Wow this is tough to read … but I have to challenge this perspective … to me he was trying to show what happens when people forget their past, repeat the same patterns, and become trapped in myth instead of meaning. There’s something deeply human and soft in the way Márquez writes about failure. The tragedy isn’t that everyone is destined to failure. It’s that they almost remember, almost change, almost break free. That yearning is the emotional core of the book. Not cynicism but the reminder of what could’ve been. I take it as a challenge to live a better life…
I want to adopt this view so badly! But I just can't get there. I feel like if this was the message then there should have been a sliver of hope somewhere, or at least one character should have escaped this cycle of failure. (I don't think Remedios counts, given that she dies.)
But I definitely agree that "there's something deeply human and soft" in the way he writes. Just wasn't enough to turn the tide for me, unfortunately.
You have to be more invested in Latin American history to understand the pessimistic tone of Garcia’s writing. You have understand the revolutionary/reform-stagnation cycles of the region, otherwise you’re not going to understand it at all.
Also disagree on the book being a hard read or hard to follow, maybe if it’s a lapsed reading. The book’s narration clearly differentiates between members of the Buendía family by employing titles, full names, and middle names. IIRC most modern editions come with a family tree.
Wow this is tough to read … but I have to challenge this perspective … to me he was trying to show what happens when people forget their past, repeat the same patterns, and become trapped in myth instead of meaning. There’s something deeply human and soft in the way Márquez writes about failure. The tragedy isn’t that everyone is destined to failure. It’s that they almost remember, almost change, almost break free. That yearning is the emotional core of the book. Not cynicism but the reminder of what could’ve been. I take it as a challenge to live a better life…
I want to adopt this view so badly! But I just can't get there. I feel like if this was the message then there should have been a sliver of hope somewhere, or at least one character should have escaped this cycle of failure. (I don't think Remedios counts, given that she dies.)
But I definitely agree that "there's something deeply human and soft" in the way he writes. Just wasn't enough to turn the tide for me, unfortunately.
That’s fair. I might be projecting my own thoughts onto the book lol
You have to be more invested in Latin American history to understand the pessimistic tone of Garcia’s writing. You have understand the revolutionary/reform-stagnation cycles of the region, otherwise you’re not going to understand it at all.
Also disagree on the book being a hard read or hard to follow, maybe if it’s a lapsed reading. The book’s narration clearly differentiates between members of the Buendía family by employing titles, full names, and middle names. IIRC most modern editions come with a family tree.
Hmm, interesting thesis. I'll have to down a few books on Colombian history and get back to you :)
tfw this book makes you not want to learn colombian history