AR: 100 Yrs of Solitude

A Revisiting of Solitude: Teaching Garcia Marquea's Novel to Advanced High School Students
By Patricia Goldblatt. Multicultural Review (8)1, 30-35.
http://www.mcreview.com/toc1999.htm#MCRMarch1999

Patricia Goldblatt revisits Garcia Marquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, which I had read previously to better understand the pros and cons on a specific 'banned' book. The novel is the history of the founding, development, and death of a human settlement, Macondo, and of the most important family in that town, the Buendias. In following the historical narrative of these two elements we are confronted, as we are in any great epic with a picture of how at

a particular moment in human civilization a particular group of people has organized its life.

One can read a lecture by Ian Johnston, delivered March 28, 1995 on One Hundred Years of Solitude, at: http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/introser/marquez.HTM

Another site which provides a timeline, biography, related topics, magic realism and a picture gallery is: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/9181/main.html

I have read a number of student reviews of the book. It is not an easy read. It takes a long time to get involved. It is confusing with the same or similar names used over different generations. Mostly, the characters seem to wonder aimlessly in their own development and that of their community. So much happens without purpose and without direction. Contrary to some reviewers, this would be the kind of book you would wish on someone you wanted to harass or provide a non-rewarding painful experience.

Patricia Goldblatt does an excellent job of finding connections in history, politics and geography that encourage activities of enrichment for those who are able to remain engaged long enough. Nevertheless, there are so many other books and ways of interacting with the historical times and the country that few students would find this a book worth their effort.