salinascolombianlitblog

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Reflection on a Year of Reading Colombian Literature 

Books read during the project include:

The Fruit Palace by Charles Nicholl 

Pablo Escobar: My father by Sebastián Marroquín

The story of a death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

Love in the Time of Cholera Gabriel García Márquez

For my independent reading this year, I decided to read books that were about Colombia or were written by Colombian authors. I did know a little about Colombian culture but I got to learn about all different aspects of Colombia through these books. First and foremost, I was so fascinated by how in almost every book multiple rivers were mentioned and how it helped people in different ways to help within their journey. For example, how rivers like the Magdela River, and San Juan, were used for drug dealings including Pablo Escobar and Charles Nicholl when he went to Colombia to write about the cocaine underworld. “The Story Of a Death Foretold” also talks about how the “Bishop was floating right by the town in his big paddleboat” to go around the city and give blessings. 

In addition to that, I also had the chance to dive a little deeper into the history of cocaine in Colombia since my two books were heavily based on cocaine. In “The Fruit Palace” Charles Nicholl mentioned how in the 1970s after a massive herbicide campaign wiped out the majority of Mexican plantations what didn’t get destroyed rapidly lost its market value turning the smokers towards Colombia where “Colombian cocaine reigned supreme.” In “Pablo Escobar: My Father” Pablo’s son mentioned how the most wanted drug dealer in Colombia his father announced “the war against the government would resume” after being deceived by the government on March 30, 1990. I thought it was cool how the book also mentioned that on June 23, 1993, Colombia was knocked out of the World Cup by Cameroon. 

Throughout the book, I learned that family life is very important in Colombian culture. I believe it can be seen in the book “Pablo Escobar: My Father” where the whole family always stuck together no matter what the situation was. For example, during all of Pablo’s hideouts with the government and the wars between him and his enemies, his whole family was inseparable. Along with the love between the family, I also kind of found out that the children always do what their parents want them to do regardless if they want it or not. In “Love in Time Of Cholera” Fermina marries Dr.Urbino for her father even though she has no desire to and Pablo Escobar’s son also did everything according to his father.  

I learned so much about everything throughout the books that I’ve read. From “The Fruit Palace” I learned that in order to follow your passion you have to take a risk. Charles Nicholl wanted to write about the cocaine underworld and for that, he took the risk to actually go to Colombia and participate in a cocaine deal. In “Pablo Escobar: My Father”, I learned that you should not put your and your loved ones' lives at risk for money. Pablo Escobar put his whole family’s life in danger in order to get rich but ended up putting all of their lives at a huge risk. In “The Story of a Death Foretold”, I learned that “Your actions have consequences” because Santiago Nasar took Angela Vicario’s virginity and was killed by her twin brothers. At last “Love in Time of Cholera”, I learned that you don’t always have to be with somebody that you love but you can love them from afar. In this book, Florentino Ariza waited fifty-one years, nine months, and four days for Fermina Daza even though she was married to another man. 

I’ve always loved reading books but I’ve only read a certain genre and I did stop reading a while ago because I felt like I didn’t have enough time. But by doing this project I feel like I got the chance to read something new and a got to explore a new genre.  But most importantly, this project gave me the motivation to read every day and get back on track. I really do feel very achieved knowing that I read four books this school year and now when I think about it I feel like I always have the time to read ten pages a day and from now on I will try my best to read every day because reading actually feels great. 

(Word Count - 705)

[salinascolombianlitblog]

Week 20 Blog

-This week I read pages 100-145 of the book “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The most important sentence of the week can be found on page 132. “So many widows in his life, since the Widow Nazaret, had made it possible for him to discern how happy they were after the death of their husbands." This is the reason why. After Fermina’s father Lorenzo Daza finds out about her and Florenzo Arizo’s ongoing interactions, he decides to send her away to her cousin's house. The father does this to make her forget about Florenzo and it slightly works. When she comes back from her cousin’s house she doesn’t want to interact with him anymore and her father tries to get Dr.Urbino and her closer since Urbino has a high reputation. After some time, Dr.Urbino and Fermina get married while Florenzo tries to forget her by spending time with other women. One of them happens to be Widow Nazaret and she seems so happy to spend time with Florenzo after her husband's death. This indicates to Florenzo that women will happily spend time with other men after their husbands pass away.

I would say I really loved this week's reading since it was mostly about when the characters were young and back in time. I am still thinking about how Florenzo had affairs with so many other women for a long time but still is obsessed with Fermina after ages. I’m pretty sure he came back with the idea that since her husband passed away, she will definitely give him a chance and they will be together even at this age. I’m hoping Fermina will not go with him because she and Dr.Urbino had a pretty good relationship and they truly loved each other all these years, I think it’s crazy how Florenzo still has hope.  I really enjoyed this week’s reading and I will definitely read and find out if she actually gets with him or not. 

