Well, what an interesting and varied discussion we had following the reading of this novel, throwing up all sorts of issues and hot topics. There was a general consensus that the subject matter - a study of 'Love' or let's call it 'sex, desire, passion and obsession' - first published in English in 1988, comes across completely differently at our current age (mature, worldly women?!) and in this current time 2025. Subject matter that we accepted so readily 30 - 40 years ago is less acceptable today. Are we more critical? cynical? unforgiving? Or just more worldly wise?

We agreed that the author - aka Gabo - was a hugely successful and distinguished writer with a unique style. He remains an Icon of 20th century literature. His ability to create atmosphere, mood, visual imagery, place and time is sumptuous, fantastic and unforgettable. However, the content of this novel is about the personal relationships of the three main characters - a love triangle - over a fifty year period in time. The focus is on their 'love' but more specifically the sexual proclivities of the central protagonist Florentino Ariza. We concurred that Florentino had strong, obsessive, all-consuming feelings for Fermina Daza, lasting throughout his life. They begin and end this 'love story'.  However, the 'love' between Dr Juvenal Urbino and Fermina Daza, his wife of fifty years, is also key to the narrative.

Is this novel 'Love in the Time of Cholera' about something else or something more? Does all consuming love that can destroy, cause physical symptoms, give rise to pain and suffering, echo the symptoms of Cholera? Or is it about the morality and social structures and constrictions of that time? The story starts in the 1870s and ends in the 1930s at a time of yet another civil war in Columbia alongside an outbreak of Cholera. Along with the huge disparity in wealth and social status, the background to the narrative is steeped in history, culture, place and time.

Gabo's skills as a writer are phenomenal and leave us with many questions.  The biggest bone of contention for us, in this particular reading group, was the horrendous behaviour of Florentino Ariza who over a fifty year period 'bedded' a vast number of women and girls, regardless of their age, for his own sexual gratification, raping one, de-flowering another, using many others and causing damage including death and suicide. In this Politically Correct time of Me Too and Equality Florentino Ariza's behaviour is viewed as abhorrent. 

Notwithstanding our criticisms regarding certain aspects of this story we agreed that it was well-worth reading and it generated a great discussion!