Why does the Great Gabriel Garcia Marquez...

CaritadeAngel says on May 26, 2007, 17:30:

I think because he knows that heros are best admired from a distance, and his political opinions are a tad too uncomfortable for Colombia.

"I hope I never say anything worth quoting".

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 26, 2007, 19:52:

Probably because He got tired of living with a massive security detail and concerns.

And because Mexico City is the center of Latin American publishing.

And I think Carita also has a good point about heros, though he's admired in many more places than Colombia, for sure.

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slguy says on May 27, 2007, 12:09:

Which leads me to... another question. In another thread, I read that this gentleman is not too respectful of women, in general, no?

Then why is it that every latina I know claims to LOVE his writing? (although I'm willing to bet that bunches of them have never really read one of his books in it's entirety. ;) )

He's the faddish literary hero of the decade or something? I'm not trying to denigrate the guy, since I am only now beginning to read my first book of his - only trying to get a grip on his popularity.
slguy
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Now I don't have to tell you good folks what's been happening in our beloved little town. Sheriff murdered, crops burned, stores looted, people stampeded, and cattle raped. The time has come to act, and act fast. I'm leaving.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 12:42:

Is he really 90 (or, now more) years old? Well, I have only read about the first 15 pages of Memoires of My Melancholy Whores, (english, this time) and I have to say, I admire his writing. He gives some interesting, if not slightly humorous, perspectives on aging.

Voy por del Sur

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 12:44:

Okay, then another question about One of Colombians Beloved Does the great Botero also live outside of Colombia?

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jay1234 says on May 27, 2007, 13:03:

He's not the only one. Read this on Colombian writer Fernando Vallejo:
http://colombiaherald.wordpress.com/2007/05/08/controversial-writer-renounces-his-colombian-nationality/

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 13:27:

okay, so now.....Mothers of Colombia... can let their sons run free once again.
I don't think I've got time to spend reading F.V.'s stuff.
I'll stick with GGMarquez, since he likes the ladies

Voy por del Sur

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Simon says on May 27, 2007, 14:24:

Why did the great Ernest Hemingway live for so many years in Cuba rather then the USA?

Why do the "Great" Michael Jackson and Johhny Depp live in Bahrein and France instead of their home country?

Because people live wherever the fuck they feel like living!!

"Tu vas a ver, llegaras a mi edad y veras que Colombia seguira igual"-----Simon Sr.

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Simon says on May 27, 2007, 14:28:

"He got tired of living with a massive security detail and concerns."

Yeah, Mr. Hollywood, so are you saying that he doesn't need any in Mexico, the country with the most kidnappings and the NOW deadliest drug cartels in the world?


Tell us another joke!

"Tu vas a ver, llegaras a mi edad y veras que Colombia seguira igual"-----Simon Sr.

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españoleta says on May 27, 2007, 14:57:

Whenever I leave my country for a long while, thats when I really get nostalgic about things... maybe theres something of that in garcia marquez's books... Anyway, why cant he live wherever he chooses to? Writing about ones country is not some sort of everlasting bond to it...

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Monpirri says on May 27, 2007, 15:12:

Botero's abreviated chronology of places where he has lived.
1932: Fernando Botero is born in Medellin.
1951-54: Moves to Bogota
1953-54: Continues his European travels. Becomes fascinated by the fresco paitings of the Italian Renaissance in Florence. Studies fresco techniques.
1956-56: Returns to Bogota. Moves to Mexico City with his first wife, Gloria Zea, in 1956
1960: Moves to New York
1969-1972: Moves to Paris
2006: Lives in Paris, New York, Monte Carlo and Pietrasanta.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 27, 2007, 16:30:

Simon No laughing matter at all.

Gabo's leftist politics and friendship with Fidel had a big price on his head in Colombia so he had to live with a level of security FAR beyond what he needs in Mexico.

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juancegomez says on May 27, 2007, 18:25:

Geography aside... I wouldn't place Botero, Vallejo and Gabo in the same bag, as their situations and opinions are considerably different. They may live outside of Colombia, like so many others, but each case is different.

