Helpful Score: 1
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Imagine Anne Tyler (Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe, Searching for Caleb) on speed or maybe crack cocaine and you'll be prepared for Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Tyler's quirky Baltimoreans have nothing on the inhabitants of the mythical town of Macondo, located beside a swamp probably somewhere in his native Columbia, Gabriel Garcia Marquez created for his One Hundred Years of Solitude. As Tyler does in her tales, Gabriel Garcia Marquez focuses on the members of a single family, the Buendias, but does not limit himself to a single generation of same. Beginning with Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula Iguaran the reader is treated to the fortunes and misfortunes of six generations of the Buendia family and those who marry or are adopted into it. And woven throughout the fabric of this quirky family, and those who interact with them, is the ever-present reminder of the title theme, the solitude within which each individual dwells. A fascinating read, owing to the skill of the author who manages to keep his hold, and our interest, on his theme no matter how far afield his characters may wander. But do let me add a word of caution. I highly recommend you follow the suggestion of the title and read this book in solitude because despite Garcia Marquez's Sgt. ("Just the facts, Ma'am") Joe Friday delivery you may as I did find yourself having snickers and barks of derisive laughter followed by moans and sighs of sympathy pulled from you page after page. You see, unlike other authors (even the aforementioned Ms. Tyler) Gabriel Garcia Marquez apparently feels no need to create a background of sanity or even what might be called normalcy against which to paint his quirky characters. Each and every character in the mythical town of Macondo and all of those who interact with them appear on a scale from kinky to coo-coo bonkers, so set your preconceptions aside as you lock yourself away to enjoy this tale.
Don Le Couteur
Ocotillo
5 December 2011
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Imagine Anne Tyler (Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe, Searching for Caleb) on speed or maybe crack cocaine and you'll be prepared for Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Tyler's quirky Baltimoreans have nothing on the inhabitants of the mythical town of Macondo, located beside a swamp probably somewhere in his native Columbia, Gabriel Garcia Marquez created for his One Hundred Years of Solitude. As Tyler does in her tales, Gabriel Garcia Marquez focuses on the members of a single family, the Buendias, but does not limit himself to a single generation of same. Beginning with Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula Iguaran the reader is treated to the fortunes and misfortunes of six generations of the Buendia family and those who marry or are adopted into it. And woven throughout the fabric of this quirky family, and those who interact with them, is the ever-present reminder of the title theme, the solitude within which each individual dwells. A fascinating read, owing to the skill of the author who manages to keep his hold, and our interest, on his theme no matter how far afield his characters may wander. But do let me add a word of caution. I highly recommend you follow the suggestion of the title and read this book in solitude because despite Garcia Marquez's Sgt. ("Just the facts, Ma'am") Joe Friday delivery you may as I did find yourself having snickers and barks of derisive laughter followed by moans and sighs of sympathy pulled from you page after page. You see, unlike other authors (even the aforementioned Ms. Tyler) Gabriel Garcia Marquez apparently feels no need to create a background of sanity or even what might be called normalcy against which to paint his quirky characters. Each and every character in the mythical town of Macondo and all of those who interact with them appear on a scale from kinky to coo-coo bonkers, so set your preconceptions aside as you lock yourself away to enjoy this tale.
Don Le Couteur
Ocotillo
5 December 2011
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