Of Love and Other Demons

‘'Ideas do not belong to anyone {...} They fly around up there like the angels.''

Neither Colombia nor Gabriel García Márquez need any lengthy introduction. One of the most fascinating countries of our planet, beautiful, mystical, haunting. A land of tales, magic and lively people. A writer who is rightfully considered one of the finest in the history of Literature, a magician of words, an artist who elevated the novella genre and became one of the pioneers of Magical Realism. Of Love and Other Demons is my favourite work by Márquez and the one which initiated me into the beauty of his writing and started my fascination with Colombia. This was the moment to revisit it one more time...

A wild dog attacks the people in the market of Cartagena. All those who were bitten die of rabies with the exception of Sierva Maria, the daughter of the Marquis, who shows no sign of decline. Soon, strange incidents begin to take place in the city, attributed to the girl. When the plague starts, the Church takes an interest and begins to investigate whether Maria is actually possessed by demons. Cayetano, a gifted young priest, is assigned to her case and he comes to understand that the Devil is actually pretty weak when compared to two great forces: the madness of the human beings and Love. A kind of love that must survive the attack of the demons who are very much alive, walking on this miserable earth...

‘'Furthermore, a pig spoke and a goat gave birth to triplets.''

Márquez presents a society that is steeped in superstition and sees evil and signs of doom everywhere. The disease of rabies has always been loaded with myths and otherworldly references. As it is transmitted by animal bites, it has been associated with creatures from all fantasy spectrums, from werewolves and vampires to the Devil himself. Furthermore, the psychological implications of the virus and the way in which victims were dying helped in elevating rabies to the sphere of the metaphysical and the unexplainable. Márquez used these myths to perfection in this novella. The atmosphere of magic and exoticism is further emphasized by the setting of the story. The port is ripe with commerce, slavery is still going strong. These factors comprise a multicultural society, an amalgam of ethnicities, languages, religions and common beliefs. Márquez uses the side effects of class discrimination and the variety of tradition to demonstrate the power of convictions on the thoughts and the life of the people. Religion can be seen either as a refuge or as an excuse to exert power on the helpless. A Bishop who would like to show how open-minded he is when he only aims at imposing his beliefs on everyone. An Abbess that cannot see in front of her nose, serving the malicious fundamentalism of the monasteries. And a priest that tries to fight against madness to save a girl who moves between two worlds, a presence full of secrets and contradictions. What is she? What truly happened?

Through sensuality, folklore and raw realism, Márquez creates a colourful tapestry of themes and beliefs, with a vivid cast of characters. Maria and Cayetano are two protagonists that left their mark on Márquez's work, in a story that is visceral and beautiful, powerful and tragic. A fable, an exotic allegory that shows how human beings can do the worst evil imaginable. Not any demon, not any devil but men. Men that destroy all that is pure and good and strange by condemning it as unnatural and vile...

‘'I have always believed He attributes more importance to love than to faith.''

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

La historia es rara, la redacción es meh. No es concluyente ni satisfactorio el final. De los libros que me hacen creer que Gabriel está sobrevalorado

Mi libro favorito por mucho tiempo, me gustaría volver a leerlo. El único que ha sacado lágrimas de mi.

A story that, it seems, only Gabriel García Márquez can weave. It is a short book, and one that works in stealth - a quick start to the story, followed by a period of subtle and slow explanation. Around 3/4 of the way through the story the reader realises they are caught up in the story, eager to understand how it will end - although really we all know it can only end unhappily.

Márquez's writing, as always, is lyrical and convoluted in places, and poetic and detailed in others. I find his short stories and novels like this - almost novella, far more enjoyable to read than this longer novels, in which I tend to lose my way. Magical realism is not dominant in this story, as much as religious interpretation of events or actions which are identified by some as supernatural. I don't go well with magical realism, as I am burdened with far too much practicality. My point is I had no magical realism problems with this story.

4 stars

Credeam ca doar la povestile de Agatha Christie imi trebuie o lista cu personajele si cine sunt ele... m-am inselat. Pe langa numarul marisor de personaje intr-o carte doar de 150pg, faptul ca numele lor sunt spaniole chiar nu a ajutat. Cred ca povestile lui M??rquez nu sunt my cup of tea...

Gabo nos presenta aquí la historia de Sierva María de Todos los Ángeles, la hija de Ygnacio y Bernarda, y quién crece a través de las páginas del libro, desde sus años más tiernos hasta ser toda una mujer, y como su vida, y la forma en la que fue criada afecta a todo aquel que la conoce de una manera u otra, empezando por sus padres y las “Nanas” que le pusieron, que no son otras más que las esclavas de la familia.

Para entrar un poco más en contexto hay que aclarar que esta historia se lleva en un momento histórico en que la esclavitud era algo normal, y además de ello el racismo estaba fuertemente marcado en la sociedad, por lo cual que una persona de tez blanca tuviera comportamientos y costumbres de la raza negra, y además solo vista entre esclavos, se consideraba entre otras cosas, como una “Cosa del demonio”, lo que hace que efectivamente se tome a nuestra protagonista, Sierva María, como un ser del otro mundo que solo vino a la tierra para hacer mal a cuánto la conoce.

Solo pocas personas llegan a verla más allá de esta situación, o simplemente a sentir más fascinación que temor por la niña, y en este momento nos vemos entonces envuelto en una historia con diferentes puntos de vista y sentimientos respecto a una misma situación (Una joven diferente a las demás).

Creo que esta lectura nos deja un mensaje muy claro al final, nos adentra tanto en la historia de los personajes, que se hace difícil no querer leer más, incluso cuando al inicio puede parecer un poco lento y hasta aburridor, pasados los primeros capítulos todo toma un rumbo totalmente diferente que logra hacer que te enganches.

Es sin duda alguna un clásico muy merecidamente llamado, nos ilustra de una manera diferente sobre épocas de nuestra historia a las cuales no somos tan ajenos, pero no habíamos visto desde la perspectiva de las creencias religiosas a tal punto de llegar a choques culturales tan cercanos.

La recomiendo muchísimo, más aún si ya has leído pequeños cuentos del autor y te quieres arriesgar con sus novelas más largas, esta es una excelente opción, además los personajes son totalmente atrapantes y diferentes en todo sentido, lo que hace todo más interesante aún.

I love Marquez, but it is so deeply sad.

Garcia Marquez é mágico, sem trocadilhos: a narrativa de um episódio cruel e cheio de tristeza vira algo fascinante.

“No hay medicina que cure lo que no cura la felicidad”

Muy recomendable, es una lectura corta nada complicada de llevar que a pesar de eso te adentra en la época en que se desarrolla.
En cuanto a temática, no quiero ahondar ya creo que es mejor aventurarse a leerlo sin muchos adelantos, ya que es un libro corto. Basta decir que toca un tema que el autor no aborda regularmente.
Además contiene una nota especial de Gabriel en el que te explica la razón por la cual creo esta historia, lo que le añade un toque especial.