Love in the Time of Cholera in Overdue Podcast

Feb 02, 2013 Jeni rated it did not like it · review of another edition

If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be disappointment. I was expecting an epic love story that spans decades. That's not what I got. He's obsessed and she was on the rebound.

While I didn't mind Dr. Juvenal Urbino or Fermina Daza (actually I liked her minus the fact I wished she would have stuck to her guns a little more), I could not stand Florentino Ariza. It's didn't take long for me to develop this hatred, as I was just like "Get over it already. 50 years? Seriously dude, she s If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be disappointment. I was expecting an epic love story that spans decades. That's not what I got. He's obsessed and she was on the rebound.

While I didn't mind Dr. Juvenal Urbino or Fermina Daza (actually I liked her minus the fact I wished she would have stuck to her guns a little more), I could not stand Florentino Ariza. It's didn't take long for me to develop this hatred, as I was just like "Get over it already. 50 years? Seriously dude, she said no pretty firmly...twice." And what a liar, "I'm a virgin." You wrote books about your 600+ lovers (and that doesn't even count all of them)! He doesn't even understand what love is, as he calls rape (it's described as an assault) making love. No. Also, sex and love are not the same thing. And he's a psychopath, all he thinks about is her and barely knows her. (view spoiler) I was pleased when they mentioned that he had a few bastards and STDs because it would have been too much if he hadn't.

Also, despite all their "love," I thought about it and they would have had a miserable marriage if she had picked him. Because he flat out confessed that he would have still slept with 600 women, and we got to see how she felt about her husband cheating on her (view spoiler) I may have been okay with it had it been a story about how two childhood sweethearts who separated because of life and then found each other again in old age, but no. He was obsessed with her the entire 50 years. It's not romantic; it's creepy. I'm not usually one who needs a morality tale, but why did that man get a happily ever after? He should have died miserable and alone.

The one nice thing I have to say about this story is that it's well written, and I'll probably still check out some of the other works by this author. I just hated this story, mostly because of its main character. ...more

Like · see review