reading the first 100 pages of 100 Years of Solitude 

I've said it SO MANY TIMES and I'll continue to do it, if you loved this book YOU NEED TO READ ISABEL ALLENDE'S WORK, specifically Daughter of Fortune, Portrait in Sepia and House of the Spirits, they work as stand alones but if you read the trilogy it's 10 times better, trust me

hi emma, i just had a cool thought: i study classics at uni and there's a literary device in ancient literature called "ekfrasis" (which is greek) and it's basically a deeply detailed description that allows the readers to visually see what they're reading (and in fact, the ancients used to call the visual arts "silent poetry" and the literature "talking paintings"). and all i could think about as i was reading the first twenty-ish pages of this book is that Macondo's description is exactly an ekfrasis! it just directly transports you into the village, into this magical world where everything is possible, both in human life and nature

I have only 140 pages left and I'm soo sad. This is one of the weirdest but most beautiful books I've ever read. Last Sunday I discussed it at a restaurant with a mexican friend, who has read it 6 times, and everyone on our table was so confused when we talked about the plot and the family relations 👀😂

I am reading The Book Thief and was searching for reviews of it and stumbled upon your Vlog and am sooooo happy to have found a person and a group of people that love reading and discussing. I am 72 and dealing with tongue cancer so it is so gratifying to find like minded people (my tribe) at this time of my life.

Time in Macondo appears cyclical instead of linear, and it's fascinating how Gabriel García Márquez gets that across (like with the repeating names, the stagnant surroundings, and I guess also the in*est). It adds to the slightly otherwordly atmosphere of the town, it seems literally fallen out of time, sheltered from the rest of the world beyond the swamps and mountains (I would not be surprised to visit it in an episode of The Twilight Zone). We don't get a lot of info about the outside world, not even through characters who leave Macondo for a while, it's mostly kind of hearsay, everything is filtered through the lense of this strange town. We are also never given the explicit dates of events (I had to do some googling about the war Coronel Aureliano Buendía fought in because I know nothing about Colombian history and did not know when that war happened). All indications of changing times, like inventions, discoveries and ideas, come from outside, like through the group of gypsies and later on the banana company (the latter also exploring a chapter of Latin American history). For me this cyclic narrative really added to the feeling of decay I experienced throughout the entire book, not just when things were obviously falling apart. There is a sort of "stagnation is death" feeling hanging over everything, even when Macondo is superficially developing. Btw did you know that some Latin American writers (disparagingly) call the literary movement/phenomenon this book is a part of "macondismo" (Macondoism)? They criticize it for (unintentionally) romantizing and simplifying Latin American culture, presenting an unduly homogenous and idealized picture in a form that caters to the tastes, sensibilities and expectations of an often European and North American readership, rather than discussing the problems of post-colonial Latin America.

I’m about 20 pages away from finishing 100 years of solitude so this could not have come at a better time. Please continue this series to the end, I feel like I need someone to “talk” to about it since it’s such a monumental book, so this is perfect

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH I Just started this book few days ago and im having a hard time cause its the first novel im ever reading

I now want an Emma commentary on every book I ever read! This is going to be a fun journey and I'm so glad you're here to put that extra bit of understanding and life into this story! 🥰

Omg I immediately busted into tears when you read the first line lmaoo. Thank you for giving One Hundred Years of Solitude the recognition that it deserves! Reading this book was my favorite reading experience that I have ever had and that is all thanks to you 💕💕

read it four books ago. I was super fixated on how 'time' works in its world. the back and forth of narrative; past, present, future all happening so seamlessly. it got me thinking that the 'time' inside the book was affecting my perspective of time in my real life. powerful stuff.

