Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Mr. Hollywood says on Jul 19, 2005, 17:37:

A number of reasons Only he knows for sure but I'd venture the following guesses:

He's very wealthy, and thus an attractive kidnapping target

He's a leftist and a close friend of Fidel Castro, which makes him a target for the extreme right wing in Colombia.

Mexico City has a MUCH more vibrant publishing and literary scene than anything happening in Colombia.

I do know that Gabo has a really nice house in Cartagena that he periodically stays in .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoX says on Jul 19, 2005, 18:07:

"He's very wealthy, and thus an attractive kidnapping target"

So he wants to avoid getting kidnapped by living in the country with the SECOND highest kidnapping rate in the world?

"Mexico City has a MUCH more vibrant publishing and literary scene than anything happening in Colombia."

Yeah sure, that's why the Bogota Book Fair is one of the most important in all Latin America.


ColombianoX

'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Jul 19, 2005, 19:28:

ColombianoX I usually see things your way, but the book fair hardly makes colombia a vibrant publishing and literary scene. Yes there is a lot here, but not like in Mexico. Maybe it´s not just literary, but other art forms a well that are more abundant in Mexico.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoX says on Jul 19, 2005, 19:36:

"ColombianoX I usually see things your way, but the book fair hardly makes colombia a vibrant publishing and literary scene."

bufalo,

Colombia is also the second leading book publisher in Latin America (after Mexico), so yes, I believe that qualifies Colombia as a literary "vibrant scene".

"Maybe it´s not just literary, but other art forms a well that are more abundant in Mexico."

You're absolutely right, they do take the cake in making shitty telenovelas.


ColombianoX

'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jul 19, 2005, 20:28:

ColX ColombianoX, your comment reveals a lot more about your prejudice against Mexico and Mexicans than anything else.

Since you pissed all over my guesses, you tell me, why does one of the world's most famous and successful novelists choose to not live in his home country and why, out of all the places in the world he could live, does he choose Mexico?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoX says on Jul 19, 2005, 21:12:

"ColombianoX, your comment reveals a lot more about your prejudice against Mexico and Mexicans than anything else."

Mr. Hollywood,

So I'm prejudiced against them because I happen to think they make bad telenovelas, give me a break.

As to why Garcia Marquez lives in Mexico, I couldn't tell you, I can't speak for him.

CX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Jul 20, 2005, 06:09:

I’ve never read any of Gabo’s books, I have a very short attention span, the only reading I do are articles in the national enquirer. I can't even seat through a movie, but I do love and respect his leftist thinking and fully understand why a guy like him would not like living among Colombias “high society” . More than anything, I also share his great love for MEXICO and all that is Mexican. It brings me great pride to be confused for a Mexican, which happens all the time, but not those little Mexican, more like the PATRON mejicano. On my second trip to Mexico, while most tourists in Cancun took the “safe” bus ride to Chichen Itza I rented a car and with a map and pointers from locals in the city of Cancun I traveled all of the Yucatan peninsula, including Chichen Itza, Merida, Tulum and many other points of interest and always felt like I was home. My daughters felt the same way, and cant’ way to go back and visit Mexico City.

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jul 20, 2005, 06:57:

Hola amigos! I just got back from Mexico a few days ago. I got out just in time to avoid the storm that swept through Yucatan peninsula, what luck! I spent 2 weeks there in Cancun, what a gorgeous place! I am feeling so homesick for Latin America, I am counting down the days until I am on a plane to Colombia in Sept.

Mexico is beautiful, most of the people are very warm and friendly. I did have a couple of run-ins with a couple of smart asses who brought up the topic of cocaine, I put them in their place by telling them that 92% of the cocaine that enters the US does so through Mexico and that Mexicans today dominate 11 of the 13 US drug markets (See article on Mexico last week on the economist, I can cite the page number and issue number later on when I go home). Colombians will forever have to deal with the reputation of being drug smugglers, even if somebody else takes over the trade, you know what they say: cria fama y hechate a dormir.

I would go back to Mexico lindo in a heart beat, the country is beautiful, the people are so full of life, it is in their eyes, reminds me of Colombia. I stayed at a hotel full of Brits, but most of the time I tried to mingle with locals, I got to know the people working at the hotel, their families, their life stories, their thoughts. I made a lot of friends, and I miss the beatiful blue ocean of the gulf of Mexico, and the guacamole that I would eat with every meal including breakfast. Thank God I still have the sun on my skin, I wish I could keep it there year round!!!

