The ‘Fury’ of ‘Solitude’
I’m a latecomer to the very Bolly writing of Gabriel GarcÃÂa Márquez. After reading the pulpy One Hundred Years of Solitude, I dropped the author like a packet of bad paan. But the (shame, shame) Love in the Time of Cholera movie was monomaniacally romantic enough that I picked up (more shame) the movie cover edition at the (aargh) airport.
It’s as if the books were written by different people. Cholera is as straightforward as Solitude is convoluted. The latter seems paid by the word and written for serialization, like Dickens; it spins out pointless, weightless plot like so much unmoored candyfloss. Written 18 years later, Cholera shows a more patient writer, one who has the time and fiscal cushion to craft, not churn. And Cholera chronicles the unique torments of both marriage and unrequited love with such sensitivity and precision, you’ll recognize yourself in it despite it having been written 22 years ago across culture and continent. (You do have to ascribe its racism and pedophilia to in-those-days.)
Maybe it’s no coincidence Márquez shares initials with Goodness Gracious Me. Commenter who told me Cholera is much better than Solitude, many thanks. Filmmakers, the halo effect (film driving book sales) sometimes comes true. And Sr. Márquez, I’m sorry for having doubted you. I’ll just confine myself to late Don GarcÃÂa, if it’s all right with you.
on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008, 11:58 am in Literature › 
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Encouraging news as I too puked after reading One Hundred Years of Rubbish. Will reconsider Cholera for next trip.
This sounds a bit like Bob Kerrey’s endorsement of Hillary….
Marquez’ autobiography is also an interesting read. He does have an air
imperiousness about him.
Jose Saramago, also a Nobel prize winner, is another “magical fiction writer” who
is a contemporary of Marquez.
Manish two questions for you..what are best romantic novels you ever read? also any good poetry books or collections you read recently. thanks so much …I am introduced to a lot of good novels by new authors all the time through you. thanks a lot for that.
ah! “Blindness” and “seeing”! I saw these the other day and was put off by the titles (a really rubbish reason but the cuteness of the pair of titles bugs me so much!). VV, any recommendations where to start with Saramago?
I hate “magical fiction” or whatever they’re calling it now. Is it a coincidence that Marquez is a fan of Castro; and Saramago is an unrepentant Stalinist?
Cholera isn’t magical or surrealist at all, unlike Solitude. And what’s the point of reading fiction if not to suspend disbelief?