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destounia 's review for:
One Hundred Years of Solitude
by Gabriel García Márquez
I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like this book. It’s one of the most unique novels I’ve ever come across. However, I'll admit, I didn’t have the most spectacular time reading it, the narrative often dragged for me. I did really enjoyed the weirdness of it all but some parts just took it too far for my taste, I mean the incest ??? I just don't get why it was necessary.
But even so, the more I think back on it, the more this book grows on me. The novel doesn't just tell the story of the Buendias but also mirrors the broader history and culture of Colombia and Latin America as a whole. I loved reading it through that cultural lens. Of course, the more obvious aspects of colonialism and foreign exploitation but also just the more day to day aspects. The way that myth, folklore and superstition blends with reality, the importance of family, tradition and ancestry, the way the Buendias are trapped in cycles, seemingly mirroring the cycles of instability, violence and outside exploitation in Latin America. Even just the detached, matter-of-fact tone of the narration seems to reflect how these terrible and tragic events are just absorbed without excessive shock, people have lived with these extremes for generations. The characters, especially the female ones, are unlike any I've seen before; Meme, Amaranta, Rebeca, Ursula, I have a feeling I won't be forgetting them anytime soon. The writing and imagery was also so beautiful and unique, i'd reread just to see some of those passages again.
So overall, definitely a challenging book and not for everyone, but undoubtedly an extremely important and memorable one.
But even so, the more I think back on it, the more this book grows on me. The novel doesn't just tell the story of the Buendias but also mirrors the broader history and culture of Colombia and Latin America as a whole. I loved reading it through that cultural lens. Of course, the more obvious aspects of colonialism and foreign exploitation but also just the more day to day aspects. The way that myth, folklore and superstition blends with reality, the importance of family, tradition and ancestry, the way the Buendias are trapped in cycles, seemingly mirroring the cycles of instability, violence and outside exploitation in Latin America. Even just the detached, matter-of-fact tone of the narration seems to reflect how these terrible and tragic events are just absorbed without excessive shock, people have lived with these extremes for generations. The characters, especially the female ones, are unlike any I've seen before; Meme, Amaranta, Rebeca, Ursula, I have a feeling I won't be forgetting them anytime soon. The writing and imagery was also so beautiful and unique, i'd reread just to see some of those passages again.
So overall, definitely a challenging book and not for everyone, but undoubtedly an extremely important and memorable one.