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One Hundred Years of Solitude
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Gregory Rabassa (Translator)
The story of the rise and fall of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the family. It is a rich and brilliant chronicle of life and death, and the tragicomedy of humankind. In the noble, ridiculous, beautiful, and tawdry story of the family, one sees all of humanity, just as in the history, myths, growth, and decay of Macondo, one...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780330255592
ISBN-10: 0330255592
Publication Date: 10/6/1978
Pages: 336
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 6

4.4 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Pan Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
If read slowly and with great attention, this will be one of the best books you've ever read. If you are in the mood for a fast and fun book, put this one down and choose something else. This book will not be enjoyed if read one or two pages here, one or two pages there. It requires time and dedication, but the pay-off is great. When things get slow in the middle, find encouragement that the last 50 pages are worth the wait.
rae-demerise avatar reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on
Helpful Score: 9
Marquez is a truly brilliant author. His use of 'mystical realism' weaves for the reader a tale that is both completely fanciful and utterly believeable at the same time. It was a beautifully intriguing story.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I don't really think this book needs my recommendation. It's a legend by itself already and I doubt what I have to say will influence your opinion more than the book when you actually read it. Still, I'll try to say what to expect and what not to expect.

Most readers don't need this warning, but some will probably catch the book because it's "well known and great". Remember, this is a classical novel, not some action one. If you need action and adventure, go elsewhere, just don't try to plow over the book and then give it a one-star rating - you have been warned.

Warnings aside, for a short description. The book is actually a case-study of one family's lives in a small village "on the edge of nowhere" (supposedly in South America, on the verge of the XIX and XX century, but this is not something you want to attach too much attention to, since the village is actually a sort of "neverland" and its geographical location is, I think, only due to the fact that Marquez felt better describing places that felt 'nearer' to him).

The book is actually a philosophical work, best described I think as a study of situations when a human being, though seemingly surrounded by friends, relatives and even loved ones, is actually alone. Hence the title - it's actually a study of solitude without solitude, a solitude among people. A study made by a brilliant writer, in a breathtaking style which makes the book read like a thriller. Marquez builds the magical place that is the village very meticulously, making you almost want to seek out this neverland in reality.

The main value of this book, its characters, atmosphere and the philosophy is not something you can describe in a review. You will just have to find it out for yourself. Which I greatly urge you to.
animlgrl avatar reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 84 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Very different, interesting...though a difficult read. I was glad they had a family tree in the front since most of the men in the book shared the same names. Fantasy-type story of a family in Mexico, with characters that live over 150 years, live tied to trees, and survive firing squads. Not the book if you're looking for an easy, quick read.
kitmarshall avatar reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on
Helpful Score: 3
At first I couldn't get into it. I read a couple hundred pages and then stopped.. confused by so many names like the book of Genesis. However, some friends urged me to continue reading and I am so happy they did. This has become one of my favorite books and Garcia Marquez has definitely become one of my favorite authors. I've grown to enjoy his outlandish stories told in such a matter-of-fact tone. This book is all about the big picture (and is quite possibly enjoyed more in hindsight)... filled with stories of muted, yet colorful lives.
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reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 51 more book reviews
This book was recommended to me, and I must say I was leary of it from the recommendation. Found it in a thrift store and thought, I'll try it on a rainy day. SURPRISE! This is a creatively written story that will keep your mind charged and challenged. Marquez captures the heart of his story in his colorful characters and some surrealism thrown about here and there. Wonderful.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 3 more book reviews
This book stretched my brain and left me wondering if I really got it at all.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 3 more book reviews
Nice shortened version of the story. MY KIDS love the book and it is a great bedtime length.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 19 more book reviews
A childhood favorite.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 76 more book reviews
This is one of my childhood favorites and my daughter's too!
rediflex avatar reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on
Originally published in the 1960′s in the Spanish language with the title Cien Anos del Soledad, Marquez recounts the rise and fall of the mythic town of Macondo, and with it, the line of Buendia family. The story follows Jose Arcadio Buendia, the patriarch of the Buendia clan and his wife into the swamps to build a town and a family, and their struggle to keep the town going while avoiding the tendency of their familys children to be born with pigs tails. Periodic visits by bands of gypsys early in the story incite creativity and madness in the towns forefather. The madness continues to consume the family one by one, and we follow all the different tastes of solitude that plague the Buendias, down to the last Aureliano, who becomes the first -and last- to decipher the parchments of the immortal gypsy Melquiades.

Early on in the story, it becomes clear that the fabric of the story is of the whimsical sort. However, Marquez tells the wild tale in a completely natural voice, as though the book merely told the story of why the sky is blue. Initially this style of writing threw me for a bit of a loop, but once I got used to it, I came to see that the writing style absolutely makes this story.

The unfortunate point of the book is the familys penchant for recycling names. At first I wondered why Jose Arcadio Buendia was always called by his full name, but as the story wore on I discovered that it was to keep the reader from going insane trying to track all the Jose Arcadios and Aurelianos (of which there end up being roughly 20)! Even with the trick of using different combinations of first, middle and last names and nicknames, I still found myself wondering which who was what at times. All this aside, I found the book a very interesting and amusing read. Ive seen this book listed as one of the 1001 books to read before you die and Id have to say I agree with that judgement.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on
While the book was interesting to read, it was very confusing due to a lot of the characters having similar names and too many being talked about at the same time. I wish that I had read this as part of a class, I think that I would've gotten a lot more out of it! I guess reading along with Cliffnotes or something would be helpful just to keep everything straight.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on
This is probably my favorite book that I have read. I love it. Read it.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 51 more book reviews
Haunting classic that will stick with you long after you read it. The writer has a certain style so you will either love it or hate it.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 2 more book reviews
A classic and one to re-re-re-read.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 12 more book reviews
So beautifully written.
melaniern1 avatar reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 13 more book reviews
What a richly detailed story of family life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the dysfunctional and fantastical family.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 2 more book reviews
This is not a quick read, but it is worth it!! I made the mistake of putting this book down for a few weeks, and I felt completely lost when I tried to get back into it! This book definitely puts you in another world. It's completely different from anything I have ever read - mystifying, haunting and full of beautiful images and metaphors. Really a one of a kind piece of literature.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 25 more book reviews
The best book I've ever read. A book about humanity and all the beauty and passion of life itself. Alchemy. Love, sex and incest. Butterflies. Death. Courtship. Illness. Lucidity in the mist of what would seem like madness.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 3 more book reviews
This is a classic. It is also a little hard to read, in my opinion. It is a translation, and I wonder if the value of the author's writing would be better recognized in the native language, probably so. But the characters are rich as can be.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on
One of the better books I've ever read. Thought provoking.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 55 more book reviews
A very fanciful and different read. The author writes creatively and beautifully.
reviewed One Hundred Years of Solitude on + 104 more book reviews
great book, every one should read it

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