CREDIT: REUTERS/EDGARD GARRIDO/FILES
“When he was working, Garcia Marquez would wake up before dawn every day, read a book, skim through the newspapers and then write for four hours. His wife would put a yellow rose on his desk.
His last public appearance was on his 87th birthday when he came out from his Mexico City home to smile and wave at well-wishers, a yellow rose in the lapel of his gray suit.” (Anahi Rama for Reuters)
I don’t have any roses in bloom yet, but I offer some daffodils from my garden in honor of this author who has brought me so many beautiful reading moments.
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Rest in peace, Gabo.
“A short time later, when the carpenter was taking measurements for the coffin, through the window they saw a light rain of tiny yellow flowers falling. They fell on the town all through the night in a silent storm, and they covered the roofs and blocked the doors and smothered the animals who slept outdoors.
So many flowers fell from the sky that in the morning the streets were carpeted with a compact cushion and they had to clear them away with shovels and rakes so that the funeral procession could pass by.”
García Márquez (Cien años de soledad/100 Years of Solitude)
reading interrupted. 
What a wonderful tribute, Letizia. I have been thinking of him all day long, even ordered one of his books through the public library as my tribute. His words will continue to inspire…
I think I will read 100 Years of Solitude again. Looking through my copy to find the quotation for this post, I found so many little gems I had forgotten about. What book will you be reading?
“Love in the Time of Cholera!” Happy Reading!!!!! 🙂
This is really a moving post, Letizia. Thanks so much for sharing it.
What fascinating stories and characters he wrote, didn’t he? I’m glad my little tribute touched you.
How great that you remembered the rain of yellow flowers immediately after you heard that Garcia Marques had died! What a wonderful memory! And from my favorite and maybe his best book – Thank you!
Every time there’s wind and the petals from a tree “rain” down from the sky I’ve always thought of him, so I immediately thought of this scene when I read about his love for yellow roses.
We gave my father 90 yellow roses for his last birthday. I can remember and honor both great men with one flower. Thank you for giving us this wonderful memory.
90 yellow roses – what a beautiful sight that must have been!
Wonderful tribute to one of the Best latin american writers ever… He will remain alive through his books. He was a prolific writer who created a whole narrative personal universe, being the Main exponent of Magic realism … I loved that you have included yellow flowers as he loved them Best wishes, Aquileana 🙂
It’s hard to imagine literature without the great Latin American greats that gave us Magic Realism, Fantastic Literature, etc. Marquez, Cortazar, Borges… We’re lucky to have been able to read their works (I only wish my Spanish was good enough to read them in the original….sigh….).
This is a beautiful tribute, Letizia xxx
As soon as I read that little detail about his work habits and how his wife would put a flower on his desk after he wrote, I immediately thought of that passage in his book about the flower petals raining from the sky. It’s funny how sometimes it’s the little details that touch us, isn’t it?
A true colossus has passed, he is an author that should be required reading for everybody. What a dedicated man to get up that early and pursue his learning and talents. Opening up to any page of any of his works, readers are always guaranteed to find a wonderful quotation.
I agree. He was such a great storyteller. A gift he attributed to his grandmother who was a wonderful storyteller in her own right apparently.
Beautiful post honoring one of the most gifted writers ever. I probably won’t look at yellow roses the same way again.
I love the idea that we’ll think of him when we see yellow roses.
It does feel like the end of an era, doesn’t it. It must be what it was like when Dickens or Balzac died.
The end of an era, yes. Even if he hadn’t published in a long time (his last book Memories of My Melancholy Whores somehow different but still so recognizably Marquez).
I’ve actually never read any of his work, which is sad to admit. Lovely tribute.
There are so many great authors out there, one can’t have read them all, but the best part is that you have that to look forward to. His books are full of rich characters. At heart, he was just a really good storyteller.
Letizia. You truly are reader who supports not only the books but the authors. I wish I could read Gabriel García Márquez in his native Spanish, but his works in translation are wonderful and give me many things to contemplate. His talent, his words and how they affect me. Wonderful tribute!
I wish I could read him in Spanish too. I can only read small passages, not entire novels, sigh. As you know, I admire writers. The courage it takes to be vulnerable, to be creative.
A beautiful tribute and selected quotes, thank you for sharing them and enjoy your rereading. A talent that will continue to be reread for a long time I am sure.
I’m looking forward to my rereading. And there are some short stories I haven’t read yet too. I’m such a fan of short stories so I’m looking forward to those.
Such a gorgeous tribute, doll! Yellow roses have always been my favorite. I love the way you improvised with your sweet daffodils. Lovely!
You make do with what you have, right? I wanted to pay tribute to him in some way. Yellow roses and daffodils are both so beautiful!
