100 years of Solitude

Cafe Society
1

So I’ve gotten about 130 pages into 100 Years of Solitude and I don’t find it particularly compelling. I know it’s a very well-acclaimed book, so does it “get better” later on? Right now, I don’t find the plot particularly interesting, and what makes the book unique, I suppose, aside from the magical realism stuff, is his diction and pacing. Neither of which I like. So does any of this change later on? Is there a big payoff for finishing it? Does his storytelling style change? Or if I find it dull now, should I not bother continuing? Thanks

Gestalt

2

I don’t remember any distinct change in style as it continues, so if the style is really putting you off, it may not get any better for you.

OTOH, I didn’t get through it until my third try, but on my third try, I *loved * it. I just needed to be in the right frame of mind.

3

I should add that I’m also curious if the ending is particularly poignant.

4

IMHO, it gets better. It’s been awhile since I’ve read it (and I read it twice), though.

The story comes “full circle” by the end, which makes it kinda cool.

Hang in there.

5

IMHO, if you don’t like it after 130 pages, you won’t like it. The book had me hooked after 2 pages and it’s by far my favorite book ever.

6

I very much got that impression from your initial post. I’m only about 200 pages into it myself, so obviously I can’t help you too much, but it’s pretty clear to me at this point that this is a big, sprawling story that spans generations. I can’t imagine at this point that it will end with some big “payoff” (whatever that might be). Of course that’s pure speculation on my part, but it doesn’t seem right somehow.

Personally, I love it so far. The complicated family tree acting as “protagonist”, the mix of unsentimental realism with the occasional magic and mysticism that somehow doesn’t seem to require any justification. But then, I’m a huge fan of both the detail-obsessed expansiveness of 19th century novels and the allegorical weirdness of authors like Borges and Kafka, so maybe this is just my thing.

7

Yup.

It’s one of my favorites as well, but those first two times, I just couldn’t get into it. I spent fifty pages thinking “Why does everyone have the same damned name?!?”

And on preview, everything **jethroskull ** said in his second paragraph was true for me as well. The third time. I’m a little slow. :smiley:

8

Yeah, it just sort of rambles on and on in the same style and pace throughout; there is the ‘full circle’ thing that monstro mentions, but to be honest, I regret struggling through this book. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I couldn’t really relate to the characters - perhaps because I kept getting them mixed up due to a lot of similar names.