Love in the Time of Cholera

I've been reading non-stop these days and have written a lot of book reviews in my account in helium.com. I'm a writer there by the way under the same name and here is one of the articles about the books I had read so far. Here is a review about the book Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Marquez.

There are actually three things that prompted me to buy this book. One, this is an international best seller. Two, it's written by a Nobel Prize Winner. And three, the title sounds unusual for me. And after reading the book I came up with three conclusions. One, It's no longer a wonder why it's a best selling novel. Two, Gabriel Garcia Marquez definitely lived up to his title as a Nobel Prize Winner. And three, this book is another timeless love story.

At first, I needed to adopt with Marquez style of writing. I am not accustomed to narrative style of writing. But Marquez have some sort of narrative power, so unique, so poetic, making the book one of the best written literary pieces ever.

Love in the time of Cholera is a story of love stories. Mainly about unrequited love, forbidden love, young love and marital love. Although there are other "love-stories" in the novel, the main story of the book is the love triangle between Florentino Ariza, Fermina Daza and Dr. Juvenal Urbino. But as you'd come to think of it, we can't hardly say that there was a love triangle that existed. It was more of the obsession of Florentino towards Fermina. Yes, I think I'd call it obsession more than love. Why is it so?

First, Florentino had a case of love at first sight for Fermina. It could have been a great admiration or crush for her. He begun with pretending to read a book while waiting for Fermina to pass by. It was more like an obvious way of stalking (though for him it doesn't seem like it). But Fermina had a hint that he do like her. Their relationship was more like a forbidden "pen-pal" relationship for Fermina's father don't want somebody like Florentino to be with her daughter. But of course the problem with secret love is sooner or later it'll be uncovered and Fermina's father did. They were separated by her father but when the time came that she went back to their place and she saw Florentino again she realized that it was mere an immature infatuation. So she married Dr. Urbino instead while Florentino was left forlorn, dejected but still hoping that one day he and Fermina will still have another chance.

I actually don't know if I want to admire Florentino's love for Fermina or if I want to kick him for being a stupid martyr waiting for a love that for me is not worth waiting. But I guess I have to admire Florentino's charisma. He is like a secret Casanova. He had 622 affairs but he had never married any of these women for he is always thinking that his heart is for Fermina and Fermina alone. If that sounds noble or pathetic, you get to decide.

But indeed Love in the time of Cholera reminds us once again how crazy this thing called Love is. And love have it's own symptoms. In this book, it's like cholera. It's contagious. It'll make you sick.