A story about a lovestruck man's eternal vow of the heart amidst the scents of a Caribbean town by the sea, laden with exotic women - and set deep in the heart of the late 1880's, this book is deemed 'one for the ages' and a cult classic - but I don't get why.

A boyhood crush struck upon Florentino Ariza which rested on stalking the girl, Fermina Daza, (seen as innocent 'girl watching' back then), went from silent observation to a stormy teenage love affair and into the throes of rejection and unrequited love - after which, events in the novel that didn't sit well with me.

Now imagine going through this journey alone, with a partner who was once with you, having faded away, and not turning back. A promise, to love that one individual forever, no matter how much the object of your interest refuses, marries and moves on - and to follow through regardless of these circumstances.

Why? I feel when a woman (or man) says no to a relationship with the other, just take it as a no. It seemed to encourage men to pursue women despite her saying 'no.'

Bear in mind, this has always been my notion, much before the #MeToo movement arose. There's something to be said about harassment. While the chase between men and women is appreciated at the start of a relationship, this was about a woman who eventually ended things for no reason (terrible, and more of a reason to eventually allow yourself to heal and move on from someone who would treat you that way), married, and until her husband's death in her late years, was being pursued yet again by the same man with fierce relentless energy. The same man who refused to marry amidst having his own tumultuous relationships, but his heart set on the maiden who refused him.

To be fair, I am also a believer in thinking, "What about missed opportunities?" and had a conversation with a fellow reader and journalist, Amal Khan, about my frustrations with Florentino and my six month battle with attempting to finish the book.

I said to her, "While I think Marquez writes beautifully, his protagonist, Florentino, got on my last nerve."

She put it into a different perspective saying, "I loved it for so many strange reasons. You don't try to make sense of Marquez. His characters are absurd, comical, abrupt & act often in desperate all too human ways. That's the beauty! I don't think he's encouraging anyone to be anything. He's just documenting human characteristics in this strange, magical way."

Fermina & Florentino's youthful connection prove a rite of romantic passage is something every young person passes through and quite frankly, will most likely experience; and if they're lucky, walk through it for life. For most, this is a passage to pass through a few times until luck strikes.

Marquez once remarked to journalist Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza in 1982, "In reality, the duty of a writer - the revolutionary duty if you like - is that of writing well."

And boy oh boy, does he write well.

Favourite quote:

Rating: 2/5 (primarily on the plot, not his prose which is beautiful)