Love in the time of Cholera is a treatise on the mores of modern love. In an era before the technological distractions of our day, Gabriel García Marquez has woven a tale of intrigue and eroticisms that questions the very fabric of the most intimate connections people have. By presenting a character as rich and full of contrast as Florentino Ariza, Marquez demands that each reader investigate their own moral compass. Is Florentino a victimizer or like many others simply wounded by love? Although the names and incessant time shifts can be particularly confusing to a non-Spanish speaker, the message resonates with all readers. It also forces us to wonder who the most tortured character is and where love lies. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this time-honored classic and I am certain that almonds will never smell the same to me again.