Review: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Title: Like Water for Chocolate

Author: Laura Esquivel

Genre: Adult, magical realism

Publication date: October 1995

Published by: Anchor

Source: Borrowed from library

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Blurb:

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. For the next twenty-two years, 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.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I originally picked up this book for an English paper. Its usually not a book I would pick up on my own. But to tell the truth I loved it!

I could kind of relate to this book with my Mexican background. I say kind of because I'm Mexican America, both my parents were born in Mexico. And, of course, I hear my mom and aunts talking about their lives back in Mexico and how much they worked at such a young age.

This book is full of tragedy, having that Tita, the youngest of the family, is forbidden to marry beacause of an old Mexican tradition. But you cant tell your heart what to do. And so she fell in love with Pedro. However, they cant ever be together. After multiple tragedies, and after 22 years they can finally be together. "Love never dies," this book really showed that.

But something I really liked was that at the beginning of every chapter there is a recipe. I thought that was cool :) This book was a really good story about an impossible love that, in the end, conquers all.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)