, e su come un novantenne può arrivare a comportarsi come un adolescente innamorato. È una storia che ignora e scardina i pregiudizi sulla vecchiaia e sull'amore.
Márquez scrive come coloro che vivono in pace perché pronti ad accogliere la morte, e che hanno scoperto che non è mai troppo tardi per iniziare a vivere.
García Márquez riesce, con assoluta eleganza, a raccontare la storia di un uomo che non ha mai conosciuto l'amore e che, per sua stessa ammissione, non è mai andato con una donna senza pagarla.
"Memoria delle mie puttane tristi" raccoglie i pensieri di un protagonista che, al momento di compiere novant'anni, riflette sulla mancanza di amore nella sua vita, sulla prostituzione nella sua afosa città sudamericana e sulla vita solitaria di un pensionato senza legami. È una toccante riflessione sulla vecchiaia e sulla morte, e su come un novantenne può arrivare a comportarsi come un adolescente innamorato. È una storia che ignora e scardina i pregiudizi sulla vecchiaia e sull'amore.
Márquez scrive come coloro che vivono in pace perché pronti ad accogliere la morte, e che hanno scoperto che non è mai troppo tardi per iniziare a vivere.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maestro de maestros. El único que vive es el que muere de amor.
This was my first stab at reading Marquez, and damn it didn’t disappoint.
This man’s writing style is so rich and vivid that it really warrants dissection and analysis. I’m happy I started here rather than jumping off the deep end with a more involved work.
Definitely going to reread this at some point but really loved it.
This man’s writing style is so rich and vivid that it really warrants dissection and analysis. I’m happy I started here rather than jumping off the deep end with a more involved work.
Definitely going to reread this at some point but really loved it.