Chronicle of a Death Foretold

by Gabriel Garc?a M?rquez
Chronicle of a Death Foretold cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Literary Fiction
Technical
  • ID: 3409
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-18
  • ISBN: 9780140157543
  • Publisher: Penguin Books India
  • Published: 1996-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

Gabriel García Márquez's 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold' is a masterful blend of fact and fiction, drawing from the author's own experiences and the collective memory of a community. The novel's unique structure, moving back and forth in time, creates a sense of inevitability and inevitability around the central murder, making it a profound exploration of human nature and the fallibility of memory. Set in a small, unnamed Caribbean town, the story unfolds through the perspectives of various townspeople, each offering a different piece of the puzzle. The novel's magical realism style, for which Márquez is renowned, adds a layer of surrealism to the otherwise grim tale, making it a compelling read that lingers long after the last page.

Reviews
Reddit - Literature · u/unknown · 2023-09-15
fascinating 4.75

The non-linear narrative is fascinating and effectively pieces together a gruesome murder. The story's structure and style are highly praised for their brilliance.

This reviewer was thoroughly impressed by the non-linear, fragmentary narrative structure, which they found both fascinating and effective in depicting the murder. They appreciate how the story is pieced together, creating a compelling and haunting experience. The brilliance of the narrative style is a key highlight for them.

Quick quotes

    I was blown away by this book.

    I'm fascinated with the non-linear fragmentary narrative.

    Márquez pieces together a gruesome murder amidst a ...

Tessa Talks Books · 2021-12-18
chilling 4.00

The book is short and fast-paced, with a deliberately unsatisfying ending that enhances its chilling effect. Religious symbolism is a strong undercurrent throughout the narrative.

This reviewer found the book to be a quick, gripping read with a deliberately unsettling conclusion. They appreciate the intentional lack of resolution, which adds to the story's eerie atmosphere. The use of religious symbolism is noted as a significant element that enriches the narrative, making it more than just a straightforward tale of murder.

Quick quotes

    It's short and fast and bone-chilling.

    The wholly unsatisfactory ending is intentional, and the steady presence of religious symbolism ...

    Every sentence is carefully crafted.

Efsunland · 2021-08-17
engaging 4.50

The narrative is enriched with subtle omens and fairytale elements, giving it an otherworldly feel. The story feels like it's happening in a different realm, adding to its unique charm.

The reviewer highlights the subtle integration of omens and fairytale elements, which lend the narrative a dreamlike quality. They appreciate how these elements create a sense of the story unfolding in a different, almost magical world. This unique approach makes the book stand out and keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Quick quotes

    There are omens and fairytale elements woven in so subtly that it gives the entire narrative an aspect of happening somewhere else in another ...

    The style of the novella is simple but imaginative, elegant and brilliant in the details.

    Every sentence is carefully crafted.

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