A Feast for the Senses
A Book Review on Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate
by Francesca Gabrielle Rodriguez Trinidad
A Book Review on Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate
by Francesca Gabrielle Rodriguez Trinidad
Proving her excellence in novel writing, Laura Esquivel's first novel, Like Water for Chocolate, is a three year best selling book and it tells of a love story of that is fast read and delightful from start to finish. Esquivel is best known for her writing style magical realism, which she also incorporated in her second novel, The Law of Love, which takes place in the 23rd century Mexico City and combines romance and science fiction. Esquivel knits the story of Like Water for Chocolate together with traditional Mexican recipes in which food and emotions are in sync at all times. She lights up her novel with the descriptions of farm life, outhouses, ranches, natural remedies, and mysticism from life at the turn of the 20th century, but it is set in Mexico.
Published in its English translation on 1992 by Doubleday, a division of Random House Publishings, Like Water for Chocolate tells the suspenseful love story of Tita De La Garza and Pedro Mazquiz. Because she is the youngest of the three sisters, Tita must stay by her mother's side until the day she dies and therefore, is not allowed to fall in love or get married. Due to this awful family tradition, Tita does whatever she can to be with Pedro. Consequently, unexpected events lead Tita through 22 years of joy, heartache, hatred, and love.
The story begins with the birth of Tita, and it is her tears that we soak up throughout her life. Tita is the last born daughter to Mama Elena De La Garza and, so obliging tradition, she is destined to look after her mother until death. This was probably a great idea in theory, but practice proved much harder especially when she fell in love. Mama Elena, a hard handed woman not willing to yield to tradition or give up her rightful possession, would not agree to the proposal made by Tita's love, Pedro. Instead, she suggested he marry Tita's older sister, Rosaura De La Garza. Pedro agreed as he saw this as an opportunity to be near Tita at all times regardless of the circumstances.
Throughout Tita's life journey, situations and feelings are mirrored in the recipes she prepares. Each chapter begins with a recipe that seems to have a direct relationship with the movements and sentiments evoked at the time of cooking, making Like Water For Chocolate beautifully rich in symbolism.
We follow Tita and Pedro, two lives forever linked by love. Yet timing and tradition make it always challenging, which makes the story interesting and memorable. With the constant opposition of her mother and her family, Tita found it very hard to show her love for Pedro. But what was so amusing was that, somehow, these two lovers, in the end, found their way to each other. Their love is preserved through the revolution, the birth of Pedro and Rosaura's children, the death of Mama Elena, Tita's engagement to a doctor and eventually the death of Rosaura. And it is Pedro and Rosaura's daughter, Esperanza, that tells this tale. Although Tita did not acquire what was rightfully hers until the end, she did manage to break the bounds of tradition so that her niece, Esperanza, would not suffer the same fate as her.
Appealing to the emotions of the reader, the best character in the story, in my opinion, was Tita. Although she was a bit foolish in staying in love with Pedro, knowing that Mama Elena was always snooping around to check on her, she stood for what her heart knew was true. This was proven when she uttered these lines to Pedro, when finally, the unexpected events that fate had presented them allowed them to be together. “...We've spent too many years worrying about what people will say; from now on nothing is going to keep me away from you.”
It is disturbing to think that such demands were and still are being made on women in the name of tradition and also a little questioning, not to mention, hypocritical to discover a dark secret in the closet of the person implementing those traditions. Tita's mother had a dark secret that was not revealed until her death. Tita is a great example of endurance against oppression, remaining so very feminine and successful in her role as woman.
Tita and Pedro's love compares to the metaphor, the Forbidden Fruit. Although it is not clear just what that Forbidden Fruit is, the most popular icon of course, has been the apple. The apple is a metaphor for something untouchable and sinful. Therefore, it perfectly represents the temptations that fire up the pages in Like Water For Chocolate and the fear that surrounds the potential bite of this apple. Yet once bitten it is sweet, juicy and pure. Esquivel has written a very enjoyable novel, so bright and imaginative, which lets you escape into the world of fantasy for a while and leaves you with a smile.
Everyone likes a good realistic book where they can relate to the characters, but Like Water for Chocolate lets you relate, while at the same time allowing your imagination to run wild. It is a drama-filled fairy tale that you will want to read over and over again.
Published in its English translation on 1992 by Doubleday, a division of Random House Publishings, Like Water for Chocolate tells the suspenseful love story of Tita De La Garza and Pedro Mazquiz. Because she is the youngest of the three sisters, Tita must stay by her mother's side until the day she dies and therefore, is not allowed to fall in love or get married. Due to this awful family tradition, Tita does whatever she can to be with Pedro. Consequently, unexpected events lead Tita through 22 years of joy, heartache, hatred, and love.
The story begins with the birth of Tita, and it is her tears that we soak up throughout her life. Tita is the last born daughter to Mama Elena De La Garza and, so obliging tradition, she is destined to look after her mother until death. This was probably a great idea in theory, but practice proved much harder especially when she fell in love. Mama Elena, a hard handed woman not willing to yield to tradition or give up her rightful possession, would not agree to the proposal made by Tita's love, Pedro. Instead, she suggested he marry Tita's older sister, Rosaura De La Garza. Pedro agreed as he saw this as an opportunity to be near Tita at all times regardless of the circumstances.
Throughout Tita's life journey, situations and feelings are mirrored in the recipes she prepares. Each chapter begins with a recipe that seems to have a direct relationship with the movements and sentiments evoked at the time of cooking, making Like Water For Chocolate beautifully rich in symbolism.
We follow Tita and Pedro, two lives forever linked by love. Yet timing and tradition make it always challenging, which makes the story interesting and memorable. With the constant opposition of her mother and her family, Tita found it very hard to show her love for Pedro. But what was so amusing was that, somehow, these two lovers, in the end, found their way to each other. Their love is preserved through the revolution, the birth of Pedro and Rosaura's children, the death of Mama Elena, Tita's engagement to a doctor and eventually the death of Rosaura. And it is Pedro and Rosaura's daughter, Esperanza, that tells this tale. Although Tita did not acquire what was rightfully hers until the end, she did manage to break the bounds of tradition so that her niece, Esperanza, would not suffer the same fate as her.
Appealing to the emotions of the reader, the best character in the story, in my opinion, was Tita. Although she was a bit foolish in staying in love with Pedro, knowing that Mama Elena was always snooping around to check on her, she stood for what her heart knew was true. This was proven when she uttered these lines to Pedro, when finally, the unexpected events that fate had presented them allowed them to be together. “...We've spent too many years worrying about what people will say; from now on nothing is going to keep me away from you.”
It is disturbing to think that such demands were and still are being made on women in the name of tradition and also a little questioning, not to mention, hypocritical to discover a dark secret in the closet of the person implementing those traditions. Tita's mother had a dark secret that was not revealed until her death. Tita is a great example of endurance against oppression, remaining so very feminine and successful in her role as woman.
Tita and Pedro's love compares to the metaphor, the Forbidden Fruit. Although it is not clear just what that Forbidden Fruit is, the most popular icon of course, has been the apple. The apple is a metaphor for something untouchable and sinful. Therefore, it perfectly represents the temptations that fire up the pages in Like Water For Chocolate and the fear that surrounds the potential bite of this apple. Yet once bitten it is sweet, juicy and pure. Esquivel has written a very enjoyable novel, so bright and imaginative, which lets you escape into the world of fantasy for a while and leaves you with a smile.
Everyone likes a good realistic book where they can relate to the characters, but Like Water for Chocolate lets you relate, while at the same time allowing your imagination to run wild. It is a drama-filled fairy tale that you will want to read over and over again.
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