Mr. Hollywood, that was definitely true at some point in time in the past, but how much of it still applies could be debated. Asking Gabo directly would provide the most up to date answer, I'd think.

He hasn't gotten any truly bad press in years, and he still has continued to visit. Then again, though he's clearly pro-Castro (which isn't nearly as "bad", in a government view, as it was during the Cold War) and probably sympathized with guerrilla struggles here and elsewhere, he's not a fan of the current incarnations of FARC & co. and he has shown that several times (since the early 1990s even, when he and other "intellectuals" signed a letter to the guerrillas rejecting the armed struggle).

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CaritadeAngel says on May 27, 2007, 18:45:

slguy .... about respecting women... I think the trouble with Gabito is not so much that he doesn't respect women in his writings, its just that his writing is completely masculine: he doesn't understand women. He can hardly be blamed for this (rhough I find the reoccuring themes of lusting after teenage girls disturbing. Its a theme of a few Comombian poems and songs as well ... part of this culture's darker side).

I do not view his books as great love stories: I view them as warning of what happens when you don't have the courage to love, and allow a fantasy to take over your life. None of the men are especially attractive characters, to me anyway.

One or two female characters shine - Fermina in El Amor for example. Very often the "real" women in his work are not the main heroines, they are little characters that speak one or two lines with real voices: such as Hildebranda or Leona, or the retired hooker in Memorias. Such moments in his writings are very rare. Women are creatures of magic or mythology in his writing, and have none of the realism.

I think its very hard to write from the point of view of woman, if you are a man, or vice vera.

"I hope I never say anything worth quoting".

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 19:43:

"Why did the great Ernest Hemingway live for so many years in Cuba?"

Maybe because he couldn't afford to get to Colombia; Hell, Simon; I don't know. Maybe because as someone else pointed out here yesterday, the Ladies from both Cuba and Brazil are hotter than Colombianas? Hell! I don't know. Because he liked to smoke cigars??? No se. He still has a house in Key West, so... I'm not sure he lived in Cuba. He liked the tropics. That seems certain.

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 19:55:

espanyoleta and simon Looking back, I don't believe I said or even implied that 'one should not be allowed to live in another country'.

I ONLY ASKED A QUESTION, LOOKING FOR A POSSIBLE ANSWER.
And, for sure with serious writers, and artists who make statements through their work, they many times stir conflict that may lead to their self-inflicted exile.

And, I think Mr Hollywood has a point.
But, Juancegomez may have a valid corollary, as well.

Voy por del Sur

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 19:57:

very simply..... Simon... People don't always 'live wherever the F at Q they feel like livin'.
I imagine if you took a poll, half the world would PREFER TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 20:09:

Ask a couple million Mexicans...lol And, then ask some PBsH'ers.
Looks to me like alot of gringos wishing they were living in Colombia, and like alot of Colombianas wishing they were in Los Estados Unidos.

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 20:13:

Sometimes, if you write long enough on PBH, you get to feeling like The Old Man and The Sea. LOL!

Voy por del Sur

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 27, 2007, 20:46:

Gabo today Juancegomez, I agree with you completely. But the question, in my mind, wasn't why he lives in Mexico TODAY but, rather, why he moved to Mexico in the first place.

In his own words, he left Colombia because it wasn't safe for him.

You'll notice he's been visiting the country more than he did for a while, which seems to be a good sign of how he feels.

And I agree that people should live where they damn well please, especially when they're as rich as Gabo.

Hemingway, by the way, lived in Cuba for the big game fishing and the mojitos.

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Monpirri says on May 27, 2007, 21:05:

Never mind I am talking about a different person.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Monpirri says on May 27, 2007, 21:21:

Goin_south Does the great Botero also live outside of Colombia? Yes, he did. Botero lived mostly in New York and in Europe.

www.boterosa.org.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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medefockinllin says on May 27, 2007, 21:31:

Marquez is a champagne socialist and occaisional bigot Supported the FARC and was very positive on Pablo Escobar.
He spends most of his time outside of Colombia in Cuba and Mexico.

