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Summary: This is one of my favorite books I've read so far!!
Review: This books is about a man named pedro and a women named tita that falls in love with each other. They're are many characters in the book; so I will only talk about the main cast. Pedro is a wealthy man who is dark and the most handsome in their pueblo. He falls in love with TIta and ends up with her at the end of the book. He's a gentlemen with a good heart. Tita is the youngest daughter and the most beautfiul from all the three daughters. She is the best cook, sweet, and a caring person. Mama Elena is tita's mother. Shes strict, rude, mean, and obviously doesnt love tita and always perferred rosaura. Rosaura is the oldest daughter and is following Mama Elena's tradition. She is very jealous of tita and always trys to get her in trouble. Dr. Brown is the man who falls in love with tita and hes also they're doctor. He's very caring and has a son who also loves tita as a mother he never had. THe problem presented in this books is that they cannot marry eachother becuase mama elena has this family tradition that the youngest daughter cannot marry becuase she has to take care of her mother until the day she dies. What ends up happeneing is that in order to get close to tita, pedro decides to marry her sister rosaura to get close to tita. I wont spill the rest becuase you should read about it more and see what goes on in these love relationships. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves to read about forbidden love, family traditions, and a lot of romance affairs. THis is about a life century tradition that used to happen in mexico. THis author makes this book seem real and feels like if you are that character. There are cook recepies that will make you hungry. THis book will make you sad, even cry when you hear some of the tragic events. THis book is fascinating and it will make you want to read more and more, and you will never want to stop.
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Summary: An excellent novel of romance and food
Review: Laura Esquivel's most enchanted and celebrated novel of all times, is a delicious delight that honors both marriage of the senses and romance. The story takes place in Mexico at Mama Elena's ranch where a youngest daughter must honor the family tradition of not marrying, and to remain devoted to the care of her mother until she dies. The daughter, known as Tita aims on rebellion and breaking the family tradition to marry the love of her life. The novel comes with the installation of monthly delicious family recipes enough to satisfy the mind and taste with the charm of old Mexico combined with the tradition enough to reignite the interest for Mexico's incredible heritage as well as the downfalls of life being housebound, yearning to break free of the bonds that comes with the price of being the youngest daughter of the household. A must read to ensure delight for your love of culinary and romance.
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Summary: MAGICAL REALISM COMES ALIVE
Review: This novel is a true gem, a feast for the eyes, soul, spirit, and palate. From beginning to end, I thoroughly LOVED reading it. You will not go wrong in reading "LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE". I was utterly swept away by it! And the movie version is an added treat. You'll LOVE IT, too, for it is so faithful to the essence of the novel. !Buen apetito!
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Summary: A Twisted Love Story
Review: In Like Water for Chocolate, it is a story told about the youngest daughter, Tita De La Garza. The setting to this novel is taken place in Mexico and sets off the beginning of a new chapter with a traditional recipe of their family. This book is about a twisted love story between Pedro, whom the man Tita is in love with, and her sister and mother. Pedro and his father arrive at Tita's house asking her mother for permission for her hand of marriage. Tita's mother refuses because it is traditonal that the youngest daughter stays home to take care of the mother until she dies. Tita's mother insists that he marries her older sister Rosaura. He accepts, but the only reason why he did this, was to get close with Tita. Pedro and Rosaura later have two children, with one dying. Tita's mother suspects something is going on between her and Pedro, and forces them to move out of state. Years later, Mama Elena is not doing so well and is dying slowly. Pedro and Rosaura come back to the ranch and Tita's love for Pedro just grows. When Tita was really having hard times and going through some emotional stages that she could not handle, the cook, NAcha, helped her out and made her stronger. Tita and Pedro often snuck around to see each other and spend time together. They would often go into that special room and make love. We recommend this book who like love stories and drama.
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Summary: I read this book for school
Review: I read Like Water for Chocolate for my summer reading project for school. I felt that I could not really get into it and see myself as the characters. That is mostly because, to me the setting was too fake. Maybe it is the way it was done a long time ago, but I have never heard of someone marrying somone's sister to be closer to them. It may also be the fact that I am a guy but to me this book was just boring.