So excited for a new video. I’ve been feeling nostalgic for cozy stuff so stuff like studio ghibli movies AND been feeling nostalgic to your winter videos with winter books and your cozy aesthetic, just wanted to say that I’m looking forward for your vids in winter. Your summer vids feel refreshing and heartwarming so also nice vibes. ⭐️

Your enthusiasm is infectious, and I listened to this all the way through one night this year after seeing you talk about your joy for it. It's an amazing work, and I'm loving watching you do this in depth reread. Thank you!

i already read 100 years of solitude and i know you did too because i was already a subscriber on your channel when you read it the first time but i just need to say that this is such an amazing idea, i just love your mind and how you do things different on your channel, it inspires me so much. also, a big shout out to you again emmie, because im having a really hard time these days with my apartment and having a lot of anxiety but i (re)watch your videos every night and suddenly im good, thank you for the amazing videos, as always

I read 100 Years of Solitude for the first time last year, and I was already planning on re-reading it for a research project so I'm so excited to watch this vlog series and go through this amazing book again!

Yayyy this is JUST what I needed to finally be motivated to pick up this book. It's lowkey felt very intimidating, but these small chunk vlogs with even more breakdown really helps ❤

here in LATAM reading Márquez is almost mandatory. I read “100 years of solitude” when i was 16 in school. Love it. Haven’t read it since. I’m 29 now and watching your video makes me wanna reread it again. Probably will do it at some point. Lots of love Emma!

I had to read 100 Years of Solitude for my senior year English class as a summer assignment and I remember hating every second of it because it was an assigned book. When I heard you were rereading it I was interested to see how someone could love this book so much and watching this video made me want to give this book another try ❤

EEEEEEE!!!!! I'm so excited for this vlog!!! I can't with this book, I can't. Im obsessed. I'm in the low 200's today. The train just came. I love that I get to now go back with you through the story. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on one of my favorite parts so far, Ursula laying the smack down on a certain someone. This vlog stopped just a few pages before. I will definitely be re reading this again because so much happens I know I'm missing things. I just want to soak in every word. His writing is art, pure art. Thanks for doing this Emma, so fun and a great little community of like-minded readers across the world. Look at what you've built, look at you go! ❤️❤️❤️

I'm so glad I've found your channel! I remember when I was 16 and first tried 100 Years of Solitude because my brother had read it and adored it so much he couldn't stop talking about it (that one and "Love at the Time of Cholera"), but I had 0 maturity to read it, I got lost instantly. Now, I'm currently 116 pages in and It's already turning into a beautiful journey. Thank you, it was your video that got me here, genuinely loving this book and author! Love from Portugal 💖

Emma, I just want to say thank you so much for starting a RU-vid channel and sharing your experiences reading with the world. And also your beautiful cinematography in your videos. Because of you I've now read The Inferno, War and Peace and 100 Years of Solitude, and those were some of my favorite reading experiences ever. I'm currently reading the Odyssey (Emily Wilson translation) and am LOVING it. I don't think I would have picked up any of these books if not for you. You've made reading classics so accessible, and made me feel like they are something I could understand. I watched all your videos during the first months of the pandemic and they made me feel like my best friend was talking to me. I had just moved to a new city to live with my boyfriend, so I didn't know anyone except for him and the people I worked with. You and your videos were a huge comfort to me, and still are, and I just want to tell you you are a beautiful person with a beautiful soul and I love having the chance to study literature and explore nature with you.

Thank you so much Emma for doing this.😊 I discovered this book myself about five years ago now, and it has been a favorite of mine ever since. Watching this brings back such good memories, and hearing those beautiful words being read again only makes me appreciate so much more the genius of Garcia Marquez .

So happy to finally get back to reading my favourite book with you 😊 haven't read it in like four years or something, and it feels incredibly good to be back

it's like you've gathered with a friend you look up to and you're cathiching their every word because you really wanna know their opinion and understand their interpretation of the story :( thank you, emma, your insights make the reading proccess so much more fascinating and meaningful

Looking forward to finally reading this book, your recommendations never disappoint emma😁❤️!

I just finished this a few days ago!! LOVED IT!!!! and it sent me into this deep dive of understanding choices in translation, and read articles about the two english translators of his work and their different styles. so fascinating! and magical!!

