Like Water for Chocolate

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Summary: magic realism - esquivel
Review: the De La Garza ranch is run by Mama Elena. Tita, being the youngest daughter must remain unmarried so that she can care for Mama Elena until she dies. Tita's sister marries the man Tita loves, Pedro. Esquivel includes much Mexican tradtions. She uses food as a focal point. The greatest aspect of this novel, however, is the use of magical realism. When Tita is born, the babe cries so much the tears flood the kitchen. When the tears have dried, the cook sweeps up the residue - enough salt to fill a ten pound bad. they use it for cooking. Tita's tears fall into her sister's wedding cake. Tita's sadness infect the cake and all who eat it begin to mourn violently. Tita is feeding the chickens while angry. The feed Tita touches possess her anger and the chickens go wild. these are sparce examples of Esquivel's fantastic descriptions. it is a must read!

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Summary: It makes me angry...
Review: Let's not mince words: this novel is unreservedly horrible. Iread this for a writing class, of all things--otherwise I neverwould've finished it, believe me. It started out bad, and so as I read on, I could only hope that it would get better. Amazingly, it actually got WORSE, culminating in an almost surreal ending. What DID anger me was the dearth of characters I could care about. Tita was weak and indecisive, but at least I didn't actually HATE her--no indeed, I reserve that hatred for Pedro, who is indeed one of the most unappealing characters I've ever encountered. He's weak, he's a bully, and to top it off, he's a rapist. He might have been an effective character, but for the fact that we were evidently meant to consider him a "good guy". I really resented the fact that Esquivel actually expected us to like this loser, but evidently many people did, scarily enough. Still, unappealing characters and a goofy plot aren't all this book has against it. One of the most obvious problems is the little bits and pieces of recipes, which Esquivel integrates into the story with all the subtlety of a jackhammer. It is, I suppose, possible that a skilled writer could have made this work, but Esquivel, frankly, didn't even come close. And then there are the parts that are just plain stupid: Gertrudis "has rhythm" because she's actually half-black (smirk). "The prostitute managed to gasp out a clue to identifying him. The traitor had a red mole shaped like a spider between his legs." HAHAHAHAHA! Right...he must have had a pretty damn long name, if gasping out "red mole...spider-shaped...between legs" was quicker than just saying it. And, of course, all of this is ignoring the extremely bland narrative style and the horribly clumsy transitions (don't even get me STARTED on the oh-so-coy final chapter). I could say more, but I don't want to.

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Summary: I enjoyed this book
Review: Like Water for Chocolate is a little strange. It is not a straight-up romantic drama. It's not a straight-up cookbook. It's a magical, romantic cookbook! Tita (the main character) asserts herself in times of emotional disappoint via her cooking. There are humorous moments in the book like when Tita causes her sister to experience gastronomical difficulties to the point where her husband, Tita's former boyfriend won't touch her. I like the descriptive language that Esquivel uses. It makes the book very vivid and colorful.

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Summary: Like Water For Chocolate
Review: Laura Esquirel has proven to be an exceptional writer after reading this book. This book is of nothing I have ever read before. Some of the scenes truely baffle me. For instance, at the beginning it says Tita, one of the main characters, was washed into the world by her own tears. The labor was brought on early becausae her mother was peeling onions in the kitchen which made her cry. Another aspect about this book is that at the beginning of each chapter it gives you a recipe. I have never even heard of the recipes in this book before. It tells you how to make each one at the beginning of each chapter which leads into the story. So basically this book is based on a kitchen and cooking with the lives of three daughters, a mother, and a cook and how love can hurt so much. If you like romance books I'm sure you are going to love Like Water for Chocolate.

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Summary: Like Water For Chocolate-Review from young reader
Review: Like Water For Chocolate was given as an assignment in my eleventh grade class, I considered it incredibly romantic and having many life lessons. Any reader will enjoy this story, from the inexperienced teen to the mature adult. It was great!

