Reading this book was a bit like a roller coaster ride for me. At first I loved the imagery, but did not think the story was anything spectacular. As I got to the middle of the book, I really started to enjoy it. The magical realism helped to bring the plot to life. I really loved the character of Fermina and could sympathize with Florentino. Even when you believe the love in your heart is timeliness, life moves on and age steps into the picture. However, I felt like I hit a wall when Florentino seduced and began sleeping with a young woman who reminded him of Fermina at a young age. My inner voice kept screaming, "You are a sick old man! She is a child!"
The book is loved by so many and I was hoping that I could become a member of the fan club. Fortunately by the end of the book, I really liked it. As Fermina and Florentino were getting to know each other again, I came to really like Fermina and to appreciate everything Florentino went through for the chance to be with her. In order to appreciate the book, I think you have to let yourself be swept away with it. As someone commented earlier, this is not a book that is meant to be taken literally.
My favorite encounter involving this book happened on a flight to Durham. I was sitting next to a guy who was reading the Economist which had a story about water shortage. He was chatty and began telling me about the article. I said that I was reading about water too; as in, how water can kill you. I then explained how Cholera is a water based disease. Throughout the flight, we were comparing notes on what we were learning about water. It made the journey go faster!
Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez was certainly an engaging reading experience. I have written about it in two previous posts.
Recommend to a friend: YES
I read this book for two challenges:
**If you have reviewed this book as well, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will add a link**