Strange Pilgrims (Vintage International)

This is my favorite collection of short stories and one of my favourite books of magical realism. Most people know Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his novels, but he was a master of the short story form. There are unforgettable gems in here like "I Only Came to Use a Phone" about a woman who hitches a ride and ends up in an insane assylum and my favorite story "Light is Like Water" about two boys who beg for a boat in their apartment and end up drowning some boys and flooding the city with light. If you want a good introduction to the genre of magical realism, this is it: beautifully written, strange stories where magic is rooted in reality.

These short stories are timeless, full of mystery and unforgettable. A literary piece everyone should have. The shipping was fast, rhe item as described, and the book itself was carefully packaged.

What an ideal book for my Garcia Marquez collection. Some stories appear to have no point--but that's a North American viewpoint. South Americans: "It is what It Is." My favorite story about children turning on the lights in their apartment and being magically realistic is in this collection. Short story books serve two purposes for me: One, when I can't sleep and need a boost toward dreamland, and Two, the paperback is easy to cart around while I'm in waiting rooms for appointments. The book can also serve as a "test run" for a new reader who wants to sample his style, characters, sentences ending in ways you'd never expect but can appreciate, and plots (some, "sort of").

I give everything he wrote 5 stars, but for different reasons. I am not as attracted to short stories as I am to novels, but they are important in their own right . This collection gets 5 stars for their 'thumb nail sketches ' of G.M.'s brilliant creativIty and imagery. That said , these stories are less depressing than some short novels he wrote, but display the same creative atmosphere found throughout all his works . Yes, some are better than others, but here , in this collection, G.M's mind reaches 'way out there' ; a cross between Alfred Hitchcock and the Twilight Zone ! A fun read..

My first time reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I enjoyed the short stories and his eloquent prose. Just started a 100 years of solitude and I can say that I am glad that I read this selection of short stories first.

Read anything and everything by G. Marquez.

Garcia Marquez will go down in history as one of the greatest writers of Magic Realism in the 20th century. His short stories are some of my favorites as it does take a while to get to know all the characters of his novels. "Strange Pilgrims" is no exception. Latinos in exile will always miss their home despite their imperfections. They will always be in a strange land with customs they don't know or understand. And they will always meet strangers who are even more odd than they are. There are no normal people in this collection of short stories. There are no normal situations. Then again, what IS normal? Just as the protagonists themselves are often confused and bewildered, so will the reader be. Gabriel Garcia Marquez: you will be missed! Thank God, we have your books to remind us of this writer who understood the outcasts of Latin America. May you never be forgotten!

More examples of great story telling by the master. I don't believe anyone has put down one of his stories without finishing it. It is difficult not to read the whole book at one sitting. Add it to the Garcia Marquez shelf and enjoy it again and again with the others.

it is impossible not to love these short stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. it is of no surprise that he was awarded the Nobel price for literature .

The style is good, as expected from GGM, with some unusual twists of the stories. The language isn't too sophisticated, and therefore suitable for the intermediate Spanish reader.

Loving the book given to me by my aunt as a birthday gift

I am such a fan of Gabo and Strange Pilgrims did not disappoint. A quick, fascinating read packed with interesting characters and remarkable stories. The kind of treat you get from a box of chocolates.

Wonderful stories. Marques at his best.