Yes!! I feel like these vlogs are going to become my favourite thing. Thank you Emma!

Last year I read The House Of Spirits and I didnt like it much. So I was a bit apprehensive about starting 100 years, but to my surprise I really, really love it so far :)) I'm on page 131 at the moment, and it's so nice to "solidify" my thoughts by watching this vlog :) Your passion for the book is contagious :) And listening to you is always such a huge comfort ❤ 😊

I read 100 Years last year, it’s so difficult to manage the first time as it is so insular, circulatory. This is making me want to read it again, because I think a second time would be better!!

There is something beyond relaxing and more…life affirming to watch a person explore and love a book the way Emma loves this particular book. 📖♥️

This is so fabulous and helpful because I’m reading it with you and am finding it difficult to read super fluidly. Having a breakdown and hearing your input is helping make it clearer for me 🥰

Love how u are open to read from different cultures, and as someone from Baghdad I was glad to see someone give “Frankenstein in Baghdad” the recognition it deserves.

Thank you so much for making this video. I have tried so many times attempting to read the book but the characters' names just put me off every single time. I feel like you are guiding us to navigate through this wonderful yet difficult book.

I'm so glad you're sharing your thoughts etc. It really helps me understand and appreciate the book more. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to pick up so many details myself even though I'm also rereading

I love this book so much, the first line always makes me get emotional and tear up, I haven't figured out why. It's just so gooood

Omg book vlogging is a thing??? Thank you so much for making this! I just checked out this book and read the first 2 chapters and felt like I needed to talk to someone about it immediately. I can’t wait to keep watching your videos!

I’m reading it right now for the first time and I’m just a little bit past 100 pages. I’m loving it! I got the book 2 Christmases ago and just kept putting it off. I’m reading it in Spanish and I have the 50th Anniversary edition which has beautiful illustrations 😊

Please keep this up! It’s helping me get through it and enjoy the book so much more.

just finished this book an hour ago. i didnt really pick up and understand the symbolism and deeper meanings but how the book wrapped up was undeniably perfect and genius, it gave me chills. i know that i will reread it again sometime where i’m sure it will pack more of a punch

Loving this book. The most bizarre and most entertaining thing I’ve picked up. Love this vlog, as well. I hope that you do more eventually. I know no one that is interested in reflecting on this particular reading, and it was lovely to have this.

I just think it’s so amazing that you’re loving so much Latin American literature, as a Mexican woman I’m so excited to be watching these videos (also you’re my favorite RU-vidr) and also, I was wondering if this work reminds you to Pedro Páramo bc I read that one and I loved it and I’m just starting 100 years of solitude. Send you lots of love from Mexico!

No way I was just watching your old 100 years of solitude vlog!! I am now so interested to see the differences after years

5:25- I’m so happy you brought this up!! From when I was a child, I felt that numbers and letters had different genders and personalities. I never thought to look it up so thank you for inspiring me. It’s called Ordinal-Linguistic Personification (OLP). So interesting!

I think you're the only RU-vid channel that I watch despite us having different tastes in books and that I could never take your book recommendations but will always watch your videos because they are excellent

i started this back in 2020 and just wasn't in the right headspace for it, plus i had only really properly begun my reading journey a few months previous, so i felt a bit out of my depth. I've been wanting to pick it back up some time this year, so when you suggested a readalong i knew the time had come!!! about 120 pages in andddd this is shaping up to be a new favourite of mine, i absolutely love it!!! much love from Scotland xx

I love seeing the book through your eyes. I read it recently & loved it; now, I love it more! 💜💜

Am 200 pages in and I am LOVING this so far. I have laughed out loud, rolled my eyes, gasped and even held my breath. What a great book so far. 50% down, can't wait to see the next video.

It's very exciting to see how you enjoy sharing the comments about the book mixed with the emotion that it provokes in you. It's simply lovely.

