One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A friend gave this to me, one of her favorite books, a few years ago. As I knew this was a life changing book, I wanted to be sure I read it when I had the time and energy to really concentrate on it.
So I started reading it. In fact, I started reading it when I found out Marquez had passed away.
And then I stopped.
In the mad scramble to pick up in anticipation of company, I had put the book back up on the bookshelves in my library. This book has made me realize what a creature of habit I am. If it's not in my purse constantly (my Kindle) or on my nightstand... I promptly forget it exists.
And when I finally picked it up again, I kicked myself for ever putting it down. GGM's magical realism keeps the reader turning the pages. The fact that each character is compartmentalized into their own world of solitude speaks to the nature of human existence. The town of Macondo brought all of these people together, but in reality everyone is living their own solitary life and their interactions with the other characters only occur when each person is forced out of their bubble.
And pro-tip: Keep the family tree in the beginning bookmarked. So many of the names (or portions of the names) are repeated throughout the generations of the Buendia family... you'll need something keep track of the 3000th character with Aureliano in his name.
Synopsis:
One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendía family. Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad, and alive with unforgettable men and women -- brimming with truth, compassion, and a lyrical magic that strikes the soul -- this novel is a masterpiece in the art of fiction.