Search - One Hundred Years of Solitude

Marquez is a truly brilliant author. His use of 'mystical realism' weaves for the reader a tale that is both completely fanciful and utterly believeable at the same time. It was a beautifully intriguing story.

His second novel (1967) is one of myth and fantasy combined. It is the tale of a family and of a town from its founding, through revolution, violence, exploitation, and demise. About half way through its 450 plus pages I got bogged down and confused with the multitude of characters with the same, or similar, names (See note). Anyone attempting to absorb this novel should keep a copy of the genealogy chart handy. It is a tale that is steeped (minus the graphic details) with corruption, exploitation, greed (including a strong thread of alchemy), lust, adultery, fornication, incest, polygamy, rape, suicide, and murder. Or, as the announcer states in the opening lines of Chicago, “All those things we all hold near and dear to our hearts.” All this surrounded by a hint of devout Catholicism. In fact, one critic has postulated that it is a sequel to the Book of Genesis. The author, however, outdoes the bible. His great flood, that all but decimates the town, lasts for four years, eleven months, and two days, which is followed by ten years without rain. He also rivals Faulkner in the use of stream of consciousness and seemingly endless sentences and multipage paragraphs.

If you can muddle through all of the squalor, inbreeding, promiscuousness, executions, and massacres in this fetid jungle town, this is a book for you. Myself, while I can accept some proportion of the foregoing under the purview of fantasy (e.g., the portions concerning the gypsies), he carries it to the absurd. The book, however, must give birth to a multitude of allegories (real or imagined) upon which countless dissertations may be based. Thank goodness it finally ended!

Note: Five are named Jose Arcadio, or Arcadio; five are named Aureliano plus 17 other Aurelianos who do not figure significantly in the story; two are named Remedios; two are Amaranta, and two are Ursula.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.

This gorgeous novel is well-known in the Spanish-speaking world, but most American readers happen across it by accident and read it with a sense of growing astonishment. I know that was my first reaction - just a sense of awe at the power of the narrative (particularly its ability to draw you into the story despite the multitude of stories, myths, and characters that could be overwhelmingly confusing). I have reread this novel several times and it just keeps getting better.

One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Imagine Anne Tyler (Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe, Searching for Caleb) on speed or maybe crack cocaine and you'll be prepared for Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Tyler's quirky Baltimoreans have nothing on the inhabitants of the mythical town of Macondo, located beside a swamp probably somewhere in his native Columbia, Gabriel Garcia Marquez created for his One Hundred Years of Solitude. As Tyler does in her tales, Gabriel Garcia Marquez focuses on the members of a single family, the Buendias, but does not limit himself to a single generation of same. Beginning with Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula Iguaran the reader is treated to the fortunes and misfortunes of six generations of the Buendia family and those who marry or are adopted into it. And woven throughout the fabric of this quirky family, and those who interact with them, is the ever-present reminder of the title theme, the solitude within which each individual dwells. A fascinating read, owing to the skill of the author who manages to keep his hold, and our interest, on his theme no matter how far afield his characters may wander. But do let me add a word of caution. I highly recommend you follow the suggestion of the title and read this book in solitude because despite Garcia Marquez's Sgt. ("Just the facts, Ma'am") Joe Friday delivery you may as I did find yourself having snickers and barks of derisive laughter followed by moans and sighs of sympathy pulled from you page after page. You see, unlike other authors (even the aforementioned Ms. Tyler) Gabriel Garcia Marquez apparently feels no need to create a background of sanity or even what might be called normalcy against which to paint his quirky characters. Each and every character in the mythical town of Macondo and all of those who interact with them appear on a scale from kinky to coo-coo bonkers, so set your preconceptions aside as you lock yourself away to enjoy this tale.

Don Le Couteur
Ocotillo
5 December 2011

What a richly detailed story of family life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the dysfunctional and fantastical family.

This is not a quick read, but it is worth it!! I made the mistake of putting this book down for a few weeks, and I felt completely lost when I tried to get back into it! This book definitely puts you in another world. It's completely different from anything I have ever read - mystifying, haunting and full of beautiful images and metaphors. Really a one of a kind piece of literature.