Pam’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2018)

Pam’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

I’m listening to the audiobook while waiting for the e-book or print book to become available. (I struggle w audio since I tend to fall asleep.) So far, I like the writing. I haven’t got into the story too much yet. I’ve read both Stoner and Augustus and enjoyed both of them. With Augustus, I feel that knowing the historical characters is very helpful. I did the research while reading the e-book and clicking on names and topics. It’s very different than the other 2 books because it’s written in epistolary style.

Lorraine - I’m glad to hear that you will be reading this collection also! I just started reading an April (sci-fi) book club read but, once I finish it, will get back to Márquez!

Jade - Look forward to hearing your thoughts on whichever book you choose to read! I know there are so many choices. I’ve read 2 stories so far by Márquez. One didn’t move me but the other one was ok. I do like his writing style. I’m hoping to find a few really good stories! Death seems to be a common theme. I’m hoping some of the stories are less morbid.

Jade - I found the Innocent Eréndira collection (6 stories and 1
Novella) in Spanish on Libby so I downloaded it and will read it side by side with the English paperback edition. Are you going to read all of the stories or just the title story? I was planning to start from the beginning and read all of them. It will take me a little longer to read because I’m taking notes on new vocabulary.

Jade - I will read it with you! I can start it later today.

John - Thanks for the Fuentes link. I will definitely listen to it. I’m interested in reading more of his works. I’ve only read Aura.

Luís - The Jorge Amado book you read sounds really good! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll try to find it. Amado is another author I’m interested in reading.

Awesome! Welcome Jade! Look forward to your comments.

If anyone is interested in reading short stories by Gabriel García Márquez, there are 3 English collections in our time frame (the original Spanish editions were published pre-1974) - No One Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories, Leaf Storm and Other Stories, and Innocent Erendira and Other Stories. There is also a collection of 26 stories, presented in their chronological order of publication in Spanish (1947-1972), presented in Collected Stories. I believe these stories are from those 3 collections. I just started the 26 story collection today. One of the stories "Big Mama's Funeral", is set in the Kingdom of Macondo, the same setting of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Kathy- I’m glad to hear that you’re going to finish it! Some of the books I’m considering reading look like they have a lot of violence and are set during revolutions. One of them is titled The Violent Land! Voodoo was prevalent in the Caribbean Island books. That was a first for me.

Chrissie wrote: "I'm more interested in trying a new author, but I could find none of them in English in audioformat. This explains why I have no other one planned. You're lucky--you know Spanish. Not me!"

I can see where being limited to audiobooks in English can be a problem Chrissie! I am struggling to find older (classics) print or e-books in English. There are several very popular authors but most or all of their works are published post 1973. I've had some luck finding books at the used book store and the University of New Mexico library rather than our city library. I just did a search on my library's e-catalogue and there are quite a few Marquez books in English and even more in Spanish. English Audiobooks are limited to 2 books, the 2 most well-known, of course. There are so many Latin American works that have never been translated into English. I did a lot of research last fall and found lots of authors but limited translations! If I come across any in English audiobook format, I will post them on this thread.

Re: my Spanish language skills, while they have improved greatly over the last 2 years using the Duolingo App, I think I would struggle trying to read an adult classic! I'm currently reading children's books (one was about the childhood of G. G. Marquez) and a side by side bilingual book Stories from Latin America : Historias de Latinoamérica. This one is intermediate level so it's perfect for me where I understand most of it but am still learning vocab and building my confidence. I have one book in Spanish that I plan to read much later this year Tierra bajo los pies by Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos. There is no English translation. His classic novel Doña Bárbara is really good!

Rosemarie wrote: "News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel García Márquez is a good non-fiction book."

Thanks for the recommendation Rosemarie. I actually started that book several years ago but didn't finish it, even though I liked it. I'm sure it was due back to the library and I decided to not renew it. I'll have to take another look at it!

Does anyone have any planned reads for April or the last week of March? If you are following the schedule, we will travel to Columbia in April. Any suggestions beyond Gabriel García Márquez? I’ll do some research and post other options later next week! I’m hoping to finish One Hundred Years of Solitude, which I started last year. If you’ve read any of Gabo’s books, which one(s) do you recommend? Looking at only works published before 1974, he has 2 novels, 2 novellas, 3 short story collections, and 1 non-fiction. Happy reading 📖 to everyone!

Congratulations Mike to you and your wife on the newest addition to your family! ❤️

I jus found a used copy of The Snail on the Slope by the Soviet sci-fi writing team Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, originally published in 1972. This will be my 4th book by the Strugatskys. I really have to stop buying books and start reading them!

Oops, I meant to type Julius, not Julian!

I’m listening to the audiobook for Part III of A Canticle for Leibowitz. My hold came in just in time so I can l finish the book for our Sunday book club meeting AND watch basketball at the same time! After finishing it, I hope to get back to Julian by Daphne du Maurier.

Kathy wrote: "I have The Plain in Flames coming from my library."
I hope it's good! I'll wait to see what you and Rosemarie think of it, before I request a copy.
I'm reading Rulfo's Pedro Páramo. It's a little confusing to me because it switches back and forth in time and between narrators. It's a very different style than I am used to but I do like it. I'm glad it's not a full length novel though!

Last night I read The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth. It was the 1931 Newbery Medal Winner. I really enjoyed the story (with it's Buddha stories relating to the different animals) and the illustrations.

I finished House of Mist: A Novel and am almost finished with Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo. They both have elements of magical realism, which I'm still getting used to and am not sure if I really like. Both books are novellas so they are quick reads. I'm still reading A Canticle for Leibowitz. I really liked Part I but am struggling to get into Part II. I also read a children's classic, The Cat Who Went to Heaven, which I loved. With the exception of The Master and Margarita, I seem to like books featuring cats so I may look for some more.

I’ve just started part 2. I’ve got to find some dedicated reading time though! I’m splitting my time between 2 books. I like this book more than I expected to. I think I will have to skim through it after finishing it, to refresh my memory and see what I possibly missed. It’s really well written.

Rosemarie - After you finish The Plain in Flames, you will have read all of Juan Rulfo’s books, since he only published 2. Look forward to your thoughts on the book! I’m going to try to find a copy, also.

John- I’m glad that you found some Caribbean and Mexican authors! I’m very interested in Elena Garro. I found her name on a FB post about the best Mexican authors. I haven’t looked for any of her books yet. Also, just a reminder that we are only discussing classics, defined in this group as published 50 or more years ago. Having this thread and doing research on Latin American authors has really opened my eyes up to both classic and contemporary authors I’m not familiar with. Also, some of the authors we have listed in post 1 go across the time line of classic/contemporary.

Kathy- I read Aura last fall when we started planning this thread. I enjoyed it, too! That is the only book I’ve read by Carlos Fuentes. Looking forward to reading some longer books of his and some short stories. I’ve noticed that many Latin American novelists also tend(ed) to write short stories. Is anyone reading or planning to read any short stories? Later in the year, I’m planning to read some stories that are published in dual language collections.