It’s weird. I started reading Love In The Time Of Cholera two nights ago because I was told that the author is amazing. It is a shame I learned of him so late. You have created a great tribute to a genius
Thanks for the kind words. How odd to be in the middle of reading Love in the Time of Cholera and get the news that Garcia Marquez passed away. What better tribute than to be reading one of his books though.
I agree. He is a talented author. I can see why he won the literature prize,
A beautiful tribute to a talented writer. Thank-you, Letizia. I know he is looking down and grateful for the kindness you show with this post xxo
Thanks, Christy. I hope his family is feeling the love and admiration all his fans are showing for his work.
Great post and wonderful tribute to Gabriel. Daffodil is gorgeous. Happy Easter.
I love daffodils- you know Spring is here when there are daffodils everywhere. Happy Easter to you too!
I haven’t read any of his stuff either. Is there one title that you think I should look at first?
I think it would be best to start with ‘100 Years of Solitude’, his first major novel. Head’s up: it’s probably different than anything you’ve ever read…. He created a rich world with rich characters.
Gotcha. I’ll go take a look at it. Thanks, Letizia!!!
What a lovely tribute.
Thank you- I wanted to write something about him as I loved his books so much.
What a lovely post to a great author of our time. I am so sad to hear of his passing, but I am grateful for the stories he left us. 🙂
You’re so right, what a wonderful legacy he left us!
I have not had the pleasure of reading any of his work thank you for bringing him to my sheltered corner of the globe Letizia I will do my research and look him up thank you. Beautiful post I am now intrigued by him.
A whole world awaits you- happy reading!
A great writer indeed, I only heard about his work but did not have a chance to read his novels. I think, now its the time, I should honour this great writer by reading the translations of his work.
I hope you enjoy his novels – they are truly unique, as are his characters.
I’ve been meaning to read 100 Years of Solitude for almost that long. 🙂 I’ll have to read it soon since you loved it so much. This is such a beautiful tribute and your daffodils are beautiful too. Now I’m picturing yellow flowers falling from the sky.
He was a unique writer, with a unique voice. Your comment made me laugh – it being almost 100 years that you’ve been meaning to read the book 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
You also have something so eloquent to share. What a nice remembrance.
Thank you, that’s sweet of you to say.
Lovely post. I often think that the opening line to One Hundred Years of Solitude is perhaps the best ever written.
I just reread it after reading your comment. Thank you for leading me back to it.
A great tribute and I enjoyed learning about his routine. I wish I could be a morning person. I need to read more of his books. He has a few on my 1001 list.
I liked reading about his morning routine too. I’m a morning person but don’t have such a fixed or dedicated routine. His was quite admirable!
What a beautiful post Letizia, I could not do it, I could not do a tribute on my blog, nothing seem to good enough for this amazing writer, I was re-reading 100 Years of Solitude when I heard about his death, it just made me very sad. But his magical writing will stay with us for ever.
It’s so hard to encapsulate what his writing has brought to us, I agree, Doris. That’s why I could only focus on a small thing like a yellow flower. We’re lucky to have his books, to be able to reread them.
Thanks for a beautiful tribute to GGM, Letizia. So sweet to read about his wife’s loving support. Your yellow daffodils are exhilarating.
Wasn’t that a lovely routine between the two of them?
Stunning – you’ve done him justice!
Thank you!!
It’s time to read 100 Years of Solitude, again…probably my 4th time. I loved his creative genius and gift of poetically writing about the mysteries and magical lives of his characters. I could never get my book club interested in him. Shame on them. Beautiful tribute, Letizia. Now I know why daffodils are my favorite flower. Every morning my husband goes outside and picks a hibiscus bloom for me. I treasure that. 🙂
Your husband sounds like a wonderful man (his photographs demonstrate a curious and compassionate eye so I’m not surprised!). It’s funny how your book club is reticent to read Marquez’s works. I think some people are intimidated by his reputation. If only they knew how beautiful and delightful his novels were!
They say they just aren’t into magical realism. Sadly, they won’t give it a try. And, yes, I am blessed with a wonderful husband. Thank you. Since South Florida doesn’t have daffodils, hibiscus will do.
With apologies for the belated comment, Letizia, congrats on a beautiful tribute. Must get out 100 years of solitude again. By the way, have been meaning to pass on this link to you in case you did not see it http://gizmodo.com/these-grand-cathedrals-now-house-regular-books-not-bib-1552416487 – I of course instantly thought of you… 🙂
What a beautiful place for books- thank you for sharing that with me!
🙂
Who else could have wrote Love in the Time of Cholera?
We are lucky that he did!