This has been one of my all time favourite books (out of four) since I was a teenager 30 years ago. I am rereading it now and am so happy that there seem to be many young people that are in awe of this piece of art. I hope you will enjoy it as long as I do. Every time I read it I discover and experience something new.

ahhh commenting before i watch because i'm just so excited. just finished a chapter and i'm on pg 145 :) this is my first read and i've been loving it. was smiling so big reading about the trail of blood traveling through the town 😂

I’m more than halfway through this book and while some of the imagery gets lost on me, it’s still an engaging read. I listen to a chapter in Audible on my way to work and read a chapter when I’m on my break or when I’m at home. Happy belated birthday as well. 🎂

The idea of ​​reading "looking for" the word solitude is so interesting, like a mini-challenge. I'll think of something like this when I start a new read

This is helping me read this book so so much! Please continue !! ^^

recently bought this book !! i've been wanting to read this since highschool bcoz we studied one his other works (Chronicle of a Death Foretold) and i really enjoyed his writing ! so excited to start this book !!!!

100 years of solitude is also my all time favourite novel! If you’ve never read the house of the spirits, by Isabel Allende, please give it a try! It’s got similar vibes to 100 years and is just a gorgeous novel all round. PS, have fun reading 100 years for the first time in physical format!!

Yes, it's finally time for this! 💕

I loved listening to you talking about this book! Your passion for it makes me so excited to pick it up. I haven't had a chance to start it but hoping to get caught up soon. Also my cat does the same thing in the bathroom sink! She's always in there waiting for water 😻

emmie! so excited for this video and the ones to come! being from latin america is so exciting to see our literature becoming part of english-speaking-booktube and i hope lots of people join you in this reading journey along our beloved gabo (gabriel garcía marquez) and hopefully you discover more of the greatest books we have over here!

this is a beauuutiful video and I love the format so much!!

I am reading this book to and I'm at the part where they tied the father to the tree. I didn't think about the book that much but now I learned about your annotation and I have to go back to annotate the book again! Thank you!

This was a great video! I loved how you went into detail about the book dynamics. Happy birthday, and enjoy your Starbucks giftcard!

I'm reading this for the first time and it is so good! I love it already ❤️

i love the idea of this series!! would love to continue seeing read along videos:))

this has been on my tbr for so long and as hispanic my guilt for not reading this book is x2. Im going to read the first 100 pages and then come back and watch this :)

I bought this book because of you last year but I was having trouble reading it, so I’m very happy to be able to pick it up again with you!! 🥰

🍄🥰Hope you had an amazing birthday Emma and were able to visit the Toronto islands! Also, hoping you are not as sad and isolated like the men in García Márquez’s book 📕 😅 “Then, for more than ten days, they did not see the sun again. The ground became soft and damp, like volcanic ash, and the vegetation was thicker and thicker, and the cries of the birds and the uproar of the monkeys became more and more remote, and the world became eternally sad.” Just beautiful translation 🥹🤧 Toronto Islands: 🏝“Ember Island is a magical place, keep an open mind. It can help you understand yourself. The beach has a special way of smoothing even the most ragged edges” - Lo and Li

I read this book last month and I really wanted to further analyse and research the themes and the context, so your re-read is perfect 👍

such a fantastic novel, i reread it last year and i'm planning to get to love in the times of the cholera this summer

I wrote my AP Lit Q3 FRQ on 100 Years of Solitude this year... read it this past year after watching you adore it and I cannot describe my love for this book

Ooh, I really need to start this too! Thanks for the recommendation, Emma!

I read 100 Years of Solitude years ago and this video made me want to read it again! Finishing it got me exactly as you described, I was obsessed, and couldn't stop rereading the last page! Also, it's so interesting listening to you reading the quotes in English, because I read the book in Spanish, it's a nice translation. Did you know that Netflix is gonna make a series of this book??! I'm so exited and scared at the same time haha Your next book needs to be House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende, it's a gorgeous novel and very similar to 100 Years of Solitude.

I thrifted this today! And literally only because I watched this video yesterday. I must know why you love it so.

