Love in the Time of Cholera

I think it's important not to overthink this novel. As an American of Hispanic descent, I found this book to read like a soap opera/telenovela: "then this love-thing happened and this love-thing happened" with Florentino playing his role much like a soap opera star...never learns, never changes. At least telenovela stars have some sort of a character arch. As well, now with the movie out, I actually found the movie more compelling than the novel because certain character-building events (like Olimpia Zuleta's murder) was handled more carefully than in the novel. GGM treats it almost like a footnote to his Quixotic quest for Fermina- is this misogeny?

Also, while I can appreciate GGM's non-linear narrative, I find that while lyrically written, it does a disservice to his characters and to the reader. Entire passages of exposition, while poetic, show a weakness in craft. As well, like a telenovela it's non-linear narrative turns important character-shaping scenes into random episodes that lack the necessary gravitas because they are plopped down in between other scenes.

What holds the readers attention is the poetic and "florid" language and all the sex Florentino is having. After about half-way through I felt like I was being pandered to, substituting genuine craft with sex scenes and an adolescent protagonist. I guess once you win a Nobel, you can write what you want however you want.

In my opinion, it's a study in how NOT to write a novel. GGM is fortunate that the story itself is compelling in and of itself and he has a poetic grasp of language which makes the book readable.

An acquaintance of mine described the prose as 'too florid'. I can see what he means, but then that's all very subjective.

I liked the florid prose, and the story was direct enough that I could pick it up and put it down without utterly losing my way.

It's a warning of and celebration of love.

ggggareth, it's those books which strike universal chords. Shakespeare does it, so does Tolstoy and Dickens and Dostoyevsky and Pushkin. It's about reaching elemental sources of the endless human struggle, it's abut providing routes to the eternal questions of 'who am I?' and 'why am I here?'. GGM has it - and some other modern authors sometimes have it - but a genius is rare indeed - one who can not only realise that there is a new way of expressing great truths but who can then go on to put them on paper.

I went through a GGM phase in my younger days. I can't dislike this book - it has plenty of charm about it - but I've never considered it brilliant. Perhaps I should read it again, now I've lived more of my life. Tony, I'm intrigued to know if you feel qualified to say which books have "a deep understanding of the human condition"...?

One of the greatest novels ever written. An absolute gem - full of longing, yearning and a deep understanding of the human condition. One of those books you have to read before you die.

One of the most painful things about love is the hope that keeps you longing and obsessed. This guy is afflicted the incurable love disease for 60 long years, and his story will leave you tasting bittersweet hope on your tongue like burnt almonds.