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sarasreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a very difficult book to rate. It accomplished so much and conveyed so much in interesting and allegorical ways, but without all the extra extrapolation and reading it as a straight story, it's a bit messy, and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. So the allegory was fascinating, as well as the magical realism and quality of the writing, but the actual characters and plot were so-so, and it was also frequently disturbing.
I also needed to read this with the family tree open at all times, and recommend doing the same. I also recommend reading the Sparks Notes chapter summaries either as you read, or at the end. It really helped me delve deeper into the meaning of the bizarre incidents that happen in this. I do recommend it, but go in prepared to approach it with some tools in your belt!
I also needed to read this with the family tree open at all times, and recommend doing the same. I also recommend reading the Sparks Notes chapter summaries either as you read, or at the end. It really helped me delve deeper into the meaning of the bizarre incidents that happen in this. I do recommend it, but go in prepared to approach it with some tools in your belt!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and War
midwifereading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
What does GGM smoke when he's writing, because, 😳😳😳. I almost DNF'd this one too, because it's just too much. But, it's a book club book, and I really wanted to say I finished it. And I did it. Listening to the audio on 1.5x speed. 😬
Ultimately, he's a brilliant and beautiful writer, but his subject matter is disturbing, his characters impossible to like, and his style is very difficult to follow at times.
That said, I pulled up the Wikipedia page outlining the plot and characters, which really helped me follow the story much more easily, especially because all the characters have the same three names!!! That family tree came in handy.
This story wanders all over the place, and is supposedly an allegory of sorts about Columbian society, classes, elites, and politics. No wonder I don't get it. I know nothing about Columbia. Although I now wish I did know something!
There is some stunning visual imagery, especially surrounding death. (Yellow butterflies, any one?) Th characters are vivid, but don't quite feel real, though I assume they're not supposed to.
Anyway, this book is enough to tell me I probably don't like multi-generational family sagas, because never want to read anything like it again.
100 Years of Solitude may be considered an international masterpiece, but couldn't it have been told without all the incest and pedophilia? Maybe?
Ultimately, he's a brilliant and beautiful writer, but his subject matter is disturbing, his characters impossible to like, and his style is very difficult to follow at times.
That said, I pulled up the Wikipedia page outlining the plot and characters, which really helped me follow the story much more easily, especially because all the characters have the same three names!!! That family tree came in handy.
This story wanders all over the place, and is supposedly an allegory of sorts about Columbian society, classes, elites, and politics. No wonder I don't get it. I know nothing about Columbia. Although I now wish I did know something!
There is some stunning visual imagery, especially surrounding death. (Yellow butterflies, any one?) Th characters are vivid, but don't quite feel real, though I assume they're not supposed to.
Anyway, this book is enough to tell me I probably don't like multi-generational family sagas, because never want to read anything like it again.
100 Years of Solitude may be considered an international masterpiece, but couldn't it have been told without all the incest and pedophilia? Maybe?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Have some other resources handy to help you understand it.blau_elmo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This book is a masterpiece. The last line gave me actual chills.
Marquez writes about the family of Buendiás with such intricacy and reality, despite its themes of magical realism, that the characters feel so entirely human and relatable in spite of their, at times, caricature-like characteristics. Inspired by actual happenings in Colombia, the pervading theme of solitude in a wide array of forms is deeply moving and nuanced. Each family member has a moving story, all ending in relative tragedy.
The world that I had been transported into by reading this book will not leave my mind any time soon, so compelling and gripping the imagery and narrative is. Truly one of the greatest books in all of literature.
Marquez writes about the family of Buendiás with such intricacy and reality, despite its themes of magical realism, that the characters feel so entirely human and relatable in spite of their, at times, caricature-like characteristics. Inspired by actual happenings in Colombia, the pervading theme of solitude in a wide array of forms is deeply moving and nuanced. Each family member has a moving story, all ending in relative tragedy.
The world that I had been transported into by reading this book will not leave my mind any time soon, so compelling and gripping the imagery and narrative is. Truly one of the greatest books in all of literature.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Incest, Violence, and War
chrismisseve's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, and Racism
theincrediblemaja's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, and War
listette's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is my first book by Marquez and it will definitely not be the last. There were a lot of great themes and funny parts in this book that I don’t really even know what I should say about it.
I see why it is a classic and recommend everyone reads it at least once to know what’s it all about.
I see why it is a classic and recommend everyone reads it at least once to know what’s it all about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and War
mariavdl's review against another edition
dark
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Torture, Excrement, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
circleofgrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There’s a reason this book is so beloved. It is rare to find a book which drags your mind and heart so thoroughly into all the beautiful and complex parts of being alive. No matter how flawed the characters are (and they are very flawed) you are always hoping that the next time things will get better, you celebrate their small wins and feel their devastation. When reading this book a slow creeping thought comes to you, making you wonder if your life is as cyclical and fate bound as the Buendia’s, are we all destined for the same fate? Contextually, Márquez roots into the very heart of some of society’s best and worst features - it can aggravate you seeing how ignorant we can be, and uplift you to see the communalism and naive hopefullness we can share.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Incest
Minor: War
elaba25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
- 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
4.5
One Hundred Years of Solitude explores the creation, development, and eventual destruction of the town of Macondo and the Buendía family. It certainly is a difficult read to get started on with the strange magical realist imagery, dense prose, themes of incest, and violence. However, Marquez masterfully crafts a story packed full of complex commentary on war, communism, capitalism, fate, the cycle and erasure of history, and more. Every sentence he writes is written beautifully and adds another layer of depth to the story. I, however, do intend to look into critics work regarding Marquez’s exotification of Latin America which may alter my opinions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Genocide, Incest, Sexual violence, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, and War
nudibranc_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, and War