Love in the Time of Cholera

by Gabriel García Márquez, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Love in the Time of Cholera cover
Good Books rating 4.3
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 63
  • Added: 2025-08-30
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780739328057
  • Publisher: Random House Large Print Publishing
  • Published: 2008-01-01
  • Formats: 89
  • Reviews: 4

Gabriel García Márquez's masterpiece, Love in the Time of Cholera, is a richly layered narrative that explores the complexities of love and human relationships. Set against the backdrop of a changing society, the novel follows the lives of Florentino Ariza, Fermina Daza, and Dr. Juvenal Urbino as their fates become irrevocably entwined. The story is a testament to Márquez's signature style of magical realism, blending the mundane with the extraordinary to create a world that is both familiar and enchanting. /n/n The novel's exploration of love in its many forms—romantic, obsessive, and enduring—is both poignant and profound. Through vivid descriptions and intricate character development, Márquez crafts a tale that resonates with universal themes of desire, loss, and the passage of time. This is a story that will captivate readers with its lyrical prose and deep emotional depth.

Reviews
SparkNotes · 2025-08-30
reflective 4.00

The novel is viewed as a contemplative exploration of love's endurance and the complexities of relationships, including infidelity, grief, and late-life romance.

This reflection draws attention to the realistic portrayal of the main characters' lives, including the imperfections and struggles within love and marriage. It describes how Florentino patiently waits for his chance with Fermina, ultimately rekindling their relationship after many years, and how their love culminates in a symbolic journey of exile and intimacy. The review underlines the themes of loyalty, passion, and the social constraints that shape the characters' experiences, providing a balanced view of love's challenges and triumphs.

Quick quotes

    Florentino, now elderly, abruptly ends his affair and professes his 'eternal fidelity and everlasting love' to Fermina.

    The unhappy but stable marriage is rocked when Dr. Urbino conducts a four-month affair.

    Florentino orders the Captain to raise the yellow flag of cholera, which he does, and they are forever exiled to cruise the river.

LitCharts · 2025-08-30
poignant 4.20

The novel is recognized for its profound meditation on enduring love, depicting how love can persist despite age, societal pressures, and past disappointments.

This interpretation focuses on the intertwined lives and persistent affections of the main characters, especially the patient and unwavering love of Florentino for Fermina. The review highlights how the story embraces the complexities of love late in life, including physical decline and emotional reconciliation, portraying a love that transcends conventional limitations. The narrative is seen as a deep exploration of love's enduring nature and its ability to offer peace and intensity even in old age.

Quick quotes

    They appreciate the quality of a love separate from marital difficulties and societal obligations.

    Love that is rendered all the more intense by its proximity to death.

    Florentino is convinced of his love and, after many months of waiting, succeeds in handing her a declaration of love through her aunt and guardian.

Goodreads · 2025-08-30
uplifting 4.50

The novel is praised for its multi-layered exploration of love that transcends age and reality, suggesting love itself can transform and preserve life beyond societal norms.

This perspective emphasizes the novel's portrayal of love as a powerful, almost magical force that offers a second chance at life and happiness, especially in later years. The final triumph of the characters' love is seen as a metaphorical rebirth, where love becomes a sanctuary from the harsh realities of the world and an act of defiance against time and societal rejection. The reviewer reflects on the theme of illusion in the novel as essential and redemptive, highlighting its capacity to reinvent reality and provide a spiritual sanctuary akin to a 'Kingdom of Heaven' on earth.

Quick quotes

    It is Love that saves all in the end - at least we are left to imagine that possibility.

    Life has been reborn in the Second Coming of Love!

    The capacity for illusion is magic enough to save the world, and our souls.

I Would Rather Be Reading Blog · 2022-04-30
masterful 4.50

The writing is exquisite and García Márquez's storytelling is masterful, making this novel worth reading for its literary prowess.

The reviewer is captivated by García Márquez's writing style, praising his ability to weave a compelling narrative. They highlight the novel's lyrical prose and the author's skill in creating a rich, immersive world. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the sheer beauty of the language and the depth of the characters make it a memorable read. They emphasize that the book is a testament to the enduring power of love and the passage of time, making it a timeless piece of literature.

Quick quotes

    García Márquez is a master storyteller, and this novel is worth it to experience his writing.

    The novel's prose is lyrical and the characters are deeply drawn.

    The book is a testament to the enduring power of love and the passage of time.

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