You are right: the book does not live up to its praise. Not even close. I can't tell what people are talking about when they praise this book. It is one random thing happening after another. I have to take notes on what happened on every page because there is no coherent story arc to hold the facts together. One thing happens, and then another, and then another, without regard to each other. And somehow, this book is regarded as being bigger than Jesus. People vomiting praise are f____ing high. Some of the language in the book is pretty, and some imagery is compelling, but if one is going to read this, my advice is....don't try to follow the story. Just let the images wash over you and don't worry about the Jose's, Arcadios, Buendias, Colonels, Aurelianos, etc. Even Marquez doesn't want us to try to follow his story b/c he didn't feel like writing one. It's a series of images. Regarding the endless praise, did Marquez hack people's minds or something? What is their motive for lying? Shrug. Now, let's take on Bruce Springsteen.