P&C drink and review Crew Cab IPA from Big Truck brewery, then invite special guest Longinus to help them discuss a novella by Marquez. This is part of P&C’s on-going “shortcut to the classics” series.
The book is written by an old man about an old man who is reflecting on his life.
On his 90th birthday, the unnamed protagonist — who is a confirmed bachelor and frequent patron of brothels — wanted to give himself a night of wild love with an adolescent virgin. The book is about his reminiscenses, but mostly about his relationship with this one girl.
The protagonist has lived 90 years with no love in his life, but now, at the end, he falls madly in love with a very young girl, with whom he doesn’t have sex.
The book presents some deep reflections on love, sex, passion, and jealousy. In one sense, it’s a very raunchy and disturbing book, with difficult themes. In another sense, it’s an interesting commentary on love.
The main characters in “Memories of My Melancholy Whores” are:
- The unnamed narrator: An aging journalist reflecting on his life and longing for connection on his 90th birthday.
- Rosa Cabarcas: The owner of a brothel who arranges an encounter for the narrator.
- Delgadita: A 14-year-old virgin girl offered by Rosa as part of a birthday gift to the narrator.
- Florina de Dios Cargamantes: The narrator’s mother.
- Damiana: The narrator’s maid.
In “Memories of My Melancholy Whores,” a nameless, aging journalist on his 90th birthday decides to treat himself to a night with a virgin. Accustomed to paying for companionship, he seeks a return to a youthful experience he never had. He contacts Rosa Cabarcas, a former madam, to arrange this encounter.
Rosa procures Delgadita, a young, impoverished girl, to fulfill the narrator’s request. However, the initial plan for a sexual encounter goes awry. Delgadita, exhausted from caring for her family, sleeps through the night heavily sedated.
Despite the lack of physical intimacy, the narrator becomes unexpectedly attached to Delgadita. He begins to care for her well-being, buying her clothes, books, and arranging for her education. They spend time together reading and talking, forming a unique and tender bond.
Through his interactions with Delgadita, the narrator reflects on his own life filled with loneliness and missed opportunities for love. He experiences a sense of renewal and awakens to a form of love he had never known.
The novel explores themes of aging, regret, the power of human connection, and the unexpected ways love can manifest. It’s important to note that the age difference between the narrator and Delgadita raises ethical questions, a point some readers find problematic.
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