literaryinfatuation 's review for:

The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel García Márquez

4.0

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I don’t know if the introduction in English is the same as in Spanish, but it’s hilarious. Gabo basically says that they are only publishing this book ‘cause his a trendy author and due to his own idiocy of not thinking about the proposal carefully. It’s funny and bitter but like in all matters Gabo, it has an undertone of social justice and critique of the establishment. He’s saying it is not his story to tell. And it shows. It’s an amazing, riveting, mesmerizing story of a Colombian sailor lost at sea that managed to survive for 10 days. It has a Life-of-Pi feel to it, but it lacks all of Gabo’s trademarks; no magical realism and no prostitutes or under-age seductresses. Still, it’s a must read. Much better than I ever imagined and the story that probably made him.