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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I’m absolutely in 2 minds about this book. On the one hand, the writing is exquisite; the prose is all at once to the point, comedic, and romantic. The ending was lovely, and the way he depicts love in its many stages of life can be (somewhat) accurate. On the other hand, there were just … so many things I disliked. The way in which he wrote the women in the novel … you could definitely tell they were written by a man. Sometimes the writing could be so disgusting that I had to pause and consider if I even wanted to finish the novel. A good example:
“He was the first man Fermina Daza ever heard urinate. She heard him on their wedding night, while she lay prostrate with seasickness in the stateroom on the ship that was carrying them to France, and the sound of his stallion’s stream seemed so potent, so replete with authority, that it increased her terror of the devastation to come.”
I mean ?? Absolutely disgusting. I could’ve died happily knowing I never read the term “stallions stream”.
Let’s not forget to mention the racism! Granted, a different time period means that this was (unbelievably and shamefully) excused, but still pretty hair raising and anger inducing to read. And the PEDOPHILIA at the end. It’s pretty hard to stay invested in your main characters successes when he’s utilising “baby games” to get “a little kiss on her papa’s delicious little dicky bird”. The visceral disgust I experienced reading that sentence was unlike anything I’ve had yet for any other book. For this reason alone I cannot give this book more than 3 stars.
“He was the first man Fermina Daza ever heard urinate. She heard him on their wedding night, while she lay prostrate with seasickness in the stateroom on the ship that was carrying them to France, and the sound of his stallion’s stream seemed so potent, so replete with authority, that it increased her terror of the devastation to come.”
I mean ?? Absolutely disgusting. I could’ve died happily knowing I never read the term “stallions stream”.
Let’s not forget to mention the racism! Granted, a different time period means that this was (unbelievably and shamefully) excused, but still pretty hair raising and anger inducing to read. And the PEDOPHILIA at the end. It’s pretty hard to stay invested in your main characters successes when he’s utilising “baby games” to get “a little kiss on her papa’s delicious little dicky bird”. The visceral disgust I experienced reading that sentence was unlike anything I’ve had yet for any other book. For this reason alone I cannot give this book more than 3 stars.
Not sure if it was the right time in my life to read this.
Florentino was down bad
Florentino was down bad
As you can tell by the length of time it took me to read this, I felt it was a drifting story and extremely slow moving. That said, the final courtship almost is worth the long, slow build. However, no love story can excuse child molestation. The fact that Florentino essentially brushes off America's death shows how despicable he is. I really don't understand the love for this book.
Florentino Ariza is a pedophile, right? I mean, that's sort of glossed over in the book, but he's no better than Humbert Humbert in Lolita.
Good book, though.
Good book, though.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic
Márquez is an unbelievable writer; his prose is so elegant, confident, and relaxed. This novel is incredibly magical, with enough romance and heartbreak to last one a lifetime.
I finally understand what all the fuss over Gabriel Garcia Marquez is about. Started off a bit dense, but once I picked up the style it didn't seem that way. The story is compelling, and there's just enough magic in the realism to give it a distinct feel and the last paragraph is great.
I've been meaning to finish this ever since I put it aside 15 years ago and I'm so glad I finally got back to it. I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his simple yet evocative language. I love how he jumps around in time, adding more nuance to each retelling of his characters' history.