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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Just like we take some time to mentally process an accident, recently happened to us, this book had the same impact on me. It is distinct from a crime thriller because it not only begins in media res but also has the seminal event stated in the very first chapter. (I wouldn't disclose what this main event was because that would be a major spoiler.) But I can't believe the fact that this book is still able to grasp your interest from the very first page even with the mention of its most important occurrence. This strings together all the characters and the narrator, an investigative journalist, goes on enquiring each character his relation to the criminal offence and its victim.
(Again, I had to make a flowchart because this book contains several characters with names I stuttered countless times in an attempt to pronounce correctly.)
It is based on the real life incident when the brothers of Margarita Chika Salas had committed a so-called "honour" killing in the heat of vengeance. Honour killing is viewed through the amplified lens of magic realism and achieves a new dimension through the retelling of Marquez. The title itself is reverberated through the faltering sequence of one heinous and horrifying episode. (So the clue is in the title itself)
It is a vivid rendering of a crime with minute details and time stamps. Marquez's journalistic narrative technique hooks the readers to the end of the novel. This book is a breathing page-turner. I finished it in 4 days and it has been the most traumatising read despite the spoiler being in the first chapter.
Despite its convoluted narrative, it is able to tie its readers to its mysterious plot. It sprays sand into the eyes of the readers by not following a linear progression of incidents and playing with time in itself. For instance, on the one hand it focusses on the past and on the other it unravels the events of the present.
It involves a multi ethnic story in which female African slaves, brought from the Caribbean during the Spanish Civil war, were victims of sexual exploitation by affluent male members who belonged to a privileged strata of society. It also sheds light on the descendants of Turks that left the Ottoman Empire during the later half of the 19th century.
Marquez develops a critical stance when talking about the then patriarchal prejudices towards women. The women in the novel do not take a stand against the notion of bartering them in marriage and hence it also highlights the helplessness embedded in the hearts of many silent women. The internalised patriarchy is highlighted through the character of Placida Linero, the mother of Angela Vicario. She has trained her daughter to bow to her would-be husband's terms—"our daughters have been raised to suffer."
What I particularly loved was Marquez's writing from the psychology of butchers and portraying the difference between butchers and murderers.
I loved the book and would highly recommend it only to people who can endure gory and gruesome details of an autopsy, a murder or butchering.
(Again, I had to make a flowchart because this book contains several characters with names I stuttered countless times in an attempt to pronounce correctly.)
It is based on the real life incident when the brothers of Margarita Chika Salas had committed a so-called "honour" killing in the heat of vengeance. Honour killing is viewed through the amplified lens of magic realism and achieves a new dimension through the retelling of Marquez. The title itself is reverberated through the faltering sequence of one heinous and horrifying episode. (So the clue is in the title itself)
It is a vivid rendering of a crime with minute details and time stamps. Marquez's journalistic narrative technique hooks the readers to the end of the novel. This book is a breathing page-turner. I finished it in 4 days and it has been the most traumatising read despite the spoiler being in the first chapter.
Despite its convoluted narrative, it is able to tie its readers to its mysterious plot. It sprays sand into the eyes of the readers by not following a linear progression of incidents and playing with time in itself. For instance, on the one hand it focusses on the past and on the other it unravels the events of the present.
It involves a multi ethnic story in which female African slaves, brought from the Caribbean during the Spanish Civil war, were victims of sexual exploitation by affluent male members who belonged to a privileged strata of society. It also sheds light on the descendants of Turks that left the Ottoman Empire during the later half of the 19th century.
Marquez develops a critical stance when talking about the then patriarchal prejudices towards women. The women in the novel do not take a stand against the notion of bartering them in marriage and hence it also highlights the helplessness embedded in the hearts of many silent women. The internalised patriarchy is highlighted through the character of Placida Linero, the mother of Angela Vicario. She has trained her daughter to bow to her would-be husband's terms—"our daughters have been raised to suffer."
What I particularly loved was Marquez's writing from the psychology of butchers and portraying the difference between butchers and murderers.
I loved the book and would highly recommend it only to people who can endure gory and gruesome details of an autopsy, a murder or butchering.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Me lo lei hace unos años y verdaderamente me encantó. Me gusta mucho como el escritor se maneja con las palabras y su forma de expresarse es preciosa. De este libro lo que mas destaca es como se cuenta la historia, empiezas sabiendo el final pero realmente no sabes lo que ocurre hasta que te has leido todo el libro. Me marco mucho y gracias a él entendí que la lectura era algo muy bonito de lo que disfrutar.
The book's title explains the plot... It's about a man whose death is foretold but somehow doesn't prevent it from happening.
It was an interesting read. I found the writing style to be riveting and quite beautiful. There are so many things about this book that make you think... the concept of virginity, gossip, justice, revenge.
Negatives? I found it a bit slow, especially at the beginning. It was pretty hard for me to get into.
It was okay! I see why so many people love it, I just don't think it's a new favorite of mine.
3.5/4 stars
It was an interesting read. I found the writing style to be riveting and quite beautiful. There are so many things about this book that make you think... the concept of virginity, gossip, justice, revenge.
Negatives? I found it a bit slow, especially at the beginning. It was pretty hard for me to get into.
It was okay! I see why so many people love it, I just don't think it's a new favorite of mine.
3.5/4 stars
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes