lwhittle's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
I respect this book as a piece of literature, but at the same time didn’t find it an overly enjoyable read. The writing was abstract and removed to the extent that few if any plot points felt impactful. Reading it felt as if I going through the motions of a winding and directionless narrative without any clear points or conclusions.
The reflections on Colombia’s history and ongoing issues, the indirect criticisms interlaced in this multi-generational epic, make it a worthwhile read, but don’t expect a thrilling or engaging read.
The reflections on Colombia’s history and ongoing issues, the indirect criticisms interlaced in this multi-generational epic, make it a worthwhile read, but don’t expect a thrilling or engaging read.
designwise's review against another edition
I was so let down when this book came to a close. I wanted it to go on forever.
monokrzew's review against another edition
5.0
Kiedy młody dowódca straży wyznał jej swą miłość, odrzuciła go po prostu, zdumiona jego śmiałością. "Pomyśl, co za głupiec z niego - powiedziała do Amaranty. - Mówi, ze umiera z mego powodu, zupełnie jakbym była chorobą". Gdy rzeczywiście znaleziono go nieżywego pod jej oknem, Piękna Remedios potwierdziła swoje pierwotne wrażenie. - No widzicie - powiedziała - był beznadziejnie głupi.
albrunton's review against another edition
2.0
The two stars are for beautiful description and the character of Ursula.
However, I have no clue how anyone enjoys this novel. Sure, if you spend time studying the hidden meaning and metaphors of the text it will surely uphold its status as a masterpiece but it is one of the most dull stories I have ever read. Outside of Ursula, I felt nothing for any other character and after 400+ pages I deem that a failure of the author, not the reader. There was also disturbing repition of incest and abuse in the family that was referenced so casually.
I just wanted it to end faster.
However, I have no clue how anyone enjoys this novel. Sure, if you spend time studying the hidden meaning and metaphors of the text it will surely uphold its status as a masterpiece but it is one of the most dull stories I have ever read. Outside of Ursula, I felt nothing for any other character and after 400+ pages I deem that a failure of the author, not the reader. There was also disturbing repition of incest and abuse in the family that was referenced so casually.
I just wanted it to end faster.
eva_jean's review against another edition
3.0
dear lord.
i picked this up on a whim. i was at the bookstore and my mom wanted me to buy a book that i wouldn't normally gravitate towards, and this one was staring me in the face. and it was certainly outside of my comfort zone.
many people say this is the best book they've ever read. and i can genuinely see why. in fact, i can see why some believe it "should be required reading for the entire human race." i totally believe it should be part of the high school curriculum.
but my god it was a chore to get through.
there was no plot, but so much stuff happened. to be exact, seven generations worth of human stupidity (plus magic). because of all this, i was never engaged, never interested or invested. there were too many characters and too many events crashing into each other simultaneously, so that at once it moved at a glacial pace and so fast that i couldn't keep up.
also, maybe it's just me, because i don't hear a lot of people talking about it, but the excessive amounts of pedophelia and incest in One Hundred Years of Solitude really ruined it for me. i had to put it down so many times because i just couldn't bear to read it. maybe that's part of the point, but i still hated reading it.
then, there is so much in this book that i can't tell if i hate or if it's brilliant. i think i am coming to terms with the fact that they could be both. for example, i felt so far removed from everything that was going on because the tone with which everything was written was so indifferent that i had barely any incentive to keep reading. i couldn't tell if he was condemning or condoning all of the shitty things that happen in the story. but at the same time, i've come to recognize that the choice of tone is also brilliant because it demonstrate's the reader's power to make meaning of the story, further emphasizing that though truth may be objective, facts are subjective; in other words, we can't ever access the truth because unless we experience it for ourselves, and even then it is tainted by our psychology.
taken into historical context, the meaning of One Hundred Years of Solitude magnifies exponentially. with the themes i mentioned above, Márquez explores neo-colonialism and exploitation, as well as the larger history of latin america, through a lens that i think many in the West don't often encounter. i really love the Crash Course videos on this novel because it really helped me to understand why this book is important, as i wasn't familiar with a lot of the historical references made.
i also think that this novel has the most accurate view of human nature that i have ever encountered (at least according to my worldview). Márquez does not portray humans as inherently good or evil, but instead shows that we are mostly just stupid, destined to repeat our ancestors mistakes over and over. i don't think humans are angels or demons, but i can definitely get behind the idea that none of us know what we are doing, and it's such a relief to see that reflected in literature.
ultimately, I feel that I am more interested in the conversations about this novel than the novel itself.
i picked this up on a whim. i was at the bookstore and my mom wanted me to buy a book that i wouldn't normally gravitate towards, and this one was staring me in the face. and it was certainly outside of my comfort zone.
many people say this is the best book they've ever read. and i can genuinely see why. in fact, i can see why some believe it "should be required reading for the entire human race." i totally believe it should be part of the high school curriculum.
but my god it was a chore to get through.
there was no plot, but so much stuff happened. to be exact, seven generations worth of human stupidity (plus magic). because of all this, i was never engaged, never interested or invested. there were too many characters and too many events crashing into each other simultaneously, so that at once it moved at a glacial pace and so fast that i couldn't keep up.
also, maybe it's just me, because i don't hear a lot of people talking about it, but the excessive amounts of pedophelia and incest in One Hundred Years of Solitude really ruined it for me. i had to put it down so many times because i just couldn't bear to read it. maybe that's part of the point, but i still hated reading it.
