After the death of Gabriel García Márquez in April 2014, it seemed impossible that we would ever read more magical realism from his pen, but this year brought an important gift for literature lovers: the release of an unpublished book by the Colombian author.
Ten years after his death, we enjoy his new novel and dedicate this month’s section to the Nobel Prize-winning writer and some of his most emblematic works — intertwined in journeys through Macondo, the ever-present land setting for many of his most endearing characters.
No One Writes to the Colonel, Gabriel García Márquez
Short Novel
Published: 1961
Pages: 80
Author’s nationality: Colombia
I fell in love with Gabriel García Márquez’s writing at the age of 13 with this novel that exudes a melancholic anxiety for a never-coming pension.
I grabbed it for fun during a summer break and from then on, I never stopped reading the author’s works.
García Márquez considered it his best novel, even saying that he had to write One Hundred Years of Solitude to get people to read this simple, short story, which is a bit different from the literary styles frequently used by him.
Who’d like this?
Although many come to this book after reading One Hundred Years of Solitude, No One Writes to the Colonel is in fact a good starting point to the Colombian writer’s work. It is easy to read, because it is a short book with a simple plot.
Quotes
- “The only thing that comes for sure is death, colonel.”
- “Life is the best thing that’s ever been invented.”
Readers say
- “You get to know the Colonel and be a part of his life,” says an Amazon user.
- “What more can you expect from Gabriel? It’s an enjoyable read,” says an Amazon user.
One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
Novel (Magical realism)
Published: 1967
Pages: 432
Author’s nationality: Colombia
I read One Hundred Years of Solitude for first time for a school project when I was 15, I couldn’t stop, I even re-read it immediately.
Over the years, it is the book I always come back to, one of my favorites, with a special place on my night table and in my heart forever.
I am not the only one who thinks so. This novel is considered one of the greatest in world literature, with a storyline that makes you feel like one of the citizens of Macondo and a close friend of the Buendía family during their journey.
One Hundred Years of Solitude is proof of García Márquez’s great imagination and superb prose, as well as the tangible definition of magical realism.
Who’d like this?
Anyone who wants to know the literary world of García Márquez. It is for readers who pause to relish the words, analyze the narrative plots and connect the dots.
It can be challenging because of the number of characters, the similar names and the round trips in time, however, once you dive in, you will love it.
Advice: read it slowly, but don’t stop, the story needs complete immersion. Another suggestion: read it more than once, it’s worth it.
Quotes
- “Time was not passing…it was turning in a circle.”
- “And both of them remained floating in an empty universe where the only every day and eternal reality was love.”
Readers say
- “Most paragraphs contain more delightful word-smithing and imagination than most other novels,” says an Amazon user.
- “Writing genius,” says an Amazon user.
Until August, Gabriel García Márquez
Novel
Published: 2024
Pages: 112
Author’s nationality: Colombia
Gabriel García Márquez left a vast artistic legacy, with brilliant, imaginative and rich prose living in a magical world.
You can read Love in the Time of Cholera, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother, or Memories of My Melancholy Whores — the last novel published by the author in 2004. However, it never seems enough with a talent like García Márquez’s; 20 years after that last release and 10 years after his death, his children decided to give the public one of the writer’s never published works.
The Colombian author thought that the novel didn’t work and the draft should be destroyed, however his children and some readers think otherwise: the book demonstrates why he is considered one of the most influential Latin American writers in the world.
It is not his best work, but it is a good work. It’s impossible for every book to get the label of genius. Gabo wrote this manuscript in his last years, when his mind was failing — that is an immense achievement, worth highlighting. This does not stain his name; it exalts his passion for literature. I loved every word acknowledging this.
Who’d like this?
Fans of García Márquez’s work appreciate another insight into the author’s literary world. However, for some readers, publication means violating the writer’s wishes. It’s hard to please everyone.
On the other hand, you could consider it a must-read, along with others by the author, if you’re preparing for the premiere of One Hundred Years of Solitude on Netflix. Let’s hope the streaming platform does justice to the world created by the author.
Quotes
- “When a woman leaves there is no human or divine power that can stop her.”
- “Her skin without a trace of cosmetics had the color and texture of molasses.”
Readers say
- “Thanks to the heirs for publishing this book…GGM at his best. Colombia it’s incredible, yet magically believable self,” says an Amazon user.
- “To ignore it would have been a sin. I read it with a feeling of respect for the memory of my admired author of One Hundred Years and all his Macondos,” says an Amazon user.