stephyreads10 's review for:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

3.0

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This book is undeniably a classic, and I can see why. One Hundred Years of Solitude is a sweeping, multi-generational story that blends myth, memory, and reality into something almost dreamlike. At its core, it explores how history—both personal and political—repeats itself, often because people refuse (or fail) to learn from the past. The town of Macondo and the Buendía family become a mirror for much bigger truths about love, loss, power, and isolation.

Some lessons that stuck with me:

1. The past never really stays in the past. The repetition of names and traits through generations shows how cycles—of violence, obsession, solitude—continue unless we actively break them.
2. Solitude can protect, but it can also imprison. Every character searches for meaning, but their isolation often becomes their downfall.

I gave it three stars—not because it isn’t brilliant, but because it’s dense. Beautiful, yes, but also exhausting. It took effort to stay emotionally connected, and I often felt like I was admiring the craft more than loving the story.