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Memories of My Melancholy Whores

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Memories of My Melancholy Whores

By: Gabriel García Márquez
Narrated by: Thom Rivera
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About this listen

On the eve of his 90th birthday, a bachelor decides to give himself a wild night of love with a virgin. As is his habit - he has purchased hundreds of women - he asks a madam for her assistance. The 14-year-old girl who is procured for him is enchanting, but exhausted as she is from caring for siblings and her job sewing buttons, she can do little but sleep. Yet with this sleeping beauty at his side, it is he who awakens to a romance he has never known.

Tender, knowing, and slyly comic, Memories of My Melancholy Whores is an exquisite addition to a master's work.

©2005 Gabriel García Márquez (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism Multicultural United States World Literature Fantasy Magic Feel-Good

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A wonderfully intimate story of a nonagenarian who finds love in the shape of a young teenage girl he was intending to deflower.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that this Lolita-esque storyline does not sound terribly appealing. And there were many times, when I was listening, that I felt deeply uncomfortable about the tone and implications. However, this is classic Marquez and not everything is as it seems and we have to be careful about judging a story set in 1920s(?) South America with 21st century Occidental sensibilities.

Whilst it is easy to get hooked up on the paedophiliac aspects, the primary driver for this tale is an old man facing up to death and I found myself reflecting upon my own mortality because of it.

Thom Rivera reads this audiobook in sublime fashion. His accent is perfect for the piece, still wonderfully clear and gives it a distinct flavour.

Apart from the uncomfortable subject matter, my main criticism with this book is its relatively short length. I know it is a novella but one felt that the story could have been expanded upon. As a crude simile, it was like enjoying several slices rather than a whole cake.

Still worth a nibble though.

Beautiful, if uncomfortable storytelling

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Short and sweet, humorous story. An interesting version of a love story. I recommend this book.

Interesting take on a love story

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Beautifully narrated with a deep Spanish voice. Story strange and unbelievable but still moving in typical Marquez style.

Beautiful but odd

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An interesting story that has the usual twists and depth, do not listen in front of your kids. I loved it, but found it hard to listen to the very deep voice of the storyteller, in a car it was nearly impossible.

Beautiful story, read by a very deep voice

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What disappointed you about Memories of My Melancholy Whores?

Pictures formed in my mind of wrinkled hands of a 90yr old man caressing a 14yr old girl made me cringe throughout the book. What is more disturbing is the implication that the girl is initially hurt by the old man not having "de-flowered" her in their first naked meeting!! Rather than relieved!! And it goes on with this narcissistic illusions of this old man with the woman-pimp informing him that the girl is madly in love with him. Errr, did I miss an irony intended here by Marquez?? If you can stomach the repulsive erotic scenes this book offers a lot of life wisdom about old age and life.

Would you ever listen to anything by Gabriel García Márquez again?

Absolutely, he is a magnificent writer

Fascinting but Disturbing

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