Product Description

In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2454 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-30
• Released on: 2007-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this chronicle of a unique love triangle, the Nobel laureate's trademark "ironic vision and luminous evocation of South America" persist. "It is a fully mature novel in scope and perspective, flawlessly translated, as rich in ideas as in humanity," praised PW . 250,000 first printing.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
While delivering a message to her father, Florentino Ariza spots the barely pubescent Fermina Daza and immediately falls in love. What follows is the story of a passion that extends over 50 years, as Fermina is courted solely by letter, decisively rejects her suitor when he first speaks, and then joins the urbane Dr. Juvenal Urbino, much above her station, in a marriage initially loveless but ultimately remarkable in its strength. Florentino remains faithful in his fashion; paralleling the tale of the marriage is that of his numerous liaisons, all ultimately without the depth of love he again declares at Urbino's death. In substance and style not as fantastical, as mythologizing, as the previous works, this is a compelling exploration of the myths we make of love. Highly recommended. Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
?A rich, commodious novel whose narrative power is matched only by its generosity of vision.? --The New York Times

?A love story of astonishing power and delicious comedy . . . humane, richly comic, almost unbearably touching and altogether extraordinary. ?Newsweek

?The greatest luxury, as in all of García Márquez?s books, is the eerie, entirely convincing suspension of the laws of reality . . . the agelessness of the human story as told by one of this century?s most evocative writers.? --Anne Tyler, Chicago Sun-Times Book Week

?Revolutionary in daring to suggest that vows of love made under a presumption of immortality?youthful idiocy, to some?may yet be honored, much later in life when we ought to know better, in the face of the undeniable. . . . . a shining and heartbreaking book? ?Thomas Pynchon, The New York Times
-- Review

Customer Reviews

Took forever to get through
Well, this will be the first and last time I ever read anything with the label 'Oprah's Book Club' on it. To think I actually thought this would be a depressingly romantic novel. Well, it only took me about half a year to realise that this was one of the most painful reads I've ever experienced. I don't understand the appeal, now that I have finally completed it. I wanted heartbreaking anguish, torturous characters. But what I got was a mopey stalker type novel, who's main character reaches pedophile levels. And we were supposed to feel sorry for him?

The writing is stuffy and laborous and would not have been so utterly boring if the actual story was a bit more interesting. I connected with none of the characters and I barely felt the passing of 50 years in the novel. It seemed rushed, but at the same time, I felt as if the book would never end.

It all seemed completely unrealistic to me and while I can understand how someone would find this book appealing and romantic, It had the opposite effect for me.

books for deep thinkers
If you are a deep thinker, you might want to try Rumi & Self Psychology (Psychology of Tranquility.

In addition, you might want to try Sara's Therapy: The Way to Purity. A session by session dialogue of a client who went through the self actualization and self growth processes.

What woman would want this guy?
I bought Love in the Time of Cholera not only because it was on Oprah's list but also because it won a Nobel prize. I figured it must be super good to have won both the Nobel prize and widespread acclaim by Oprah. Plus, I had heard it was "one of the greatest love stories of all time." Not so. At least not for this reader.

First and foremost, if you are used to reading popular literature, beware! This is a TOUGH read. It was not what I expected at all and I found it difficult to get through. For me, this was like trying to read John Updike--long sentence structures and difficult language...and I consider myself to be an above-average reader (but then, who doesn't!). It was not a page turner by any means, and, as the story progressed I found it more and more difficult to get through, mainly because I didn't like either main character. I really ended up pushing myself through it just to complete the story and see if offered any sense of satisfaction (which it didn't).

The story about 2 love-struck teenagers seems a bit silly in our times, but considering the time it was set, it was entirely believable. What became unbelievable was the way Florentino continues to pine away for Fermina for 50 years after their love affair ended. I found nothing endearing about his devotion. I actually found it weak and disgusting...wondering why any woman would want a man like this and why any man would allow himself to behave in such a way. I mean, "get over it dude!" Granted, Fermina never knows the true level of Florentino's pining and also never knows of the solace he tried to find in 100's of affairs, but as a reader, I was rooting for her to turn him away, not give in to his continued advances. As I was reading I was trying to figure out if the author wanted this reaction from the reader. I'm still not sure. But what I do know is that there are a LOT of people out there who are happy that Fermina and Florentino were reunited. As for me, the thought of being with such a wimpy man makes me sick! :) There just is not a lot to like about Florentino so be prepared to force yourself to follow his story.

I'm sure there is plenty of book club fodder in this story...exploring different themes on love, the reader's reactions to the characters, etc. If you're into identifying and exploring themes and looking for wisdom in modern literature, then this may be the book for you. If you're like me who's just looking for a good book to read to entertain me for a few days, then skip this one.