Gabriel Garcia Marquez may be Latin America’s most well known writer. Hailing from Colombia he went to school and spent some time working in Cartagena. Many find his stories, such as One Hundred Years  of Solitude (perhaps his most renowned novel) difficult to read. But Love in the Time of Cholerea is not.  On a basic level, it is a classic love story set in colonial Cartagena about two lovers separated for most of their lives. On a deeper level, the story explores  love of many types and forms – marital and adulterous love, physical and platonic love, learned love, lusty love, etc. There is an interesting cast of characters with a story that keeps you wondering if the guy will get the gal until the very end.  Its all set in Cartagena during a boom time and in times of war and widespread disease (mostly notably cholera). It is a unique story and a good example of why Marquez is considered one of the best writers of our day.  Interesting note: he wrote it in 1985 and it was based on the tragic true story of an elderly American couple that were murdered in Mexico.

Its a classic and good read.