If you are looking for a classic work of literature to cozy up next to the fireplace with a glass of wine or mug of tea, I recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Set in the fictional village of Macondo, Colombia, the story reveals the joys, sorrows, struggles, and suffering of the Buendia family. The author weaves a multi-generational tale filled with births, deaths, marriages, war, executions, magic, ice, floods, and much more. At times I struggled with what was real and what was not, wondering that I thought a character had died, but here he is again. It didn’t help that so many characters have the same or similar names, such as Aureliano and Arcadio. Also, some of the women live for well over one hundred years. Surrendering thoughts of “that can’t happen” and replacing them with marvel and wonder helps. Just let the events unfold, no matter how illogical they may seem. Whenever I search lists of best literature of all time, this novel is always either number one, or very close to it. Give it a try and you’ll discover why, even if you don’t understand every detail of the novel (I didn’t get it all either).