Started today “honderd jaar eenzaamheid” . So nice we are reading this book together. Feels for me like a little family ❤️

Reading it in spanish takes it to another level, romance language. Love this book.

I have the book on order and want to read along with Emmie. 100 pages per vlog is a great idea and very doable. It seems like this book shouldn’t be rushed to fully grasp it.

I guess you would like to know that here in Colombia, where Gabo (Gabriel Garcia Márquez) comes from, Macondo and A Hundred Years of Solitude is represented with yellow butterflies, so I guess you are totally correct on imagining the word solitude as yellow, it matches.

Hi Emma 👋I discovered your channel recently and it made me so happy 😊 I was always curious how a literature student life will be and you gave a in-depth look . Reading has always been my hobby and hearing you talk about books is so therapatic 🤗 Especially your productivity makes me want to organize my life a bit more 🙋. Your bookshelf and room is so cute and pretty 🥰 You are so kind , smart and funny 😎 you give these positive vibes making people easy to connect with you 😊 Thank you for starting the RU-vid channel and bringing joy into people's lives 🙏 Your videos are like a warm hug in a cold days ❣️ 😍 Wishing you all the success and happiness 👍 I have noticed you have beautiful desktop wallpapers , where do you download them ??

I'll have to read this! You always have great suggestions. My favorite book now is actually 'the phantom of the opera' I seen it at a thrift store and decided to give it a go, since you said it was one of your favorites. :)

Holy perfect timing! I just finished the first 100 pages!

Calcifer is going to be sooo smart listening to you talk about this book!

The description of the Spanish galleon hooked me in. I’d love to have a painting of it on my wall.

This really makes me want to read the book!

My favorite line from the first 100 pages though: "Whisper any crap you want into my ear"

Hi, im reading the spanish version because its my first languaje. From what you read i can tell you its pretty accurate. Im reading tis thanks to you, i had been putting it off and now very much enjoying it!

Love you talking about this book more than the actual book itself! Sighs am starting to wonder if magical realism is just not the genre for me

Ahhh I've been waiting for thissss, turn it upppp.

I just bought this book……….thank you for all your vlogs, I love them!!!!! Hugs from Limburg, the Netherlands

I loooooove this book. Rebeca is also my favorite. Such an interesting character!

I recently bought it and I can't wait to start it😍 But I have A LOT on my tbr that I don't know when I will start this one😅

A really cool (and impressive) thing about that first sentence is that gabriel garcia marquez blends past, present and future in it. He is playing with time and the perception of it (a big theme in the novel) from the very start.

How poetic is the title of this video! I love it!💖

Great! I just finished it not long ago. I love it.

OOOH I’m reading this novel during my first semester of college for a Latin American literature course ! :) This video makes me want to start reading it sooner though

Ok I’m only just starting 100 years of solitude now because I had to finish Jane Eyre but I’m starting now!! so excited to read this for the first time 😁

I just can't believe the timing since I am reading this with my mom, cray cray

my favorite part so far is the insomnia one and how they forget the words and the meaning of it. It's sooo crazy, I'm like wow! A lot is happening and it's amazing

looking forward to part 2!

encanto, louisa. I jumped on the train of reading this book, i love it so much so far

It has one of the best opening lines of any novel.

So i read One Hundred Years of Solitude about a year ago and it really did not work for me- i really didnt get it, i was quite lost and confused by the characters and overall didnt like it. It was also one of the first few classics that ive ever read. But somehow, it really stuck with me. Everytime Ive heard the word 'solitude' this past year, i was reminded of the book and its themes. It stuck with me in a way i didnt even know books could stay with me. I definitely think i should reread it now that ive read more classics and have become better at understanding and taking my time with them, but right now is sadly not the time. But your vlog does motivate me to do so again at one point!

This book was outside my Jane Austen-loving brain back when I read this book. I mean it is hard to get past the first line where he is facing a fire squad!!Will give this another try due to Emma’s raves.