The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
macnchz's review against another edition
4.0
This was a full, rich novel about a love story that spans a lifetime. At times it got a bit pretentious, and often I felt like skipping ahead. It was a bit too long-winded for its own good. That being said, it does capture very well the many, many ways humans can love each other. It does well at placing itself firmly in time and space. Also, it has some good ruminations on old age.
howzitgoughin's review against another edition
5.0
A straightforward love story in a static world with uncomplicated characters who make unambiguously moral actions that definitely match up with how those characters view themselves.
jacecar50's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
Minor: Incest
mukundshm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There’s a reason this book is so highly regarded, and why people consider it Marquez’s greatest creation.
It’s beautifully written, with stunning descriptions of (specifically) human emotion. I personally really loved the quirky metaphors he used to refer to love.
Love is a motif in this book, in some sense running almost parallel to the Cholera epidemic? I’d expected that to play a much larger part in the book, but it really didn’t. It was like 4 sentences throughout the book.
Additionally, I feel like the plot was a little bit obvious. Maybe it’s because it was written in the 80s, but it feels like I’d read the plot in another book already.
And it was really really slow. Especially the first third of the book was extremely hard to read through, cause the plot just wasn’t moving forward. It was only the last 20% of the book that was gripping.
To conclude, the book is definitely worth a read, but only if you don’t really have any other books on your TBR already. It’s good - especially the writing - but I didn’t enjoy the pacing or the story itself too much.
Content Warnings
The book is a lifelong love triangle.
There are two main characters - Fermina Daza, and her first love Florentino Ariza - and it’s about their love story (mainly). Fermina Daza marries a high-class doctor, Juvenal Urbino, after her fling with Ariza doesn’t work out in their younger days, but Ariza swears to keep his fidelity for her (but he’s barely successful in doing so). After Urbino’s death, the story starts.
Does Fermina Daza take Florentino Ariza back? Do they even remember each other? What will they do?
goldmorgane's review against another edition
1.0
I feel like I was supposed to love this book- it has all the elements I typically appreciate: a slow burn romance, dark humor, intricate relationships and more But truth be told, this was a total hate-read for the sake of fulfilling my 2020 reading challenge in a time crunch. I genuinely struggled getting through this short book and I found myself thinking "eww, gross" more than I would have liked to. I also had issues with the writing style, or maybe this specific translation, and overall, I found the story and characters rather unpleasant and uninteresting. I'm happy to leave this book in 2020!
lindseyharvey's review against another edition
4.0
I was expecting a love story... this was not a love story. I mean, it’s about love, I guess; obsessive love, physical love, unrequited love that manifests in symptoms of cholera. I definitely wasn’t rooting for the main characters to end up together. I did really enjoy the author’s writing style though
sohva's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I don't think I've ever read another book that is as beautiful and as repulsive at the same time.
thejoyofbooking's review against another edition
5.0
Somehow I missed reading anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez until one of my book clubs picked Love in the Time of Cholera. I really loved it.
I love any book that takes you to a different place and time. The unrequited love Florentino carries for Fermina for his entire life is somehow not diminished by his extensive list of conquests, but somehow it works within the story. Even more compelling for me were the descriptions of Colombia and the Caribbean.
This book inspired one of the longest discussions I've ever had in a book club - we never wound up devolving into talk about cats or work, so I consider this a first-class book club pick.
I love any book that takes you to a different place and time. The unrequited love Florentino carries for Fermina for his entire life is somehow not diminished by his extensive list of conquests, but somehow it works within the story. Even more compelling for me were the descriptions of Colombia and the Caribbean.
This book inspired one of the longest discussions I've ever had in a book club - we never wound up devolving into talk about cats or work, so I consider this a first-class book club pick.
catwomanfran's review against another edition
5.0
This book feels like it is a lesson in love, what it should feel like and how to know when you are feeling it, rather than a story of three lives. But in the end, you learn that you can’t expect love or life to be any one way, but thousands of ways. Probably all at once.
http://houseofblog.co.uk/2014/05/29/may-bookclub-review-love-in-the-time-of-cholera/
http://houseofblog.co.uk/2014/05/29/may-bookclub-review-love-in-the-time-of-cholera/
kahkmyers's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This is another example of my complete shock that this book is on the top books list of all time. This book is filled with annoying, dishonest, immoral ridiculous characters and storylines.
I don’t like any of these characters. Formina seems to be the most normal rational person. Florentino is an idiot who sleeps with anything that breathes but not sure if that is even a criteria he holds high on any list. He is also a pedophile as a 72 year old man who woos a 14 year old girl with lullabies and removing her saddle shoes. Disgusting. I’m concerned for this author that it is written so callously like this a normal thing we should all be ok with. It’s disgusting!!
I don’t like any of these characters. Formina seems to be the most normal rational person. Florentino is an idiot who sleeps with anything that breathes but not sure if that is even a criteria he holds high on any list. He is also a pedophile as a 72 year old man who woos a 14 year old girl with lullabies and removing her saddle shoes. Disgusting. I’m concerned for this author that it is written so callously like this a normal thing we should all be ok with. It’s disgusting!!