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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I remember the first time I picked up this book. I didn't make it all the way through that time. I think it took me until the third try, and then I fell in love with it. I was 22. I thought it was incredibly romantic.
I just reread the book, inspired by the death of Gabriel Garcia Marquez to pick it up again. It was as beautifully written as I remembered, as lush and descriptive and lyrical. But... I'm 24 years older than the first time I read it, and quite a bit further down the road in terms of my feminism. The first time I read the book, I thought it was a love story between two people. Now I see it as very much the story of Florentino Ariza, as he tries to possess a series of women for a variety of reasons.
That's not to say that this isn't a beautiful piece of literature, worthy of enjoying. Only to say that it is not, to me, the same book I fell in love with when I was 22.
I just reread the book, inspired by the death of Gabriel Garcia Marquez to pick it up again. It was as beautifully written as I remembered, as lush and descriptive and lyrical. But... I'm 24 years older than the first time I read it, and quite a bit further down the road in terms of my feminism. The first time I read the book, I thought it was a love story between two people. Now I see it as very much the story of Florentino Ariza, as he tries to possess a series of women for a variety of reasons.
Spoiler
When I reached the subplot about America Vicuna, I was horrified -- and surprised that this plot point hadn't made a bigger impression on my in my youth.That's not to say that this isn't a beautiful piece of literature, worthy of enjoying. Only to say that it is not, to me, the same book I fell in love with when I was 22.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
im so amazed by the last half of this book ive been waiting for literature to grasp me lately been in a slump and this was it. Gonna ruminate and come back with my thoughts. Ok obviously this book leaves an amazing but also horrible taste in my mouth because why is the main character literally Bojack horeseman… but the end really transformed the display of love in old age ugh it was beautiful. And the whole experience of reading it was transformative
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Fue así como se encontró cuando menos lo pensaba en el santuario de un amor extinguido antes de nacer".
¿Qué tanto se acerca la pasión a la muerte?
¿Qué tanto se acerca la pasión a la muerte?
Ugh! The writing in this book was so beautiful- I loved the language he used and the way the plot unfolded- but the main character was so skeezy! The author tried to pass off the progatonist's deviant sexual behavior not only as acceptable but beautiful/true love/natural (i.e. adultery, rape, aaand statutory rape w/ a teenager!! yah). So 5 stars for writing, but zero for content. Ick.
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't decide if I actually liked the experience of reading this book. It is a little bit like having food poisoning after a good meal. Was the meal any less good? The prose and characters are so interesting, but some of their actions make me a little unsure of who the bad guys were.
So many emotions for one book. Parts I savored, others detested. Not just what the characters were going through, but how the book was written, and the personality of the author. It was a true microcosm of life. Especially love and relationships. Few books have done such a thorough job of titillating and disgusting me. I would give it a 5, if it weren't for the racism, and how low it made me feel at times.