Like Water for Chocolate

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Summary: Truly Destined for Required Reading in Literature Programs
Review: I fell in love with this book. Try as I might, I couldn't put it down until the last page was read.

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Summary: A wonderful tale- original and spicy
Review: Combine old Mexican cooking recipes with the story of a young woman's love for both a man and a kitchen, mix with a little fantasy and a touch of tragedy and you have a wonderfully written, intriguing tale. I read this book in one day. Esquivel manages to intelligently weave traditional recipes into the most warm, heart-felt story of a woman's life. Tita, her young character, born into the kitchen and passionate about her recipes must endure her sister's wedding to her loved one. She must also live under the shadow of a doomed tradition: she must tend her demanding mother until her death. Yet Tita finds the stregth to evolve into a knowing woman full of passion and assertment, gaining the respect of others. A book that satisfies all the sences, awakens passion and gets our bellies grumbling- An excellent light read for any occasion! A darn good book..

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Summary: Like Water For Chocolate
Review: "Like Water For Chocolate", written by Latin American author Laura Esquivel, is an exciting, romantic, magical love story set in the 1900's during the Mexican revolution. The story is about a young girl named Tita De La Garza who is the youngest daughter of an all girl family, and because of this she has to keep the cruel family tradition, of looking after her mother, until the day she dies. Because of this tradition Tita is unable to marry her only true love Pedro. She is strongly against this tradition and as the story continues Tita begins to hate her mother more because she is unable to share her life with him. Pedro and Tita's older sister Rosaura end up getting married, but Pedro only agrees to do this to be near Tita. The story tells of the secret affair that Tita and Pedro have and of their love for each other. Each chapter of the novel begins with a recipe explaining how it is prepared and the ingredients which are included. There was always an ingredient added that would introduce a different emotion into one of the characters and to the reader. Personally I quite enjoyed Laura Esquivel's book. Although in some places it became a bit confusing, I was still able pick up the story line. It was exciting and always kept me wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next. I recommend that anyone reads this book, especially those around the age of 16 and those who like stories beyond reality. So if you are looking to read a book that is different and exciting i recommend that you read "Like Water for Chocolate".

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Summary: A tale of 'magical realism'...'Like Water For Chocolate'
Review: 'Like Water For Chocolate' is a classic tale of intrigue, lies, deceit and death. The main character is Tita, a young Mexican girl living in the early 19th century. Tita lives with her widowed mother and two older sisters. She lives a quite meagre life, growing up in a household without any sort of male presence. She grows up in the kitchen, and with the help of Nacha, the ranch cook, she grows up and learns to be a fantastic cook, making fabulous dishes and succulent delicacies. But trouble starts to brew in the De La Garza house, when Tita, now a young woman, falls in love with Pedro, a family friend. It is here when Mama Elena forbids her to marry Pedro and telling her of the horrid tradition that has befallen upon her. Being the youngest of three sisters, Tita is forced to take care of her mother until she dies. Being the typical never-say-die man, Pedro goes to the extremes of marrying Tita's elder sister just so he could be closer to Tita. However, his plan has major flaws, and slowly begins to take its toll. Even though events prevent Pedro and Tita getting close to one another, it is fate that steps in and brings them together. The novel is a wonderful example of 'magical realism', a genre that has particularly flourished in South America. Through the recipes preceding each chapter, we see and 'alchemical' reaction affecting all those who consume the given culinary delight. The food plays such an important part of Tita's development from a child to a woman and it is through cooking and her recipes that she is able to mature and deal with her emotions, which play an important part in her cooking and also throughout the book. Esquivel has truly outdone herself by writing this book. Her ability to write numerous characters, all with different personalities is amazing. 'Like Water For Chocolate' is a fantastic book, and readers who enjoy a tale such as this, should definitely read it.