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Summary: It's meant to be...
Review: Laura Esquivel's novel "Like Water for Chocolate" was a very good romance novel. I don't read books very often but this one seem to catch my attention, I originally picked it becasue it had the word "Chocolate" in the title but then I read it and it was much more than just a title, I actually got into it. Mama Elena keeps a tight leash on Tita, her daughter, especially when she falls in love with Pedro, the man she was denied to marry by Mama Elena. Tita is basically forbidden to ever love by her mother for she has to take care of her mother until her death, but thru trials and tribulations Tita eventually finds her way to love. Tita finds her true love, and teaches a lesson to never give up hope, no matter what. I believe this book was one of the best I've ever read and if your a die hard romantic like I am, you'll fall for this book. Especially if you like food too, but keep in mind that each recipe told, has it's way of being more then just a recipe in this novel, they mean more then that.
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Summary: A nice, romantic read.
Review: A very nice, quick read that had my attention from beginning to end. The recipes and home remedies are extremely detailed and often quite elaborate, which leads me to believe that Laura Esquivel put a lot of time and effort into her novel; however, I was left wanting more character development and detail. Much of the book is based on "tall-tales"; a lot of fairy-tale-like happenings throughout the book which made it seem silly at times, but did add to the drama of the tale. The "family tradition" that affects only the youngest daughter of the families really got my blood going "like water for chocolate"--boiling over, in other words! :o) I felt so bad for Tita, the main character of the book, for being cursed with it. This was a very pleasant, gripping book that I would recommend to everyone. But beware: It will make you hungry!
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Summary: One of the most lovely and sensual stories
Review: It is hard to believe that any book could be better then the masterpiece movie by the same name (which I saw before reading the book); however, it is clear that the movie had to build on a powerful text in order to reach its strength, and reading this book written by Laura Esquivel grants you with an experience better then, or at least similar to watching the movie.
This is a magical book in monthly installments, each part is written along the guidelines of a recipe which has a significant meaning to the context. The writer goes along the stages of the recipe while describing to us the emotions and happenings that go on in the all female De La Garza family controlled by the strong and powerful Mama Elena, the cruel mother, and especially in the mind of Tita, the truly tragic heroine.
This is the story of Tita and Pedro, the young lovers who were destined to a life of suffering by the old tradition which condemns the youngest daughter to stay at home and take care of her mother until her death. Mama Elena was not going to give up on this tradition and denied Pedro's wish to marry Tita so that Tita can serve her until her death. Wanting to be next to Tita, Pedro marries Rosaura, Tita's big sister whom he does not love. Tita is one of the greatest heroines there is, in her devotion to Pedro, her suffering and especially in the way she cooks. Raised in the kitchen since her early days, Tita invests all her love and feelings into her food preparation and the food in turn affects every person that eats it with an overflow of emotions .
This is a passionate and sensual story which is a blend of reality and mystical forces. The dead people have their way of influencing the living, whispering directions in their ears or coming to condemn their actions. The story, like the film, is enraging with the hopeless pitiless destiny that is forced on Tita and on the other hand is tender and sweet with the smells, flavors and colors an with the ways Tita finds to show her love. Tita finds the powers within to build a life for herself, even if this life is to be disclosed from everyone else. The writing is flowing and poetic and all the half-mystical half-real descriptions are presented as mere facts, as I believe they are accepted in the places Laura Esquivel writes about. One of the most lovely, most sensual stories there is.
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Summary: Beautiful, engaging, magical
Review: I really enjoy books about cultures other than my own, and I especially appreciate the mystical aspects of Latin-centered books. LWFC is not easily put down, and while the story has definite fantastical elements, it is infinitely believable.
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Summary: Try the original
Review: Laura Esquivel's novel is much better when read in Spanish. There are many small changes in the English that make this book far more dull than it is in Spanish. I would recommend renting the movie instead, as the subtitles are much closer to the original than is the novel translation.
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