carbro Posted May 31, 2005 Share Posted May 31, 2005 Reviving this thread and pulling it back on topic: I recently picked up Gabriel Garcia Marquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude, because I understood that it was a widely loved modern classic. I haven't quite made it to page 80, and I am finding it impossible to keep the characters straight. So I am here seeking advice. Should I plow through and find it gets easier? Should I start again and make a scorecard/cheat sheet? Am I alone in having this problem? Is it not worth the effort? Thanks! Link to comment
Helene Posted May 31, 2005 Share Posted May 31, 2005 I agree with the T-shirt that reads, "So Many Books, So Little Time." If it's tough going, and not required reading, I would suggest putting it aside, and picking it up in another 5-10 years. There's plenty to read in the meantime. Link to comment
Petra Posted May 31, 2005 Share Posted May 31, 2005 Some of the editions of 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' come with a list of characters. Have you checked at the back of your book, carbro? Link to comment
carbro Posted May 31, 2005 Share Posted May 31, 2005 Back of the book, GWTW? Haven't gotten that far! Actually, there is a family tree in the front, but it's not terribly helpful. Thanks for the advice, HF! Like BW's friend at the head of this thread, I really hate putting books aside once I've started, but like you, others have indicated that sometimes it's the best way. Link to comment
TutuMaker Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 carbro, I too struggled with this book at first, but I read it all the way through and liked it. I would not say it is one of the best books I've read, but I did enjoy it. Keeping the characters straight gets easier as you go through. I will say I probably would have put it down, but I was on doctor's ordered bed rest for 8 weeks (in and out of the hospital, mostly in) and I had read all of my other reading material at hand. I only continued because I HAVE to read. In the end I am glad I finished the book, but I don't think I will read any more books by Marquez. Link to comment
carbro Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 TutuMaker, I take your suggestion as a pep talk. Link to comment
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