A neighbor once told me he had trouble with García Márquez’s novel because he likes to drink while he reads, and 'The Autumn of the Patriarch' gave him no space in which to take a sip of his beer.

Francine Prose
About This Quote

The meaning of the quote depends on the context. When reading a book, one often wants to focus on the text and not be interrupted by distracting thoughts or external events. The first part of the quote is a criticism that a reader cannot take a break to drink beer, but the second part is an explanation of why this is so. The criticism was that Garcáa Márquez’s writing is so gripping that it does not allow for distraction.

The second part of the quote is an explanation as to why he wrote this way. He wanted his writing to be gripping and immersive, and thus it did not give him time to take breaks during his reading.

Source: Reading Like A Writer: A Guide For People Who Love Books And For Those Who Want To Write Them

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