At the precise moment when Aureliano Babilonia would finish deciphering the parchments, and that everything written on them was unrepeatable since time immemorial and forever more, because races condemned to one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth.
One Hundred Years of Solitude is not your generic story. It is essentially a family history that is everywhere and nowhere. Following the Buendía family, Gabriel García Márquez follows their thoughts, lifes, and deaths as characters cycle within the same house. And, of course, the book is magical (literally and figuratively).
What I loved most about One Hundred Years of Solitude was the flow of the story. It does not follow the linear perspective most books do, but follows the family in a very historical but personal way. There was a feeling that the family was constantly finding themselves in new situations, loves, and conflicts, but they all felt so familiar. More importantly, the events were meant to repeat, revealing the character of the family itself. The Buendía family is one essential character: their personalities change over time with the change in cast. I believe the linear perspective could not have done justice to the story of the family.
Additionally, the parallel narrative of the Buendía family with the history of Latin America was truly brilliant. The way Márquez followed the family members and important events of their lives along with the true ones that happened in Latin America and especially Columbia was eye-opening. Events such as the Banana Massacre (by the American owned United Fruit Company) and the war between Liberals and Conservatives were portrayed strikingly well with the magical realism that took place. Magic such as the years-long rain pour after the Massacre and the confusion and distortion of time allowed the overall mood and approach to these events to be fully captured.
Of course, there were some struggles I had when reading the book. Obviously, the constant use of the name Aureliano (22 characters!) and José Arcadio as well as the wide cast of characters made it difficult to understand who was dictating what event, where I almost gave up in the middle of the story. Also, some relationships within the story were a bit (um) interesting to follow. Still, I truly enjoyed the ending, how the beginning and end all connected together with the detailed history of the family as the life of the Buendía family came to an end.
Overall, I would recommend the book to those who are okay with reading confusing storylines, characters, and themes.
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