“Like Water for Chocolate,” by Laura Esquivel, is set in Mexico aroundthe time of the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17. It’s novel of love . . . or is it a novel of the magical power of love . . . or is it a romantic comedy? Honestly, I am not really certain. This is one of those books that might be assigned in a college Freshman english class. I’m sure there’s a lot of symbolism and irony in it, but I’m not very good at finding those things on my own. As a book of pure recreation, however, let me tell you what I thought about my trip to Mexico in my journey of Novel Destinations.
The main character in “Like Water for Chocolate” is Tia, the youngest daughter of the widowed Mama Elena. When Tia falls in love with Pedro and wishes to marry, her mother invokes the long-held Mexican tradition that the youngest daughter not marry. Mama Elena instead gives Tia’s older sister to Tia’s lover – A novel of love.
Tia’s method of accedpting her fate could be called ‘passive-aggressive.’ Her intense emotions somehow come through her intense cooking, affecting all those around her, including her sister and new brother-in-law. Those who eat Tia’s food feel whatever intense emotion Tia was feeling when she cooked it, whether sadness, illness or happiness – A novel of the magic of love.
The antics of Tia, her sister and her new brother-in-law, as well as the other characters in the books, while under Tia’s ‘spell,’ become quite entertaining – A romantic comedy.
By reading “Like Water for Chocolate,” I learned that it was traditional in Mexican culture for the youngest daughter to forego marriage in order to care for her mother until death. I got a glimpse of life for civilians on a disputed border during a revolution. I gained insight into how some people can work through their emotions via cooking. (I, personally, prefer to eat chocolate.)
“Like Water for Chocolate” is at least an interesting, light-hearted read, at best, a terrific work of fiction for a book club or discussion group. I do not hesitate to encourage the reading of “Like Water for Chocolate.”
More information and fun resources:
Additional summary of the book, with discussion questions, at Spark Notes
