(Book #46) Discussion of the book started in the kitchen as we drank wine and ate lobster salad. We were clearly divided as to our opinion of romance/love in the book. The girls who had the most to say seemed to think that there was more romance in Urbano and Fermina’s relationship and that Florentino’s ‘love’ was (like cholera) more sickness and obsession (not to mention the pedophilia.) We moved into the dining room for salad, couscous and grilled shrimp where we agreed that the writing is beautiful and rich and that there are many ways that love is felt, expressed and perceived including Shakespeare’s take: “Love is merely a madness.” There was Tres Leches cake and chocolate covered almonds for dessert.