Love in the Time of CholeraLove in the Time of Cholera
Score Classic
What it's about
As young people, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall in love, but she marries a respected doctor instead. Florentino waits, through more than fifty years and hundreds of affairs, for the chance to declare his love again. Gabriel García Márquez evokes an unrequited passion that binds two lives together.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Bokklubben World Library list of the 100 greatest books and the BBC's Big Read. It's one of the great love stories of the 20th century.
You'll love it if you liked
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Pedro Páramo
The Unbearable Lightness of BeingGood to know
Florentino's obsession isn't purely romantic, and some of his relationships are disturbing. It's lush and slow.
By the numbers
- Readers29 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller46 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #89 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #462 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1598 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Gabriel García Márquez
If you like this, read next
The Age of Innocence
Emma
David Copperfield
The Color Purple
Lonesome Dove
Pride and PrejudiceExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Love in the Time of Cholera worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Bokklubben World Library list of the 100 greatest books and the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #1,598 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Love in the Time of Cholera about?
As young people, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall in love, but she marries a respected doctor instead. Florentino waits, through more than fifty years and hundreds of affairs, for the chance to declare his love again. Gabriel García Márquez evokes an unrequited passion that binds two lives together.
How long does it take to read Love in the Time of Cholera?
About 9 hours (348 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Love in the Time of Cholera?
If you liked it, try One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo or The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.