Reviews with content warning for Pedophilia - Love in the Time of Cholera

I really hated this book. I’m kind of baffled by all the love it gets. I get that “it’s about a different time”, but the rampant misogyny, racism, weird glorification of rape, a main character who bookends his life by dabbling in pedophilia, and explicitly grooming a young girl when he’s in his 70s, then essentially abandoning her, the stalking... ugh. I just… hated it.

I know that the writing was sometimes beautiful, but in other parts, was practically purple. There were some sex scenes where I was thinking “if I read this exact prose in a standard, mass market romance, I would say it’s schlock and completely overwrought.” (no shade to mass market romance novels. I would rather read 1000 of those than this book).

I hated it.

Content Warnings

sigrros's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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bajammies's review against another edition

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Life is too short to allow the problematic parts in 2024

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hypatiasilver's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This novel contains many beautiful passages worthy of 5 stars. It also contains some of the worst passages and plot points I have ever read.

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cpsawcd's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Un mélange du Comte de Monte-Cristo, de Manon Lescaut et de Lolita, avec comme toile de fond la Colombie des 19e et 20e siècles.
Le livre se lit facilement mais reste décevant, surtout après avoir lu les Douze Contes Vagabonds du même auteur.

Content Warnings

carlamm's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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gartiffany_48's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoy Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s writing. I feel that his writing flows and feels magical. Marquez does a really good job of painting a picture of time and having his characters grow and change. The story bounces between the characters smoothly and I feel like there’s a good balance between their stories. The story did get repetitive at times especially with Florentino’s side but the story always found a way to keep me wanting more.

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brightface77's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Being a classic I thought I would find some redeeming quality to it but I could not. Between the grooming of a child and then discarding her resulting in her suicide and the complete distain the main character has for everyone and everything except for his obsession, I had a heard time with it.

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