evferguson's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
viernes's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah, this book strikes different if you are latin.
I mean, it's hard not to relate when i too have a family that keeps growing no matter what, with cousins that keep appearing from nowhere.
Hard not to relate when my great grandmother was raised in a convent and later whisked away by an italian immigrant in a love story that could rival Helena's and Paris'. When they are described as the shortest, angriest woman you'll ever meet, in love with the tallest, kindest fisherman you'll ever see. Someone so tall that, according to stories, didn't need a boat to fish, he would just stand in the middle of the ocean and cast his net, as if he was some sort of giant sea god. Hard not to relate when everything i read in this book seems more plausible than all the stories i've heard about my ever growing family.
Hard not to relate when the constant political and social turmoil feels more ridiculously fantastical than the adventures of Aureliano. And i'm sure most south americans find it easier to relate to this book too.
It's a book that is hard to like if you are not part of the audience it was written for. However, there is no denying the importance and legacy of this work, wether you personally like it or not. It's a fucking masterpiece with one of the best opening lines i've ever read. I've never seen snow, but when i do, i'm sure it's something i'll remember forever too.
I mean, it's hard not to relate when i too have a family that keeps growing no matter what, with cousins that keep appearing from nowhere.
Hard not to relate when my great grandmother was raised in a convent and later whisked away by an italian immigrant in a love story that could rival Helena's and Paris'. When they are described as the shortest, angriest woman you'll ever meet, in love with the tallest, kindest fisherman you'll ever see. Someone so tall that, according to stories, didn't need a boat to fish, he would just stand in the middle of the ocean and cast his net, as if he was some sort of giant sea god. Hard not to relate when everything i read in this book seems more plausible than all the stories i've heard about my ever growing family.
Hard not to relate when the constant political and social turmoil feels more ridiculously fantastical than the adventures of Aureliano. And i'm sure most south americans find it easier to relate to this book too.
It's a book that is hard to like if you are not part of the audience it was written for. However, there is no denying the importance and legacy of this work, wether you personally like it or not. It's a fucking masterpiece with one of the best opening lines i've ever read. I've never seen snow, but when i do, i'm sure it's something i'll remember forever too.
sarahataz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
chloeew's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mmmkay's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sirosoni's review against another edition
3.0
I've heard and read mixed reviews on this book, and perhaps if I had time to read it quickly I would have enjoyed it more. It was hard for me to get through. Every time I picked it up, I had to backtrack to get the current characters straight, and understand what was going on (and sometimes it didn't help much).
I am happy I stuck with it to the end because it did come full circle and that gave me some satisfaction, but it's not a book I am eager to re-read nor recommend.
I am happy I stuck with it to the end because it did come full circle and that gave me some satisfaction, but it's not a book I am eager to re-read nor recommend.
pola_esguerrar's review against another edition
4.0
Antes de empezar a leer este libro, quise leer algunas de las reseñas que enconté en Goodreads para saber más o menos con qué me iba a encontrar. Y este libro tiene opiniones muy polarizadas:
- Por un lado hay personas que lo aman y lo ven como esta gran obra literaria,
- y por el otro lado, hay personas que no entienden por qué es un novel de literatura si narra la vida de una familia como por 5 generaciones todos llamandose igual.
Definitivamente puedo entender las dos pocisiones. Acepto que el hecho de que todos se llamen de la misma manera hace perder un poco el hilo de la historia y que a momentos los sucesos son absurdos. Sin embargo, hace una gran demostración de la frase "la historia se repite", pero no del modo en que todos la conocemos de que quien no conoce la historia esta condenado a repetirla, pero mas desde el punto de las dinámicas familiares.
Para mí, lo que más me gustó de este libro es que vi reflejado hechos historicos importantes del país (Colombia) que yo no viví y pude entenderun poco cómo fueron tergiversados y consumidos por sus habitantes. Pero también vi reflejado el carácter fuerte y berraco de salir a delante y de no dejarse arruinar a pesar de las circunstancias.
No es un libro que vaya a recomendar y no es un libro que diga "qué divertido, vamos a releer" porque si que me costó terminarlo. Pero entiendo su importancia y por qué es tan aclamado, aunque no comparto toda la bulla que le hacen.
- Por un lado hay personas que lo aman y lo ven como esta gran obra literaria,
- y por el otro lado, hay personas que no entienden por qué es un novel de literatura si narra la vida de una familia como por 5 generaciones todos llamandose igual.
Definitivamente puedo entender las dos pocisiones. Acepto que el hecho de que todos se llamen de la misma manera hace perder un poco el hilo de la historia y que a momentos los sucesos son absurdos. Sin embargo, hace una gran demostración de la frase "la historia se repite", pero no del modo en que todos la conocemos de que quien no conoce la historia esta condenado a repetirla, pero mas desde el punto de las dinámicas familiares.
Para mí, lo que más me gustó de este libro es que vi reflejado hechos historicos importantes del país (Colombia) que yo no viví y pude entenderun poco cómo fueron tergiversados y consumidos por sus habitantes. Pero también vi reflejado el carácter fuerte y berraco de salir a delante y de no dejarse arruinar a pesar de las circunstancias.
No es un libro que vaya a recomendar y no es un libro que diga "qué divertido, vamos a releer" porque si que me costó terminarlo. Pero entiendo su importancia y por qué es tan aclamado, aunque no comparto toda la bulla que le hacen.
skull_in_connemara's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
prlaw1517's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A masterpiece of writing—the writing was so good even the questionable bits didn’t stop me from enjoying the novel. Fascinating circular plot, it’s like reading a secular Genesis. Learned more about Colombian history as well. The only “downside” is that because this book inspired a generation of magical realism, sometimes it feels “tropey”. But these are where the tropes originated, so I give it a pass.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Moderate: Colonisation and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Suicide
piowono's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes