Like Water for Chocolate

Laura Esquivel

Tita is the youngest daughter in her well-to-do Mexican family. Her father died when she was born and her mother was busy with the ranch. This left Tita to be raised by Nacha, the family cook, in the kitchen of their home. As the youngest, Tita is bound by family tradition to not marry and take care of her mother, Mama Elena, until she dies.

Pedro loves and wants to marry Tita. Mama Elena will not permit the marriage and instead has Pedro marry Tita's sister, Rosara. Tita becomes the family cook when Nacha dies. What no one realizes is that Tita's emotions can seep into the food she is preparing. The wedding cake causes some unusual repercussions. After the wedding, Pedro and Rosara live on Mama Elena's ranch. Tita's emotions still infects the food for the ensuring years.

This is one of those novels that basically has a person's morals mixed up. The heroine and the hero love outside marriage. Yet we cannot become fond of Rosara, the unloved wife. Mama Elena is a twisted woman who will not allow her youngest daughter the happiness she could have. Like Bridges of Madison County, the reader is rooting for the outside couple rather than the married couple.

The other fundamental piece of this book are the recipes included. Recipes precede each of the twelve chapters. The preparation of each recipe is bound into each of the chapters, giving even more richness and texture to the story. This is well written and very enjoyable. Tita will break the reader's heart.

Like Water for Chocolate was a bestseller when it was first published in Mexico. I can see why.