(Word count 338)

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"“So many widows in his life, since the Widow Nazaret, had made it possible for him to discern how happy they were after the death of their husbands."(132)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"Leona Cassiani was the only human being to whom Florentino Arizo was tempted to reveal all the secrets of Fermina Daza." (123)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"He was right: there is no worse enemy of secret love than a carriage waiting at the door." (117)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"He did not want to ruin the memory with an impertinent greeting: he was satisfied with the almost unreal vision that he would keep for the rest of his life." (107)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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Week 19 Blog

-This week I read pages 51-99 of the book “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The most important sentence of the week can be found on page 84. “Fermina Daza's anger grew more intense at the idea that her father was an accessory to the visit.” This is the reason why. During Dr. Urbino’s death ceremony, Florentino who was Fermina’s lover during her teenage years shows up and tells her that he has still been waiting for her these whole years. After the death of both Jeremiah and Dr. Urbino, the story goes back to recite the story of Fermina from the beginning when she was young. Specifically, her love story with her lover Florentino and how they met and fell in love. Fermina lived with her father and her aunt and she was named after her mother’s name Fermina. Fermina used to go to the school where Florenzo used to sit and watch her while writing her love letters at the park. He handed her the letter and they both started to fall in love with each other but Fermina’s father rejected their relationship.

This week’s reading was really interesting, I was really shocked to read that Florenzo waited fifty-one years, nine months, and four days to come and confess his undying love for Fermina after Dr. Urbino falls from the tree and dies. I actually think it’s crazy how much Florenzo loves Fermina, not only now but ever since when they were young, which I believe is quite unhealthy. Other than that, I feel relieved to know that Fermina also truly loved her husband Dr.Urbino, and that they had a pretty happy marriage. I really enjoyed this week’s reading and can’t wait to read more about what happened between Florenzo and Fermina when they were young. 

(Word count 303)

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"Fermina Daza's anger grew more intense at the idea that her father was an accessory to the visit." (84)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"It was a brief and bitter visit." (Pg 84)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"He did not live to see his own glory." (pg 75)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"The preparation had begun three months earlier, for fear that something indispensable would be left undone for lack of time." (pg 69)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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"Life would have been quite another matter for them if they had learned in time that it was easier to avoid great matrimonial catastrophes than trivial everyday miseries." (pg 53)

--"Love in Time of Cholera" - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

[salinascolombianlitblog]

Week 18 Blog

This week I read pages 1-50 of the book “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquz. The most important sentence of the week can be found on page 3. “It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love.” This is the reason why. The story starts off by Dr.Urbino entering the house of his chess competitor, Jeremiah de Saint-Amour, who has committed suicide by inhaling gold cyanide vapors with his dog also dead on the side. Dr.Urbino feels heartbroken too see one of his closest friend in this position but is surprised to see that this is the first case someone has died without any reasons of excruciating love. He also think that this is not a suicide because Jeremiah was an expert with chemicals and also sees unfinished chess game on the side as well. He also left a note on the side for Dr.Urbino which had final instruction includuidng a location in the slave old quarter city. 

I was really excited to start another Colombian book for this week’s reading. I would definitely say that I enjoyed this week’s reading a lot because I love mystery and this book really holds so much mystery already which I cannot wait to be revealed. For this week, the location that Jerimian had on his letter to Urbino was the location of his mistress who reveals to Urbino that he indeed killed himself and it was not a murder. The setting of Jerimian’s death and everything in the beginning was so suspicious but was resolved. I’m really looking forward to revealing more secrets in next week’s reading. After the death of Jerimian, Dr. Urbino also dies at the age of 81 leaving his wife Fermina who “was not as helpless as her husband had feared”.

(Word count 307)

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"From her first moment as a widow, it was obvious that Fermina Daza was not as helpless as her husband had feared."

--Gabriel Garcia Marquez "Love In The Time Of Cholera" (pg 46)

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"His eyes began to fill with easy tears, but she pretended not to see."

--Gabriel Garcia Marquez "Love In The Time Of Cholera" (pg 32)

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"Dr.Urbino, who had insisted on that foolhardy invitation despite the sage warning of his wife."

--Gabriel Garcia Marquez "Love In The Time Of Cholera" (pg 21)

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"The streets were full of paper garlands, music, flowers, and girls with colored parasols and muslin ruffles who watched the celebration from their balconies."

--Gabriel Garcia Marquez "Love In The Time Of Cholera" (pg 12)