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A review by jill_holly
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I have often heard this one described as a work of art or a favourite. The author has won a Nobel Prize, after all.
But, it just wasn't for me.
As much as this book wasn't my jam, the writing was beautiful. It's unique and lyrical; I had to re-read parts to make sure I understood the ugly things it was describing at times.
Those awful things? A LOT of inc3st and rap3 that I did not expect. It almost felt like a core theme. The story mostly focused on the men in the Buendía family and they didn't seem to me to have any redeeming qualities. Prone to pride, obsession, and lust, they kinda did whatever they wanted and the women in their wake tried to hold everything together.
Some of the women, though, were compelling, and I enjoyed the passages that focused on their lives. Úrsula, the matriarch, was such a complex and interesting character. Alive for nearly the whole book, she single-handedly holds everything together. I felt so much for her.
Another female character standout was Remedios the Beauty. Unapologetically weird and doing her own thing without shame, I could have read a whole book of her. She almost seems like a prototype for the unhinged women I love in fiction today.
But, it just wasn't for me.
As much as this book wasn't my jam, the writing was beautiful. It's unique and lyrical; I had to re-read parts to make sure I understood the ugly things it was describing at times.
Those awful things? A LOT of inc3st and rap3 that I did not expect. It almost felt like a core theme. The story mostly focused on the men in the Buendía family and they didn't seem to me to have any redeeming qualities. Prone to pride, obsession, and lust, they kinda did whatever they wanted and the women in their wake tried to hold everything together.
Some of the women, though, were compelling, and I enjoyed the passages that focused on their lives. Úrsula, the matriarch, was such a complex and interesting character. Alive for nearly the whole book, she single-handedly holds everything together. I felt so much for her.
Another female character standout was Remedios the Beauty. Unapologetically weird and doing her own thing without shame, I could have read a whole book of her. She almost seems like a prototype for the unhinged women I love in fiction today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War