A review by pollylumpy
El amor en los tiempos del cólera by Gabriel García Márquez

dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I hated this book. The main characters are incredibly annoying, especially Florentino who is a monster. Every woman he met was the same character in different names, except for
America, the child he groomed and drove to suicide after taking advantage of.
Fermina is, at least, a nicer person and her story is way more interesting, but the themes of misogyny and the societal expectations of women are named but barely dealt with. She’s so absentminded too, it drives me insane.

The book runs around in circles and becomes extremely tiring to read, it is 100 pages too long, if I’m honest. It has zero romance, you feel nothing for the connection between Florentino and Fermina, which is funny considering García Márquez wrote this as a tribute to his parents. 

Also not enough magical realism. :(
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