Discussion Notes: The Autumn of the Patriarch

Find this week’s story here: The Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel Garcia Márquez.

Next week’s story: Good People by David Foster Wallace.

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Rammy, and Anais tackle a Gabriel Garcia Márquez story. Initially, all three hosts found the story a bit flat, but through the discussion they discovered the aspects of it which they enjoyed. While Gerald enjoyed the prose, Anais found the cadence off-putting, but enjoyed the story’s timelessness. Meanwhile Rammy pondered the emptiness of the patriarch’s life. Stay for a giddy game and test your knowledge of dictators!

Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below!

By the way, we have a special announcement! Longtime listener Richard Dennis has recently published a short story in the University of Chicago’s Euphony Journal in the Winter 2018 edition. Read it for free online!

Also, don’t forget to rate the story! For the history of our goofy system, see Anais’ post “Read Short Stories or Ray Bradbury Cries.” On a scale of 1-6 Bradberries, how do you rate this story? Tell us in the comments below or via voicemail.

Lastly, your reviews on iTunes help us grow. Please search Literary Roadhouse in iTunes and leave reviews for all of our shows.

2 comments on The Autumn of the Patriarch | Gabriel Garcia Márquez | Literary Roadhouse Ep 104

  1. Richard Dennis says:

    Great discussion, as usual. I shared many of the sentiments expressed in the podcast. The language was beautiful, but it was like getting too much icing on a piece of cake. I liked the way the story started with unexplained references that were filled in as the story went on–that was a nice dynamic in the absence of plot development. But what it did was fill in the holes about how bad the Patriarch was, not how he got to be bad. Given the 13,000 words, Marquez could have at least thrown us a bone or two about the character’s formation.

    Marquez is certainly a great writer with a unique style, but I was reminded at times of a Kafka story (The Imperial Messenger) and Junot Diaz’s novel (Oscar Wao). Toss in some vintage William Faulkner, and stir.

    I really liked the analogy of looking at a painting, as a way of approaching the story. Another way is to think of it like an early Bob Dylan song (think Visions of Johanna, or Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, or even Desolation Row). Lots of images that build to an effect, even if it is difficult to articulate what that effect is.

    Looking forward to next story by DFW.

    And thanks so much for the mention of my story. I really appreciate it.

    Richard

    1. I agree that there was room for character development hints, but hey, a good song ora good painting is art too. Congrats again on getting your story published. 🙂

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