Love in the Time of Cholera: Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Penguin Modern Classics)

I came to this book not really knowing anything about it, other than the fact that it is comes highly recommenced and that it often appears of lists of '100 books to read before you die' and their ilk. So other than expecting it to be good, I approached it with a relatively open mind. What I discovered was not so much a novel as a love letter; it is a love letter addressed to love itself. The story focusses on three individuals and charts their experiences of love over the course of a lifetime. Many varieties of love are explored: faithful, unfaithful, obsessive, innocent and (a warning for the more cautious reader) this involves some descriptions of sex and, towards the end of the book, an account of paedophilia. That said, it was never pornographic or particularly vulgar; it was carefuly done. Marquez writes in a very vivid way, with visceral descriptions of his characters and settings. So even though there is very little 'action' in the book, there are passages of extreme floridity, where the reader is just immersed in his world, drawn in by the beautiful phraseology. I read this as an English translation although it was clearly translated by an American, which has resulted in the book being punctuated by spelling and grammatical errors and one or two sentences that simply make no sense whatsoever, but don't let that distract from overall quality of the book. Marquez's writing is just too good to be ruined by the translation. I cannot really recommend it enough to you. It is not a particularly short book, but reading it never felt like a chore. It was a joy to go through from start to finish and it is a book I am sure I will read again in the future.

This is an eloquently written tribute to what Steinman described as the mystery and the muscle of love. At times poignant, ridiculous, passionate and deluded but always lyrical and beautiful. Marquez paints a vivid picture of post colonial Cartegena, providing a convincing social history and his description of the changing landscape surrounding the Magdalena river are powerful testament to the ravages of human activity and time. Indeed the novel is also a moving tribute to the human ageing process. An accomplished testimony to the absurdities of love, ageing and human frailty.

Brilliant book, couldn’t put it down

Fifty-one years, nine months and four days have passed since Fermina Daza rebuffed hopeless romantic Florentino Ariza's impassioned advances and married Dr Juvenal Urbino instead. During that half-century, Flornetino has fallen into the arms of many delighted women but has loved none but Fermina. When Fermina's husband is killed trying to retrieve his pet parrot from a mango tree, Florentino seizes his chance to declare his enduring love. But is it too late? I have to admit to finding this a tad tedious and a little hollow. I appreciate that it is set at the end of the nineteenth century, in Columbia when social interactions were very different from today. Religion was key and there was ever present disease. The description of the characters was vivid but reminded me of intricate paintings rather than real life people. I did read to the end, wanting to know how it finished. It reminded me of ‘Waiting for Godot’ with a weak ending. Perhaps it’s just not the sort of book I particularly enjoy despite having an eclectic taste.

Quality print. As described. Love this ❤️

`Love in the Time of Cholera' is another beautiful book from Gabriel Garcia Marquez that shows us just why he won the nobel prize for literature. This is less fantastical that `One Hundred Years of Solitude' but is as well written and has so many beautiful phrases that leap from the page and enrich your day that is hard to count them all. Following the lives of Fermina Daza, Dr Juvenal Urbino and Florentino Ariza, this book explores love in it's many forms, from it's most sublime, to it's most base. It also explores the affect of over half a centuries unrequited love on one man and what he will do to ease his sorrow and win the heart of the lady he loves. This is set in the Caribbean and the danger of Cholera and other illnesses are an ever present backdrop to the drama that unfolds. This is a book that is sometimes painful, melancholy and sad and also has some humour, joy and happiness, in fact the full gamut of emotions. When you read so many books of average quality one that is as well written as this truly stands out and I felt that way about this book after just twenty pages. It is immediately engaging and poetic and leaves you saddened at having finished and enriched for letting it into your life. Well worth a try. Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

I am at a loss to explain why it took me quite as long as it did to read this book. Considering that I invested more than a month in reaching the last page, you would be forgiven for thinking I did not enjoy the experience - but nothing could be further from the truth. While 'Love in the Time of Cholera' does not quite reach the heights attained by 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' (but then, what could?), it was a tremendous read and one that will stay with me for many years to come. So why did it take me so long to get through the book in its entirety? I think one reason is that I found it so easy to take a break from the narrative; Marquez began his literary career more as the writer of short stories, and in many respects this novel is like a collection of such tales rather than a standalone piece. I was reminded of 'Winesburg, Ohio' on several occasions; we learn about every last romance enjoyed by Florentino Ariza and each takes the shape of a short story; after each, I paused as if to delight in the writing, but then with my attention distracted I put down the book and found something else to do. However, the temptation to give the book up as lost was one I never entertained; I knew I would finish it, if only to see if Ariza ever found the true love he was seeking, and to see if Fermina Daza would become his beloved.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera is a wonderful book on love, time, and the endurance of the human heart. Set in a lush Caribbean city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the novel follows the lifelong connection between Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza. What begins as an intense youthful romance is abruptly severed, sending their lives in separate directions—yet Florentino remains steadfast in his devotion, waiting for decades in the hope that fate will bring them together once more. Marquez’s prose is nothing short of mesmerizing. His ability to blend lyrical storytelling with profound philosophical reflections makes the novel a deeply immersive experience. Love, in his vision, is not just an emotion but a force that evolves, perseveres, and sometimes even deceives. The novel doesn’t romanticize love in the traditional sense; instead, it explores its complexities—obsession, passion, companionship, etc. And the ways in which time reshapes our understanding of it. Beyond its central love story, the novel paints a vivid portrait of an era marked by social change, medical advancements, and the passage of generations. Marquez’s characters are flawed yet unforgettable, their desires and disappointments rendered with striking honesty. The narrative moves at a deliberate, almost meditative pace, which may not appeal to those looking for fast-moving plot twists. For readers willing to work with its rhythms, the reward is a fantastic story. Ultimately, Love in the Time of Cholera is a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. It challenges conventional notions of love and destiny, offering a deeply human exploration of what it means to love someone across a lifetime.

A timeless book, summing up people's emotions in a manner that one can relate to. Gabriel Garcia Marquez suceedes because he writes what the individual thinks. A most enjoyable read

Muy buen producto, coincide con lo ofertado

I'm happy I could find this edition.

Schnelle Lieferung, freue mich aufs lesen