As to why Gabo lives in Mexico... I do not know. It might have somthing to do with what Elmo said about the colombian upper class he shuns... however, the Mexican upper class is no better, check out the article that Tinto posted a few days ago. If he is so pro-Fidel, I would think he would live in Cuba, wouldn't he? As for Bogota... it has a thriving literary scene, very cultured atmosphere.... they don't call it "La Atena de las Americas" for nothing.

I would say, most likely Gabo had runins with the Colombian government for his leftist views. Don't forget, he has always been very involved in Colombian politics, even back to the days of the Bogotazo.

Un abrazo para todos, feliz dia de la independencia, aqui tengo puesto mi brazalete amarillo azul y rojo carajo.

C.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jul 20, 2005, 07:06:

OHHH And I got to see an sea tortoise laying her eggs by the beach at midnight under the black Mayan start studded sky. Do you know that these amazing creatures cry when they lay their eggs? One of the national park guards actually shone a flashlight on her face and there they were, tears rolling down her cheeks as she covered her eggs in sand. Talk about a spiritual experience.....

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

carolain11 says on Jul 20, 2005, 07:51:

he lives in Mexico for security reasons kind of in an exile, and just so you know the people from aracataca ( the town where he was born) do not like him one bit, I do know this because my father was born there...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Jul 20, 2005, 08:51:

Gabriel Garcia Marquez I have read four of his books. At least two of them are classics and should be read by everyone regardless of whether or not they are Colombian, Marxist or Capitalist.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Antioqueñita says on Jul 20, 2005, 09:48:

I love Gabo's Books Right now I am reading the one he wrote about the kidnapping of all of those newsreporters back in 92. Very good book but I could see why this book would make him enemies in Colombia too. I think he just has too many enemies for the wrong reasons.. jealousy, opposite point views etc. Maybe that is why he lives in Mexico.. but anyway..he is an amazing writer.. the book he wrote about hislife is amazing! and also that short book of the Putas was great! he is just again an amazing writer and a living legend! I AM SO PROUD OF HIM! QUE VIVA COLOMBIA Y QUE VIVA GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ UN ORGULLO COLOMBIANO :)

"Que Viva Medellin!"

"Que Viva Medellin!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jul 20, 2005, 10:20:

ColX I just don't understand. You post everytime a Colombian American wins a spelling bee in the US, but you can't see even the most obvious shortcomings of Colombia. The fact that wealthy and famous Colombians leave because of security concerns is hardly original to me. Let's see: Carlos Vives, Miami; Juanes, Miami; Shakira, Buenos Aires; Botero, Paris; Gabo, Mexico City... the list goes on and on.

To compare the artistic and literary community of Bogotá to that of Mexico City is like saying St. Louis has a literary scene just like New York. Yes there are writers in Bogota. Yes there are publishers. But it's NOTHING like a global center of arts and publishing.

Anyone who calls Bogota the "Athens of South America" clearly hasn't been to Athens lately, or they'd realize what an insult that is.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Jul 20, 2005, 10:40:

mr H. you forget "elmodefoque" new York city, but I’m not here because of security reasons, shit, I could travel all over Colombia with no problem, one of the advantages of looking like a low life Colombian, I’m here because I can stand those freaking "wealthy Colombians" and of course the idea of going back to sell butifarras in the sweltering heat of barranquilla is no longer too appealing.

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jul 20, 2005, 13:49:

I was going to say I was going to mention you, Elmo, but I didn't want to blow your cover.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caslug says on Jul 20, 2005, 14:09:

on that theme elmo.. i think you should write "100 months of burra love" by ELMO at COL-American writer from NYC. I love to see COLX get his panties in bunch defending your work as a COL, but attacking for portraying COL is such a crude light(burras, drugs, hookers, poverty, racism, classism, burras did i say burras yet?)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jul 20, 2005, 19:06:

FWIW For what it's worth, I asked a friend who is in a position to know why Gabo doesn't live in Colombia. She said it's because of threats against his life from the extreme right wing.

She also told me a story about when Gaviria was president Gaviria's brother was kidnapped by the FARC. Gaviria called Gabo to ask for help. Gabo called Fidel Castro. Castro called somebody else, and within less than 24 hours the brother was released.

It pays to have friends in strange places.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Elbigie says on Jul 21, 2005, 04:33:

"Kamasutra ", By ELMO Elmo could easily write a version of Kamasutra (Burrasutra?) for corronchos. Something on the lines of how to make happy your burrita. "Kamasutra for Burras' lovers". Y QUE VIVA NUESTRO PROXIMO PREMIO Nobel!.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jul 21, 2005, 05:21:

García Marquez He has been the US spokesman with Fidel Castro for many many years.

0 funny, 0 helpful.