Book Review of Like Water for Chocolate by Laura ESQUIVEL
Author: Laura Esquivel (Translated by Carol Christensen, Thomas Christensen)
ISBN: 0-385-47401-6
Publisher: Anchor Books
Type of book: Mexico, Revolution, relationships, sisters, generations, forbidden fruit, desire, food, cooking, memories, magical realism, history, past
Year it was published: 1989, 1992
Summary:
Earthy, magical, and utterly charming, this tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico became a best-selling phenomenon with its winning blend of poignant romance and bittersweet wit.
The number one bestseller in Mexico and America for almost two years, and subsequently a bestseller around the world, Like Water For Chocolate is a romantic, poignant tale, touched with moments of magic, graphic earthiness, bittersweet wit - and recipes.
A sumptuous feast of a novel, it relates the bizarre history of the all-female De La Garza family. Tita, the youngest daughter of the house, has been forbidden to marry, condemned by Mexican tradition to look after her mother until she dies. But Tita falls in love with Pedro, and he is seduced by the magical food she cooks. In desperation, Pedro marries her sister Rosaura so that he can stay close to her, so that Tita and Pedro are forced to circle each other in unconsummated passion. Only a freakish chain of tragedies, bad luck and fate finally reunite them against all the odds.
Characters:
Main characters include Tita, Mama Elena, Pedro, Rosaura and Gertrudis. Rita is the youngest daughter who desires to be with her paramour Pedro, but due to the family tradition of a youngest daughter staying chaste and caring for mother, she is unable to do it. Rosaura is the older sister who was groomed to take Mama Elenas place and marries Tita's paramour. She is best described as vain and selfish. Gertrudis is also an older sister and eventually is disowned and marries a revolutionary and has a child wih him. She also acts as a leader after she is disowned. Pedro loves Tita and doesn't want to lose her, which is 2hy he agrees to marry Rosaura. He continues to love Tita though. Mama Elena is controlling, passionate and obsessive about traditions and rules.
Theme:
Food plays a big part in our lives
Plot:
It seemed as if the story is within a story, and talks a lot about the impact that food has on people, because at first it's in second or first person narrative, but then the story moves on to third person, to the tale of Titas birth to the time of her unusual death. A lot of focus is on food, and yes it does contain magical realism.
Author Information:
(From the book)
Originally a screenwriter, Laura Esquivel's screenplay Chido One was nominated for the Ariel Award for best screenplay by the Mexican Academy of Motion Pictures. In 1992, the film version of Like Water for Chocolate swept the awards, winning ten in all, inlcuding one for Ms. Esquivel's screenplay. She is currently at work on her next novel.
Opinion:
This is possibly the first Latinx novel I have read for awhile. ( my first try included Derek Palacios novel, but i didn't like it...) All I can say is that this was a strange novel for me to read. I loved it, really enjoyed it, and will continue to think about it and remember it. While it's not a five star novel, it's definitely very good and something special to read when one has a chance.
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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