then, there is so much in this book that i can't tell if i hate or if it's brilliant. i think i am coming to terms with the fact that they could be both. for example, i felt so far removed from everything that was going on because the tone with which everything was written was so indifferent that i had barely any incentive to keep reading. i couldn't tell if he was condemning or condoning all of the shitty things that happen in the story. but at the same time, i've come to recognize that the choice of tone is also brilliant because it demonstrate's the reader's power to make meaning of the story, further emphasizing that though truth may be objective, facts are subjective; in other words, we can't ever access the truth because unless we experience it for ourselves, and even then it is tainted by our psychology.
taken into historical context, the meaning of One Hundred Years of Solitude magnifies exponentially. with the themes i mentioned above, Márquez explores neo-colonialism and exploitation, as well as the larger history of latin america, through a lens that i think many in the West don't often encounter. i really love the Crash Course videos on this novel because it really helped me to understand why this book is important, as i wasn't familiar with a lot of the historical references made.
i also think that this novel has the most accurate view of human nature that i have ever encountered (at least according to my worldview). Márquez does not portray humans as inherently good or evil, but instead shows that we are mostly just stupid, destined to repeat our ancestors mistakes over and over. i don't think humans are angels or demons, but i can definitely get behind the idea that none of us know what we are doing, and it's such a relief to see that reflected in literature.
ultimately, I feel that I am more interested in the conversations about this novel than the novel itself.
antoesis's review against another edition
5.0
«Muchos años después, frente al pelotón de fusilamiento, el coronel Aureliano Buendía había de recordar aquella tarde remota en que su padre lo llevó a conocer el hielo.»
• Cien Años de Soledad • ~ Gabriel García Márquez.
• Ha sido un viaje de ida! leer esta maravilla y luego querer contar o escribir acerca de qué va no haría justicia ‘nunca’ a lo que significa llenarte de esta historia y vivir en ese Macondo lleno de magia, secretos y realidad.
• Cien años de soledad me hizo reír, llorar e incluso molestar a ratos. Es sin duda, el mejor libro que he leído en mucho tiempo.
• Esta edición de ‘Cien años de soledad’ está promovida por la Real Academia Española y la Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española. Me ha encantado además por los escritos adicionales donde cuatro académicos hispanoamericanos -Pedro Luis Barcia (Argentina), Juan Gustavo Cobo Borda (Colombia), Gonzalo Celorio (México) y Sergio Ramírez (Nicaragua)- comparten distintos aspectos de la personalidad literaria de García Márquez y lo que significó esta obra. En esta edición aparece todo un mundo aparte de la historia en sí, con la idea de prepararnos para el acercamiento a él - algo que yo obvié de principio porque quise leerlo al final - La edición comienza con una breve semblanza de García Márquez escrita por Álvaro Mutis y una introducción de Carlos Fuentes. El magistral análisis que Mario Vargas Llosa hizo de la narrativa de García Márquez sigue siendo la más alta referencia y de él se ofrece una parte central. Al final de la edición está un glosario de palabras o dichos que corresponde a la zona y la época y también un glosario de nombres. Una genialidad!
• ‘Cien años de soledad’ es una obra sin igual. Macondo, Los Buendía, José Arcadio, Úrsula (mi personaje favorito) Amaranta, Los Aurelianos, Melquíades y todos los personajes que son parte de este mundo mágico - siete generaciones que se quedarán conmigo.
• Cien Años de Soledad • ~ Gabriel García Márquez.
• Ha sido un viaje de ida! leer esta maravilla y luego querer contar o escribir acerca de qué va no haría justicia ‘nunca’ a lo que significa llenarte de esta historia y vivir en ese Macondo lleno de magia, secretos y realidad.
• Cien años de soledad me hizo reír, llorar e incluso molestar a ratos. Es sin duda, el mejor libro que he leído en mucho tiempo.
• Esta edición de ‘Cien años de soledad’ está promovida por la Real Academia Española y la Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española. Me ha encantado además por los escritos adicionales donde cuatro académicos hispanoamericanos -Pedro Luis Barcia (Argentina), Juan Gustavo Cobo Borda (Colombia), Gonzalo Celorio (México) y Sergio Ramírez (Nicaragua)- comparten distintos aspectos de la personalidad literaria de García Márquez y lo que significó esta obra. En esta edición aparece todo un mundo aparte de la historia en sí, con la idea de prepararnos para el acercamiento a él - algo que yo obvié de principio porque quise leerlo al final - La edición comienza con una breve semblanza de García Márquez escrita por Álvaro Mutis y una introducción de Carlos Fuentes. El magistral análisis que Mario Vargas Llosa hizo de la narrativa de García Márquez sigue siendo la más alta referencia y de él se ofrece una parte central. Al final de la edición está un glosario de palabras o dichos que corresponde a la zona y la época y también un glosario de nombres. Una genialidad!
• ‘Cien años de soledad’ es una obra sin igual. Macondo, Los Buendía, José Arcadio, Úrsula (mi personaje favorito) Amaranta, Los Aurelianos, Melquíades y todos los personajes que son parte de este mundo mágico - siete generaciones que se quedarán conmigo.
caseyae96's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mariapost's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alexanderjamie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.75
lpdodds's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0