Finally, the last twenty pages, which are quite moving and unsentimental, as Fermina and Florentino get it together on the river boat they are cruising on, finally turning round and flying the cholera flag so that they have the entire boat (plus crew) to themselves. The relationship is spiky enough, and the acceptance of how old and shriveled and wrinkled they are is not flinched away from. So, yes , in the end Florentino (who despite his aggressive womanising, maintains that he saved himself a virgin for Fermina) gets his result, although he is saddened by the news that the schoolgirl he seduced has committed suicide. So there's enough moral ambivalence left for to go round for everybody.
What did I learn? What did I gain? Will I read another Marquez? Who knows. I wouldn't buy another, and this one goes in the Oxfam pile.
No comments:
Post a Comment