Love in the time of cholera

Der Klappentext bezeichnet es als "Liebesroman", ich kann dem nur bedingt zustimmen. Der Protagonist ist besessen von der Frau, die ihn zurückgewiesen hat, das lässt ihn 50 Jahre nicht los. Aus seiner Perspektive ist sie seine wahre, große Liebe. Meiner Ansicht nach verhält er sich zunehmend creepy. Das spanische "la cólera" kann auch Zorn bedeuten, könnte sein, dass es das ist, was ihn im Innersten antreibt; der Zorn, zurückgewiesen worden zu sein. Bin erst 2/3 durch, mal sehen was noch passiert. Sehr gutes Buch bis jetzt.

I had a hard time with this book. I fell in love with the beauty of Garcia Marquez's writing very quickly, but didn't take too much longer to find the stupidity of most of the characters and the incomprehensibility of many of their actions grating. The fabulous prose kept me reading, albeit slowly and in short bursts, until about 3/4 of the way through the book suddenly it all fell into place for me, and I fell wholly in love with the book--story, characters and all--from that point until the deeply affecting ending.

I'm not sure I want to read another long novel by Garcia Marquez, because there were too many times in the middle when I was about to give up, but this has made me very keen to read some of his short stories and journalism.

Whew! I finally finished this book...and I am glad I did. For some reason this book never inspired that "page turner" fever in me. Don't get me wrong, it held my attention and I did love it, but I was never in a race to finish this book. I'm not sure what it was about this story that allowed me to interrupt it with other books, then come back. Maybe I subconsciously wanted to savor the story.

I'll let others decide this books virtues and place in the pantheon of literature. I loved the beautifully drawn characters. I loved the vivid sense of place and period. I loved the dense sentences, each one chewy and sweet. I loved the humanity in this novel.

I didn't love the pacing, yet I doubt I would want it changed - back to that savoring thing, I guess. I should have read this book on a cruise, then I wouldn't be picking nits.

I do think you should read this book. Just don't tempt yourself by putting other books on your nightstand at the same time.