Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Review of ‘Love in the time of Cholera’: It is a slow poison






Book: Love in the time of Cholera
Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Romance, drama
Pages: 348
Price: Rs 350 (excluding discounts)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review: There are some books which begin in a thrilling manner but lose their charm midway, while there are some which begin slowly but work their way like a slow poison and affect your whole system. ‘Love in the time of Cholera’ perhaps falls in the latter category, if it falls in any category at all, for it is the most unusual book which I have read in my entire bibliophilic career.

It is a love story which stays unrequited for 51 years, 9 months and 4 days. It may appear a tad unrealistic initially, but when you read the story, if you ever read the story, you are bound to believe in the magnitude of the emotions displayed by the protagonist Florentino Ariza who loves like no man has loved before and who loves for a period longer than any man has dared to love before. The woman in question is Fermina Daza who grows old with her husband Dr. Juvenal Urbino. But when the doctor dies in an accident one sudden day, Fermina Daza finds herself facing the face of the man whom she loved 51 years, 9 months and 4 days ago, and whom she had rebuffed before tying the knot with Dr. Juvenal Urbino.

The chief reason why I give 4.5 stars to this book is because of its powerful narration. It is the best narrated book that I have ever read. The language is so beautifully woven that one often feels compelled to re-read and re-re-read certain phrases and paragraphs. Hence, plaudits must also be showered to Edith Grossman who translated the novel into English from its original Spanish.

The book has a vintage charm to it, even though it is not exactly a classic. I take delight from the fact that I bought this book, instead of borrowing it, for borrowing a great book always comes with the pain of parting with it……

PS- The title is catchy but slightly misleading, since cholera does not play any direct role in our protagonists’ lives but is only a part of the backdrop.

PPS- Please buy this book

PPPS- You may also borrow it from me, provided you swear that you will return it




~Ritesh Agarwal




13 comments:

  1. you got me interested now..
    more than ever..
    will buy it, not borrow it, soon :P

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  2. i remember watching the movie based on this book. but to me, it was kinda ok to good. i think maybe reading makes it better. hmm..

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  3. I haven't seen the movie rat, but ya the book is really good...especially the way it has been narrated.

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  4. I am reading it right now! Have been reading it for lie 4-months now, blame my busty schedule for that and also GGM's narration. for i like reading it so slowly, trying to live each para and emotion. its pretty slow but i am loving it. your review is good although it could have been better coz books like these are written once in eons now!

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  5. Glad u are reading it.....its really such a powerful book....my review toh is just ordinary....how can u compare it with that great book.

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  6. It is a good book i have heard now I read the review too!

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  7. This now makes us officially mommy and beta. This is my favourite book of all times! I must have recommended it to a lot of people! Also this is a book where all you need to do is get lost. And speaking of lost where have you been??

    Richa

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    Replies
    1. Mom, i am sorry i was out of the city for around 15 days..so haven't been able to read your posts of late...but i will do them soon now that i am back....oh yes, this book is really good...

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  8. 4.5/5? WOW! Lovely book! This is my next haul! Awesome review :)

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  9. yes bushra....it is a great book...thanks dear

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