Current Read

I've wanted to read this book for a long time... probably ever since it was used in the movie, Serendipity. (Remember? Kate Beckinsale's character wrote her phone number in the book when they met, and John Cusack's character spent years looking at used book stores for that one particular book?) When Oprah made it one of her book club picks, then it was everywhere, and even became a movie. So far, it's really good!

Love in the Time of Cholera
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

From Library Journal
While delivering a message to her father, Florentino Ariza spots the barely pubescent Fermina Daza and immediately falls in love. What follows is the story of a passion that extends over 50 years, as Fermina is courted solely by letter, decisively rejects her suitor when he first speaks, and then joins the urbane Dr. Juvenal Urbino, much above her station, in a marriage initially loveless but ultimately remarkable in its strength. Florentino remains faithful in his fashion; paralleling the tale of the marriage is that of his numerous liaisons, all ultimately without the depth of love he again declares at Urbino's death. In substance and style not as fantastical, as mythologizing, as the previous works, this is a compelling exploration of the myths we make of love. Highly recommended.

UPDATE: Still reading this book... and it's taking me forever! I would still recommend it, but must caution it should be rated PG-13 or possibly a soft R for content. It's beautifully written, but Mr. Ariza definitely gets around!