Says that he is a socialist and supports the poor. The Colombian government once granted a large sum to renovate the house that he was born in. The people of this very poor town were without sanitation, and local groups begged Marquez to divert these funds to provide clean water for the poor. Ever the man of the people, Marquez said.....NO

Overall, a good writer...but an arrogant f*c8

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goin_south says on May 27, 2007, 22:08:

In reality, he probably said "Yes",...... but, "Only if I may have your 14-yr-old daughter for the night"

Voy para del Sur

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jay1234 says on May 28, 2007, 21:28:

CA That is interesting, people said that about Hemingway, that he did not understand women. A lot of critics say his women characters are flat or one dimensional.
Not sure how easy it is for a male author to "get" female characters or vice versa, but this made me think of Jack Nicholson in As Good As it Gets when he was asked how he writes women so well. "I think of a man and take away reason and accountability."

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goin_south says on May 28, 2007, 22:49:

so true, so true...jay voy a los perros....
maybe jay, you know something about bringing dogs along on the K-1 visa? I think it's acceptable to hi-jack your own thread, isn't it?

Voy para del Sur

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goin_south says on May 28, 2007, 22:50:

Desi? kat1? Voy para del Sur

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goin_south says on May 28, 2007, 22:50:

?

Where do we go from here?

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goin_south says on May 29, 2007, 02:26:

the more I read of that book "Memoires....." Only two to five pages per day, mind you... the more I appreciate Marquez. Now, no one has said, what really his age is.
I don't read alot of unnecessary stuff.
Mostly, professionally related things are what I indulge in.
But, I like this guy.
Why has Colombia scared him away?
After this last book?
Because they (Colombia) are afraid to look at themselves in the mirror?

Voy para del Sur

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Tinto (Moderator) says on May 29, 2007, 12:43:

The above is OK The first time it was expressed far more crudely and led to a comment from another poster, also deleted.

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juancegomez says on May 29, 2007, 13:04:

going_south Considering that his works, past and present, are usually praised to the heavens by many critics and widely read (relatively speaking, of course)...I don't think that's it.

So again, I don't think you can say that Colombia has "scared him away" just like that, much less "after his last book".

If anything, Colombia's opinions about Gabo are far more positive today than they were a couple of decades ago (before the Nobel prize and so forth).

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Simon says on May 29, 2007, 14:38:

He went off his rocker long before that. I think he needs to exorcized.

"Tu vas a ver, llegaras a mi edad y veras que Colombia seguira igual"-----Simon Sr.

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JMCana says on May 29, 2007, 14:56:

Where they can write Writing is something that can be done from almost any place. Those writers who can afford it frequently move to where the energy is there for them to write. James Michener kept a house in Pennsylvania but lived in the country he was writing the novel about. Hemmingway lived in Paris as a struggling writer. Lived in Key West where he enjoyed things and lived in Havana where he not only could fish but received gasoline from the American government under pretense that he was watching for foreign submarines. And some say he kept a illegal booze smuggling going with the help of Joseph Kennedy. In his book, "A moveable Feast" he mentions that it is easier to write about one place by living in another. As he wrote about living in Michigan while being in Paris.

There are other authors I could ay pretty much the same about, but this is about Gabo and for him, I do not know for sure. OMO I would say he probably chooses to live where he feels best and where the energy is there for him. That energy might come from the area, the people, the climate or other things. We might not feel the same about the place as he does. He can now afford to live pretty much where he wants to. Many writers are driven by that writing energy and follow where it leads them.

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goin_south says on Jul 4, 2007, 01:30:

Well, I'm up to about page 50 or so,... and... so far, GGM hasn't f at q'd anyone, yet. No whores, anyway. I think he got 'the back door' (must have been in honor of elmo and a few of the rest...of us) on one senora he was living with for a short time.... Hey, what is expected, when bending over, doin the laundry?)

Where do we go from here?

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