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Summary: Like Water for Chocolate
Review: Like Water for Chocolate is classic romance-tragedy novel. This novel is rich in symbolism, family secrets and broken taboos. The story takes place in Mexico during the Revolution. Tita, the youngest of three daughters, narrates the story. The story surrounds the forbidden love between Pedro and Tita. Tita being the youngest is expected to forgo marriage and take care of her Mama until she dies. However, this does not deter Pedro and in an effort to be near to Tita, he marries her sister.Resulting in the whole family living under the same roof. The only way Tita and Pedro can express their love is through Tita's cooking. Tita has the ability to prepare exotic food with erotic effects. In one chapter she had received roses from Pedro and with the pedals prepared a dish of Quail and Rose Pedals. The dish had an extraordinary effect on the family. Upon eating the meal, the family was overcome with emotions of love and longing. With this newfound love language Tita and Pedro were able to communicate their forbidden love. The author, Laura Esquirel, writes in such a creative fashion provoking the sense and providing vivid images of sight as well as smell. This unusal novel combines a magical romance of true love with a mystical fairy tale, resulting in an enjoyable experience for any reader.

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Summary: Like Water for Chocolate
Review: Like Water for Chocolate is a novel that will be enjoyed by all romantics regardless of age, gender or culture. It is a tale of true love, family traditions and family secrets. Laura Esquirel writes in a most unique style, giving the reader "monthly installments" of "recipes and home remedies." Each chapter starts with a recipe and begins with Tita, skillfully executing a meal. Tita, literally born in the kitchen, has the ability to communicate her love and various emotions through food. This book takes plac during the Mexican Revolution and chronicles the events of three daughters and one very controlling Mama. The youngest daughter, Tita, is not permitted to marry, but is expected to care to care for her Mama till the day she dies. Unfortunately, Tita does not learn of this tradition until after she has fallen in love with Pedro, her soul mate. The story really takes off when Mama refuses to allow Tita to marry Pedro but instead offers Tita's sister Rosaura to Pedro. You will have to read the book to find out how it all develops. But, trust me it is worth it. This book will make you laugh and cry, your heart will ache and sing and strangely you mouth will water for the food prepared by Tita.

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Summary: The best romantic and traditional story ever read!
Review: The novel, Like Water for Chocolate is a very romantic and interesting novel that will touch you right at home. The novel is about a young woman whos name is Tita De La Garza. In this novel you will learn about her life, her traditions, her family recipes and the love of her life, Pedro. Tita had a book filled with traditional mexican family recepies and love spells. Tita had only one dream, and it was to mary the love of her life, Pedro. Her dream did not become reality because due to family traditions since Tita was the youngest of the family, she was not allowed to marry. Her destiny was to nurture and care for her mother up to the day she dies. Because of this tradition Tita lost her love to her older sister, Rosaura. Tita's mom suggested that Pedro marry Rosaura since he was not able to marry Tita, Pedro accepted for the reason that he could be next to Tita. As the days passed Tita and Pedro lived a long stuggle of love and pain. When Mama passed away Pedro thought it would be easier for him and Tita to be together, but at this point Tita was in a ver tough situation, she was facing te decision of marrying Doctor John who loved her dearly or save herself for Pedro. Although Tita's love for Pedro has never died and she still loved him with all of her heart, she didn't want to hurt her sister Rosaura and their daughter Esperanza. A the time passed, and the day came that Tita was able to be with Pedro, something interesting happened.....I live that up to you , the reader to find out. This novel is worth taking time and reading it, I learned a lot of new and interesting mexican recipes and traditions that I had never heard of and I am Mexica. I really recommend this book for you reading enjoyment.

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Summary: A romatic story full of hidden emotion
Review: This story is a wonderous romantic story between two young lovers but torn apart by the laws of tradition. Tita is a strong willed girl,in my opinon to have to deal with the tortures of her mothers rules and tradition and from suffering from many heart breaks. Even though her love for Pedro was still strong, she still managed to deal with her not being with him for the longest time. While married to ....... Oh a better stop for you a new reader to this wonderous romantic story should a good mouth watering taste for " like water for chocolate.

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Summary: A mystical Mexican Love Story
Review: Like water for chocolate is a fomantic story. before I take this class I didn't used to read, but now, I am going to try read one hour everiday. This book is about a traditional family that they didn't know the difference between traditions and rules. One of the traditions was that being the youngest daugher meands, that she have to take care of the mom until the day she die. Tita was the youngest in the family, she knew about the tradition, but she fell in love to pedro. They wanted be together, but Tita's mom wan't agree. Pedro decided to get merried with Tita's sister because he waned be near to Tita. The most sad thing in the history is that they never couldn't be together.