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Like Water for Chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, withrecipes, romances, and home remedies
Summary: Tita grew up forbidden to marry anyone and was to take care of her mother until her very death. During her life-time she falls in love, but is betrayed by her own sister. Living her life was not easy, she finally goes insane, but a guy comes into her life and saves her. Everything goes fine from then on until..........................I liked this novel's format! It is written in monthlly installments and is easy ro read.
Like Water for Chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, withrecipes, romances, and home remedies
After reading this novel I have been consumed with the applications of the recipes. They are expressions of emotion that allow Tita to "create". The passionate and magical foods she makes is one of the freedoms she is allowed by her mother. They are also applied as a historical tool. The memories and stories are passed from generation to generation through the recipes. I realize the story offers much more than recipes but I want to know you will feel the power, magic and art of cooking through this novel
Like Water for Chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, withrecipes, romances, and home remedies
This story captured my imagination from the first chapter with its detail of costume, country and delectable food. Descriptions of recipes,eating and cooking whetted my appetite for more than just dessert. I could feel the heat from the intenseness of the Mexican sun as well as experiencing the hatred for her mother who would never allow her a life of her own. This book comes to mind @ the top of my list when ever anyone asks me to recommend a book
Like Water for Chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, withrecipes, romances, and home remedies
This novel has an interesting flavor and perspective, being translated from the Mexicanbestseller. The blending of recipes at the beginning of each chapter, and the plotdevelopments relating to those recipes reflect the tight integration of cuisine into theshowcased family's life. Also captivating is Esquivel's seamless blending of realistic insight intoher protagonist's thoughts with segues into moments of outright fantasy at the high point ofthe novel. The novel is beautifully written with a wonderful atmosphere. The story ofunrequited love tugs a bit at your heartstrings, but didn't pull me over the top, maybe becauseI personally couldn't relate as much to the decisions made by the characters. The story workson many other levels besides the romance aspect, however, and should offer a goodsoft-hearted read.
Like Water for Chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, withrecipes, romances, and home remedies
"Like water for chocolate" is not a voluminous novel, but it is memorable. Laura Esquivel managed to connect the magical realism (in an easy form, I admit, but nevertheless very reminiscent of Marquez, Allende or Llosa) with the style of tasty books by Peter Mayle (Provencal series) or Lily Prior ("La Cucina" - a class worse than "Like water for chocolate").The story of Tita, the youngest of the three daughters and therefore committed to the traditional Mexican fate of the spinster caring for her mother until the mother dies, is told in chapters, each of which starts with a recipe. Tita is fascinated by cooking and spends most of her time in the kitchen, and her culinary excellence causes Pedro to fall in love with her. The love is doomed, however, because of Tita's mother, who wants to execute her traditional right. The lives of all the sisters are depicted, their fates interchanging and seemingly improbable, but interwoven with Mexican history and elements of magic. This novel takes the reader and it is impossible to get out of its grip before it ends... And the exotic recipes, full of tasty ingredients and causing unexpected events - are, in addition, delicious.
Like Water for Chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, withrecipes, romances, and home remedies
Overall, I think my expectations were a bit too high for this book and it didn't quite measure up. That being said, I still really enjoyed it and some parts I downright adored! I loved the fact that Tita's emotions came through in her cooking and manifested in those who ate her food (reminds me a bit of Garden Spells). However, some of the mystical elements were a bit too out there for me. The term "magical realism" is too tame for this novel - it is better described as more of a family myth.Tita was an emotional and endearing protagonist so you can't help but cheer for throughout the book. She, Nacha and John are very loveable characters (although I happen to quite like the fiery Gertrudis as well); whereas, Rosaura and Mami are quite horrific villains. I'm sure that the reader is supposed to like Pedro as well, but I just didn't care for him at all. He seemed short-sighted, egocentric, and at times a bit bratty (I have no idea what Tita saw in him).While I loved some of these characters...none of them were quite three-dimensional for me. So, if you are strictly a character-driven reader, this book is probably not for you. Recommended to fans of foodie fiction and to those who like magical elements in their reading.