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The Sunday Salon #19: Love in the Time of Cholera

The Sunday Salon.com

I am very slow with completing books this semester SUMMER , so I thought that it would be fun to have a progress report of my reading. This is an online reading group where all the participants set aside time to read every Sunday and blog about the experience

This morning I read a bit more of Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  While the book started off slow, then captured my heart towards the middle, I now find myself irriated with the male lead.  I find him to be a bit of a stalker and a pedophile.  I was especially disturbed by how he seduced a young relative because she reminded him of Fermina at a younger age.  He then brushes the young woman aside once Fermina becomes a widow because he is sure that they will marry.  I continue to appreciate the beautiful imagery and the grandness of love; however, I am a bit disturbed that this is an idolized love story.   One of the messages it sends is that if you wait long enough and pass the time by sleeping with lots of people, eventually you will get your woman.

This novel is very well loved and I am hoping that I will feel better about the book by the time I finish. 

Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 5:16PM by Registered Commenter[beastmomma] | Comments3 Comments | References1 Reference

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Reader Comments (3)

<i> Love in the Time of Cholera </i> is one of my all-time favorites. I read it on my honeymoon and found the underlying heat and romance to be a perfect fit...I can understand your concerns, but this is not a story meant to send a literal message to us...just let yourself be swept away by the beauty, the magic (and Marquez's trademark magical realism) and the quality of this incredible story. I hope you like it better by the end.
August 10, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRebecca @ Readerville
I had the same reaction to "Love in the Time of Cholera'. I suspect my problem lies with the concept of Magical Realism which doesn't work for me. I've tried to work out why this is, because I'm a great fantasy fan, but it isn't just Maquez, it's right across the genre - it's just not my thing.
August 11, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAnn (Table Talk)
Rebecca: This morning I got to that part where the main character crapped his pants after leaving the company of Fermina. Now that he is reconnecting with Fermina and she is not getting swept up immediately, I like it much better.

Ann: I am trying to appreciate the magical realism. Some genres just do not jive with me either.
August 11, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbeastmomma

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