Garcia-Marquez

As I delved deeper into Hundred Years of Solitude, I found myself becoming increasingly captivated by Marquez's masterful storytelling. Gabriel Garcia Marquez's exploration of the themes of time, power, and family relationships was one of the things that struck me the most. He portrayed the cyclical nature of time in a way that made the Buendia family's struggles all the more poignant. One quote that stood out to me was when Marquez wrote, "Time was not passing...it was turning in a circle." This quote captures the idea that the Buendia family is trapped in a never-ending cycle, unable to escape their past.

Marquez's portrayal of power and violence stood out to me. He showed how those in power can use violence to maintain their position and control others, leading to the devastation of entire communities. One quote in these regards that stood out to me was: "They were so much in the power of the government and the government was so much in the power of the companies that everything went on as before, except that the streets were filled with corpses." This quote captures the sense of hopelessness and despair that permeates the novel as the Buendia family and the town of Macondo struggle to survive in the face of overwhelming oppression.

However, what stood out to me the most was Marquez's portrayal of family relationships. He captured the beauty and the darkness of love, showing how it can be both a source of joy and pain. The complicated web of relationships within the Buendia family was one of the most engaging aspects of the novel for me. One quote that stuck with me was, "He dug so deeply into her sentiments that in search of interest he found love, because by trying to make her love him he ended up falling in love with her." This quote captures the complexity of love and the impact that our relationships with others can have on our lives.

Marquez's use of magical realism was another element that made the novel so memorable for me. The fantastical elements of the story created a dreamlike quality that allowed me to be swept away by the story. Marquez's use of magical realism added to the novel's sense of wonder and mystery, keeping me engaged throughout the novel.

Lastly, the novel's exploration of themes such as memory and the passage of time resonated deeply with me. As I read the novel, I couldn't help but reflect on my own life and the memories that have shaped who I am today. Marquez's portrayal of time as a cyclical force, constantly repeating itself, made me consider how the past can continue to influence our present and future.

Pedro Páramo

Hi everyone, this week’s reading was quite rushed for me (as I can imagine it was for others too) as we try to survive the midterm season.

Although I am not typically fond of gory themes, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Its central theme of "death," along with the constant reminder of life's transience and the inevitability of the end, was something that especially intrigued me. The book's numerous ghostly figures reflected this theme, while the peaceful and almost desirable portrayal of death served as a release from the struggles of life. This unique perspective on death forced me to contemplate my own views on mortality, including the associated fears and desires in its face. For me, the most memorable moment was when Doña predicted Preciado's arrival, a moment also highlighted in the lecture video. It was at this point that the main theme of the book, blurring the line between the living and the dead, really became obvious to me.

Besides, as someone who is constantly intrigued by the concept of power and its impacts on people, the reflection of power and its effects through Pedro Páramo’s character was another aspect that stood out to me. Throughout the book, we see how Pedro Páramo's immense power and influence over the people of Comala affected not only his own character, but the lives of those around him. The abuse of his power resulted in the town's decline and the death of many of its inhabitants. The book offered a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked power, and the lasting impact it can have on individuals and communities. 

On a different note, knowing now the significant influence Ruflo had on Gracia Márquez, it makes me even more excited to read One Hundred Years of Solitude next week.The lecture's discussion about why Ruflo didn't gain as much recognition for his own writing was thought-provoking, particularly the notion of him being a "writer of transition."

If anything, having read this book, I now feel more motivated to give horror movies a try, despite not having watched one in years (I’m too scared lol).

Discussion question:

Which part of the book had the most significant impact on you?

Btw, good luck on midterms everyone! :)

Week 5: Borges

 I found Jorge Luis Borges to be a great author with a unique style and mastery of language; “Labyrinth and Selected Stories” very well showcases his imaginative and thought-provoking writing. 

I found Identity to be a major theme of this collection as Borges often explored the idea of multiple identities and the fluidity of identity as the characters struggled with the question of who they truly are. This theme was particularly evident in “Borges and I” where Borges separates his own identity from that of his writing, treating them as distinct entities. In some sense, this raises questions about the relationship between the artist and their works, challenging our conventional understanding.

A personal favorite of mine from this collection was the Circular Ruins. The dreamlike setting of this story and its exploration of multiple themes was particularly captivating to me; the story raises questions about the nature of reality and the relationship between imagination and creation. If anything, going back, I can better understand the reason behind the idea of the writer and Borges being two separate entities as well the emphasis on the theme of reality vs. fiction. Besides, I found the whole storyline of a magician traveling to a remote jungle to create a “dreamer” quite fascinating. 

"Funes the Memorious" is another one of my personal favorites from the collection. The title alone was very captivating and immediately drew me in. Besides, before reading this story, I never thought about how memories can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, being able to recall every moment of your life in vivid detail sounds like a gift. However, the way Borges portrays Funes' situation made me realize that it can also lead to a sense of confinement and limit one's ability to think critically. It was sort of the idea that in real life, although details are crucial, it is equally crucial to keep in mind the broader perspective. This story also made me consider the idea of too much information and how it can be overwhelming and hinder one's ability to make sense of the world. I remember discussing this with my peers and the idea of how difficult it is, especially in today's world, to reach a common agreement on any issue due to the multitude of disciplines and the abundance of experts within each field. This is evident even in closely related fields like economics and finance, which despite having several similarities, struggle to reach an agreement because of the unique details present within each of them. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection not only for its creativity and clever use of language but also for its emphasis on relevant and thought-provoking themes.

Discussion Question: Which was your favorite story from the collection?