Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed on 5/7/2009 + 813 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

This novel, again set in an unnamed country (somewhat esoteric until mention of the liberator: Simon Bolivar), it tells of the love between Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza. It begins as youthful passion cut short when Fermina opts out to marry a rich, elite doctor. None the less, Florentino retains his love through an astounding 51 years 9 months and 4 days. (The author has a penchant for intricate time periods.) He is a paradox, however, as during this time he engages in 662 illicit affairs; but whos counting. At the death of the doctorthe result of a ridiculous accidenthe declares his love again only to be again rebuffed. Flashback to the intricate details of the doctors courtship and early married life mingled with Florentinos rise to fortune and his profligate life. As in One Hundred Years of Solitude, the author, through the medium of the doctor, wells on disease caused by superstition and the local lack of sanitation. Also, he impresses the reader with knowledge of literature, opera, music, et al. He uses some interesting simile and metaphor. More then once our cast drink coffee as thick as crude oil. (Starbucks? Or maybe Seattle Best?) His narrative ranges from eloquent to unnecessarily crude recounting how Fermina uses her sense of smell to locate her missing child, or Florentinos gas attack during his latter courtship of Fermina. Fermina, when after her husbands death, is disposing of household goods she muses Someone should invent something to do with thing that you cannot use anymore but that you still cannot throw out. How about a garage sale? This worked so well for Irma Bombeck that she went out and purchased more goods just to keep the sale going. (The Grass Is Always Greener Under the Septic Tank) Some absurdities aside, this book is a well-written and interesting portrayal of life across social boundaries.

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