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Summary: Some thoughts on the Oprah edition
Review: The Oprah corporate logo looms large on the cover of this edition of *100 Years of Solitude* -- larger than the supine figure of the cover art, larger than the author's name, larger than the title. Did Oprah learn nothing from Jonathan Franzen? Fixed in the menacing gaze of that cyclopic logo, one inevitably concludes that the most important thing about Marquez's opus is that it has been read by Oprah herself. Larger than the Nobel medal, more luminous than the sun, the blazing orb of "O" burns into the glossy paperback like a glowing cattle prod into the flank of a bovine posterior.Is the book good? You betcha. I read it years ago, on the recommendation of my friend Miles, who was generous enough to lend me a copy (without, amazingly, an incandescent "M" emblazoned majestically on the cover). I recall hiding behind a bulky filing cabinet at the television station where I worked, neglecting the trivialities of the job as the pages turned. Amazing stuff. But you can -- gasp -- find an unsullied used copy just about anywhere, and read it privately, without the mother of talk show hosts breathlessly tossing off vapid cliches about "taking a magical journey." Magical marketing journey, is more like it. Oh, it is surely a good thing that Oprah has chosen a fine piece of literature with a capital 'L' for her audience, but the hubris required to fix her name so prominantly against that of a Nobel Laureate is astounding, at least to this reviewer.
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Summary: Life, right?
Review: Essentially a beautifully painted vision of tragic people all tangled up in soap opera -- a splendid and heartbreaking saga peopled with characters you may think at first to be quirky, until you hear them breathe. I also recommend Garcia-Marquez's beautiful LIFE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA. And to experience real life just as magically strange and spooky and over-stuffed with drama, I suggest you read Peter Hillary's IN THE GHOST COUNTRY, a real-life ghost story starring the famous son of a living legend. Wild and moving stuff.
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Summary: Could not put it down
Review: Marisa Jackman- I am a reader of Non -Fiction, especially anything related to courageous real life stories and this book, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE fits the bill. It is honest,at times captivating and very difficult to put down until you have finished reading it. I can understand why this was an Oprah pick as it is so poignant in detail. This book ranks up there with NIGHTMARES ECHO,RUNNING WITH SCISSORS,and MY FRACTURED LIFE. All amazing and well written memoirs in thier own rights.
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Summary: UGH...one of the most confusing books I've read to date
Review: This book would have been easier to read and understand if all the characters had not been named the same or been given similar names. If I didn't have to endure chapter after chapter of people sleeping with each other who shouldn't be, incest, rape, pillaging, death, destruction, more incest, then maybe this book would have been as great as everyone makes it out to be. I understand the last chapter was supposed to explain everything in the book and it does to a point but it doesn't excuse the fact that this is NOT the next best thing to GENESIS! We reviewed this book in our book club and out of 20 women, only 2 liked the book. I think this book is way over popularized due to Oprah giving it a thumbs up in her book club. Maybe it reads better in Spanish..maybe more than one chapter in the book was mistranslated (yes, there are 2 chapters that are mistranslated). I'm not sure. ... Disappointing and a waste of money.
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Summary: Classic?
Review: I'll come clean first. I stopped reading after 100 pages. A lot happens in this book, with deaths and spirits and insomnia and marriages, and it's all fairly easy enough to figure out what's going on. Yet, nothing happens. So much plot takes place that the characterization suffers. I simply didn't care what happened to the characters, or anyone in the town. If a bomb had levelled Macondo, I would have simply flipped to the next page to see what happened next, not to read on about the characters. If you're interested in a classic worthy of its praise, where characterization is king, do yourself a favor and pick up Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. You'll work to read, but your mind and soul will be enriched. Faulkner's novels are like movies you watch in slow motion to get every nuance. Marquez, on the other hand, is like a movie you watch in fast forward. You get the plot and action, but when all is said and done, nothing sticks in your mind that is worthy of the space it occupies.
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Summary: Amazing!
Review: This is absolutely the most wonderful book I've ever read. I read more than one book every week, so what can I say!! A must read, which you will not want to put down. There's so much to this than just the story.. Beautifully written and wonderously haphazard presentation!
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Summary: best book i have read in my short life
Review: I am only sixteen years old and i just finished reading One Hundred Years of Solitude and in order to understand and enjoy this book you need to know a bit of background history of Colombia during their Thousand Day War. It is not necessary to be of Hispanic descent in order to enjoy this novel as many people think and although many people also say that this book has no meaning they need to learn to read in between the lines. The theme of this novel is to prove that history repeats itself.
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Summary: Imagination Workout!
Review: This book is for people who have an imagination and enjoy giving it a good workout. If you are looking for history, or an easy narrative to follow take a pass on this one. But, if you can find humor in pathos and have the ability to follow complex story lines you will be amply rewarded.
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Summary: Great stories...
Review: This book is not for everybody.I understand why the reviewers gave it one star.I am from Spanish descent and I read it when I was 12 years old and didn't think much of it.But I picked up a copy the other day 28 years later and thought it was fabulous.I think you have to have some spanish-latinamerican blood to grasp what Gabriel Garcia Marquez narrated in this book.It is very entertaining and comical.I give it 5 stars.
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Summary: why fill your mind with trash?
Review: this book was trash to my mind, why fill your mind with junk? What good knowledge are you getting from this book, knowledge that is valuable to the mind and soul? NONE! It does not leave you with a good feeling!
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