phantomgecko's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a quick read, and I enjoyed it.
I just really love magical realism. Here are some things that are impossible, but this is a true story so they happened. Great stuff.
I'll admit I mostly skimmed the cooking bits. But honestly, they were a fantastic device for storytelling.
Also, while this book is labeled as lighthearted, it had some heavy stuff. Like gut punches in one sentence and moving on with the next. Kinda disconcerting but still a likeable read.
Spoiler
I am disappointed that Tita didn't choose John, tbh. Lusty passion and jealousy should always lose out to serenity and compassionate devotion. But whatevs fine.I just really love magical realism. Here are some things that are impossible, but this is a true story so they happened. Great stuff.
I'll admit I mostly skimmed the cooking bits. But honestly, they were a fantastic device for storytelling.
Also, while this book is labeled as lighthearted, it had some heavy stuff. Like gut punches in one sentence and moving on with the next. Kinda disconcerting but still a likeable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Blood, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Animal death, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
damacyroll's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Like Water for Chocolate is the perfect example of magical realism blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The fantastical nature of the everyday is highlighted in every chapter, and that alone makes the writing a joy to read.
The strong theme of cooking, and that each chapter is based on a different recipe, was also something I enjoyed. I found myself wanting to make note of each recipe to try for myself, although without the powers of Tita's to influence whatever dish she makes my results will probably be much different.
In terms of plot however, maybe because I can't help but it read it from a 21st century point a view, there were specific plot points that I didn't enjoy. Pedro the male lead is that specific kind of intense dominant male that I no longer find myself falling for. Tita's decisions frequently left me frustrated as I felt that they were the wrong choices, but another person just as well might find them the right ones.
The strong theme of cooking, and that each chapter is based on a different recipe, was also something I enjoyed. I found myself wanting to make note of each recipe to try for myself, although without the powers of Tita's to influence whatever dish she makes my results will probably be much different.
In terms of plot however, maybe because I can't help but it read it from a 21st century point a view, there were specific plot points that I didn't enjoy. Pedro the male lead is that specific kind of intense dominant male that I no longer find myself falling for. Tita's decisions frequently left me frustrated as I felt that they were the wrong choices, but another person just as well might find them the right ones.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Child death, and Death
izzytheniffler's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Fatphobia
Minor: Rape and Child death
karol99's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Hard for me to complete it because I read it in Spanish, but once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed it. It always surprised me and had me engaged in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Violence, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
Minor: Physical abuse
rieriereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
"It was very pleasant to savor its aroma, for smells have the power to evoke the past, bringing back sounds and even other smells that have no match in the present."
I didn't know pretty much anything about this book aside from the description (which I don't recommend on doing. There may be themes included that might make you uncomfortable), and when I finished it the next day I knew that Like Water For Chocolate is one of the books I would have a hard time reviewing. There are parts that I loved, and parts also that I hated. Basically, I have a love-hate relationship with this.
The things I loved:
- The recipes included in the beginning of each chapter. It gives me a sense of nostalgia of my early memories with my late grandmother who loved to cook, eat, and talk about food and recipes.
- The inclusion of magical realism in the book. This could be a hit or miss, but I really liked it (I may be biased since I had happened to realise I like books that includes magical realism, haha).
- And lastly, the paragraphs/lines that made me stop reading in order to reflect my emotions, write down my thoughts/rants. It made me compare the De La Garza family to mine.
The things that I hated:
- The ending felt flat, and although I sensed it in advance (and had even prepared myself) it still disappointed me. If it was different, I feel that I would have rated this 4 stars instead of 3.75 (still a good read in the end though).
- The pacing and writing, although this is my first Laura Esquivel book, I love how she made me feel different emotions through the whole journey. Unfortunately, there are parts that felt dragged, flat, and simply "meh" that made me skip paragraphs.
Like Water For Chocolate is overall a good read. I could see myself rereading this again, not soon though, maybe in a year or two. I would recommend to anybody who loves magical realism, short stories, and food (especially food). I would recommend though checking the trigger warnings first before starting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Violence and Sexism
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
cremepouff's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
wish i could unread
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Rape and Physical abuse
charlotteih's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
WOW this book was really fun and entertaining. some bits were maddening, some hilarious, some romantic, and others sad. there was a sense of poetic irony and exaggeration that gives this story the feel of a folktale. the ending was a bit wild, but after letting it simmer (haha) in my mind i’ve come to like it. (this a very food-oriented book, so pls keep that in mind if that is a sensitive topic for you)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Physical abuse
Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Rape, Vomit, Confinement, War, and Forced institutionalization
lmagie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Matriarca egoísta y controladora gobierna sobre sus 3 hijas a extremos, con lujo de violencia física y mental.
Tita, la menor, está destinada a cuidar de ella por el resto de su vida. Pero Tita quiere casarse con Pedro.
Creando problemas innecesarios, la matriarca Elena, hace a todos miserables.
El uso de la "magia" con la comida y las emociones es muy interesante.
Es un libro muy entretenido, pero las decisiones de los personajes lo vuelven frustrante en ratos. Me alegra haberlo leído, lo disfruté, pero no lo volvería a leer.
Al no ser una trama completamente linear (muchos recuerdos y flashbacks) es un poco dificil ver el objetivo o la meta de los personajes en un determinado punto.
Los personajes tienen sus fallas, de más incluso. Tal vez faltó verlos más tiempo resaltando sus lados positivos, desarrollando sus personalidades, para así encariñarse con ellos realmente.
El único personaje con el que pude encariñarme fue
Casi todos los trigger warnings fueron moderados o menores (se cuentan con metáforas o de paso en una o dos oraciones), excepto la
Tita, la menor, está destinada a cuidar de ella por el resto de su vida. Pero Tita quiere casarse con Pedro.
Creando problemas innecesarios, la matriarca Elena, hace a todos miserables.
El uso de la "magia" con la comida y las emociones es muy interesante.
Es un libro muy entretenido, pero las decisiones de los personajes lo vuelven frustrante en ratos. Me alegra haberlo leído, lo disfruté, pero no lo volvería a leer.
Al no ser una trama completamente linear (muchos recuerdos y flashbacks) es un poco dificil ver el objetivo o la meta de los personajes en un determinado punto.
Los personajes tienen sus fallas, de más incluso. Tal vez faltó verlos más tiempo resaltando sus lados positivos, desarrollando sus personalidades, para así encariñarse con ellos realmente.
El único personaje con el que pude encariñarme fue
Spoiler
John. Honestamente, Tita debió haberlo escogido a él. La trataba bien, tenía su casa, le había dedicado tiempo y paciencia infinita, sin miedo de qué pensaran los demás. Todo lo contrario a Pedro. Pedro era un celoso inmadura y cobarde por el que no valía la pena suicidarseCasi todos los trigger warnings fueron moderados o menores (se cuentan con metáforas o de paso en una o dos oraciones), excepto la
Spoiler
fatphobia. Tanto y con tanto desprecio que hace pensar si la autora comparte el mismo sentimiento
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Fatphobia, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Infidelity
Moderate: Gun violence, Child abuse, Infertility, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Vomit, Alcohol, Racism, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
The more you advance in the book the more TWs escalatemiuku's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Racial slurs, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
emmiykay's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse