DARK //

The Early Years

I just finished Gabriel Garcia Marquez: the Early Years by Ilan Stavans.

Not gonna lie, I didn’t get most of it.

Not gonna lie, never read 100 years of Solitude

WE DID study Chronicle of a Death Foretold, I have to thank my IB English teacher Ms. Densford for showing us the way into translated Latin American works, I also have to thank my IB History teacher Mrs. Matthews for teaching us Latin American history so passionately, no matter how convoluted it was, it was unforgettable.

Except, that I forgot all of it now.

This biography is so literary, and for someone that never read 100 years of solitude (for shame of me) I couldn’t fully grasp the themes he was referring to. But one thing is for sure, Stavans is passionate, and enthused when he’s discussing the book, whether referring to a portion of Garcia Marquez’s life or a theme or tid bits in the translation. I feel safe when I’m reading it, I feel I can fully trust the voice, he’s being honest, there’s nothing to hide and everything’s fully researched and examined to the very last detail.

It was beautifully written, and I will come back to it one day when I have read 100 years of Solitude.

When I was studying Chronicle of A Death Foretold, the only thing I was able to see right away, the gorgeous language, so rich, despite it being a translated copy. Sometimes, rich language can be seen as gaudy, and unnecessary like too much icing on my cupcake, but here, it’s just right.

I wonder if the flavor of the icing will taste different if I read it in original Spanish, now, you all know how bad my French is, I wonder if I’ll be able to learn Spanish…