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Summary: Like water for chocolate
Review: Like water for chocolate is a twisted love tail. From the view of Tita a girl destined to look after her mother until her mother dies. Tita falls in love with a man she is forbiben to love. Each chapter is a representation of a month, and a new recipe is cooked,each month. As Tita's emotions run wild so does the emotions of each person who eats her food. As her love for Pedro grows stronger with each day she can not stand the momories of him. A mishap brings tita back to the ranch and closer to her true love. Promises are made and broken and so are hearts. This is one of my all time favourite books, once i picked it up i could not put it down. This book also comes in a movie although it is subtitled the story is very intriguing. On a scale of one to ten i would give this book about an eight. I feel this story would appeal to 15 - 50 year old people.

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Summary: like water for chocolate
Review: "Like water for chocolate" is almost an unexplainable tale about a Mexican family with a very unfair tradition. It tells the story of Tita's miserable life from her tragic perspective. Tita is the youngest of the Da La Garza family and because of this she is destined to care for her mother until the day she dies. Along with this unfair custom Tita is not allowed to marry her lover Pedro. Because of this Pedro marries Rosaura, Titas older sister, just so he can be near his love. When Titas mother, Mama Elena, realises this she does everything in her power to keep the two separated. When Tita disobeys Mama Elena's instructions she is severely punished, but this time Mama Elena goes too far! From the day she was born tita was raised in the kitchen, by the old family cook Nacha. Growing up Tita learned many secret-cooking trades from Nacha and was also given some very powerful gifts, the gifts of passion for cooking, life and love, Pedro. During Tita's adolescence, she is left feeling she has no one to turn to in her times of need. From this experience in her life Tita begins to express her love through cooking and uses her meals to communicate her love to Pedro, but again Mama Elena realises what is happening and cuts of this communication. Tita begins to stand up to her mother although she still believes that her life will never improve or even change....or will it.

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Summary: Love Melts the Icy Tears
Review: Like Water for Chocolate (written by Laura Esquivel), is a truly powerful, magical, colourful, and emotional story of an intense love between two people, Tita and Pedro. Tita is stopped from giving and receiving love to Pedro, as a result of family traditions. Her Mother believes these family traditions are important- for her sake. Between yearning for truth, and closed feelings, the recipes Tita creates, bring out many emotions. These recipes have an effect on the family and other relations, as they move in their journey of life. It may be forbidden to love, but at what extent can Tita and Pedro go to, to prove love is stronger than traditions.

I believe this novel was very intriguing. The language used set my mind free. Its detailed emotions made it easier to use my imagination, which also enabled me to interpret the story differently from other people. The creativity, and the surrealism that is driven in make this novel very exciting and magical. I recommend this novel to any young adolescent and those who like to indulge in romantic, fantasising stories. I give this novel, four out of five stars.

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Summary: 'Like water for chocolate' a recipe to warm your heart
Review: 'Like water for chocolate' is an enchanting story that is set in Mexico during the revolution. The book comprises of twelve chapters from January to December, with each chapter beginning with a recipe. It's a book that links magic and fantasy to reality. The book written by Laura Esquivel revolves around the life of Tita De La Garza as told by her great niece. It is a tale that speaks of families, traditions, being true to yourself and the quest for true love in the face of adversity. The book deals with the hardships of the De La Garza's and those they held dear.

Tita is the youngest of three daughters who were brought up by their widowed Mother, Mama Elena. From birth Tita had formed a very unique relationship with the kitchen as she had been born there, the wafting aroma's of the kitchen made her feel truly at home.

Because Tita was the youngest of three daughters in the De La Garza family, this meant that Tita would have to abide by the tradition passed on by the many generations before her. According to the tradition Tita would be denied marriage, as her role was to be the carer for her aging Mother. Tita however, fell in love with a young man named Pedro and wished to marry him. Pedro couldn't contain his feelings for Tita so he asked Mama Elena if he could marry her daughter, she refused. But in a cruel twist of fate Mama Elena offers her eldest daughter, Rosaura to Pedro. Pedro accepts her proposition, as he believed it was the only way in which he could be with the woman who his heart belonged to, Tita.

