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laserdiscreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, and War
book_ish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Incest
Minor: Cannibalism
notartgarfunkel's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and War
Minor: Gun violence and Cannibalism
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
One Hundred Years of Solitude follows one family through the creation and fall of a mythical town named Macondo. As the times change, so do generations, and readers can witness war, loss, and ultimately solitude from the lense of a unique household.
I loved the depiction of history repeating itself, an all too familiar aspect of the modern times. I think that’s what makes this novel so popular well past its publication, even in a community so different from ours, we can see parts of our struggles in them. Wether in the strong Ursula, the curious Aureliano Buendia, or the isolation of the colonel, their experiences live on.
I will say: Please check trigger warnings. This will not be a book for everyone.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
Minor: Cannibalism
kat_tk's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Blood, Grief, and Cannibalism
basedrincewind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Incest and Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Cannibalism
catapocalypse's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
First, I can't believe how seldom its humor is brought up by others! There's a lot of focus placed on the heavy, cynical, serious elements, but there's also many absurd and silly and tongue-in-cheek and clever elements!
Even while mixing all those things, García Márquez subtly shifts the feel of the narrative as it progresses. Mind, this is an entirely character-driven story, with little to no real plot beyond the lifespan of the Buendía family and their town of Macondo. Folks who prefer plot-driven stories may find this book incredibly boring! But as time passes, the family, town, and narrative itself seem to shift and mature in a way. The beginnings of all three feature many fantastic elements. There are flights of fancy viewed with an almost childlike wonder. Time feels more sprawling.
But as things progress, they become more grounded in reality (though never entirely), and more serious events and concerns pop up. The little town of Macondo starts without even a mayor, but gradually sees Colonel Aureliano Buendía's war, the influence of foreign colonizing powers, and the high tension of the banana company worker strikes. Time gradually speeds up to the hurricane pace of the ending.
Across this lifespan of the Buendía family and Macondo, there's a lot going on, and García Márquez brilliantly connects all of it together. Even fanciful elements are not careless. I feel it has high reread value, and might even consider an immediate reread if I didn't have so much else to get to right now.
I do have some warnings. While the narrative is fairly linear in time, there are some overlapping points where events are retraced when the focus has moved between characters. This isn't so bad, so long as you can keep track of the many similarly-named ones. I recommend an edition that provides a family tree, like that from Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
There are also many Content Warnings, some rather significant, so please check out those listed for the book on its entry!
The prevalence of some of this, especially of the incest and problematic relationships between adults and minors, will definitely turn off some readers, which is valid! I was conflicted on its inclusion the entire way through, but ultimately, I think it ties into the presentation of the Buendía family as being deeply flawed. Let's face it, Úrsula was probably right about everything all along.
I'm sure there are even further layers I'm not fathoming. I do think that this book fully deserves its status as a classic, and I will absolutely read more Gabriel García Márquez.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Homophobia, Vomit, and Cannibalism