Tita later realised Pedro's intentions in marrying Rosaura and she found a magical way to communicate with Pedro. The way was through her cooking, each dish she cooked communicated the feeling she felt when she had prepared it.

I recommend the book like water for chocolate to those who enjoy a challenging, yet captivating storyline. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book I did find it to be slightly confusing, but I did find re reading and watching the movie helped me grasp the main themes of the book.

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Summary: A spicy forbidden love plagued by tradition
Review: 'Like Water For Chocolate', an audacious, sassy and raunchy love story full of spice and plagued by tradition. The novel features the forbidden love between protagonists Tita and Pedro in monthly instalments, interspersed with traditional Mexican recipes with mystical relevance to each instalment. This enticing novel is the first by Mexican author Laura Esquival who later went on to write many other novels such as 'House Of Spirits', also containing an element of magical realism within the plot.

The novel begins in the early 1900's in Mexico and continues through the harsh times during the Mexican Revolution. Tita is the youngest of three daughters in the De La Garza family and due to the strong traditions enforced by her mother, Mama Elena, is unable to marry because her fate is to care for her mother for the rest of her life. During her teenage years, Tita formed a secret relationship with Pedro and they fell in love. When Pedro approached Mama Elena to ask for Tita's hand in marriage, due to the tradition, Mama Elena refused and instead offered her eldest daughter Rosaura. Pedro accepted in hope of forming a closer relationship with Tita. Tita was devastated, however her love for Pedro never faltered. Tita's eternal, lifelong love for cooking is a major feature in the novel. She continues to cook to communicate her feelings to Pedro because, mysteriously, whatever emotion Tita was feeling while cooking the food is evoked in the consumer.

'Like Water For Chocolate' is a novel which seduces the senses as it follows the love between Tita and Pedro as they overcome the many obstacles in their path. The strong determination shown by the protagonists throughout the novel gives it a powerful plot which lures the reader to continue reading and touches the heart. This compelling novel is a fantastic read and should be read by anyone who likes stories featuring cultural tradition, forbidden love and mystical themes.

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Summary: Like Water For Chocolate review
Review: The magical tale LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE will share with you all the pleasures and pain of love, hatred, envy , revulsion and jealousy. This amazing story, Like Water For Chocolate was Laura Esquivel's first published novel, and has won the hearts of many readers. This book, captures the aching existence of a young girl, Tita De La Garza, and the terrors she faces, as she begins to grow and realise what the future holds for her. Based the 19th century, in Mexico, during the revolution, Tita, the youngest daughter of three, is brought up more by the servants of the house, than her cruel and unkind mother. A recipe each month, brings you through the exhausting life Tita goes through. After the cook is found dead in the bed room Tita has no choice but to cook for the family. Each meal Tita makes captures her emotions and they are revealed in the people that consume her meals. A strong and compassionate love forms between Tita and a young man named Pedro. Tita's powerful love, is crushed when she comes to realise about a tradition that has lived through out the De La Garza family for years, stating that the youngest girl must take care of her mother, until she dies, and is unable to wed. When Pedro comes to the house asking Tita's mother for Tita's hand in marriage, her mother denies and suggests to Pedro to marry her oldest daughter Rosaura. Pedro agrees to this only so he can be close to his true love Tita. However Tita's mother makes every effort to keep the two as far away as she can from each other. Tita finally builds up the courage to leave the rank, after all the abuse she has been put through, and begins to feel a small love for the local doctor John, who welcomes her into his home and helps her through one of the worst times in her life. An unfortunate incident brings Tita back to the house, where she must face Pedro and Rosaura again. Unable to forgive the two she stays in the house, and becomes engaged to John. The miraculous story goes on, with more love, betrayal and confusion that will keep you on your toes, and keep the pages turning. I really enjoyed the book and am sure that you will too.