Like Water For Chocolate

by Laura Esquivel
Like Water For Chocolate cover
Good Books rating 4.19
Magical Realism
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Paperback • £9.99
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Format • £9.49
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Technical
  • ID: 1737
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-08
  • ISBN: 9780552995870
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 1993-01-01
  • Formats: 8
  • Reviews: 4

Like Water for Chocolate is a captivating blend of romance, magic, and Mexican tradition. The novel centers around Tita, the youngest daughter of the De La Garza family, who is bound by tradition to care for her mother and forbidden to marry. Her love for Pedro leads to a complex web of unfulfilled passion and magical culinary creations that reflect her deepest emotions. The story unfolds over two decades, filled with tragic events and fateful encounters that ultimately bring Tita and Pedro together. The narrative is rich with vivid descriptions of food and its emotional resonance, making it a unique and sensory experience. Laura Esquivel's novel is a sumptuous feast that explores themes of love, tradition, and the power of self-expression through cooking.

Reviews
goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-18
enchanting 4.50

The reviewer found the novel enchanting and deeply moving, highlighting its unique blend of magical realism, romance, and cultural depth. They appreciated the vivid descriptions of food and its emotional significance, as well as the exploration of family dynamics and tradition.

The reviewer was captivated by the novel's magical realism and the way it intertwines food with emotions and family drama. They found the story of Tita and Pedro to be both heartbreaking and beautiful, with the food descriptions adding a rich, sensory layer to the narrative. The reviewer also noted the novel's critique of traditional gender roles and the oppressive nature of family expectations. Overall, they felt the book was a profound exploration of love, tradition, and the power of food to evoke memories and emotions.

Quick quotes

    للذواقة فقط..لعشاق مباهج الحياة..ولو لم تكن منهم مثلي انا،ستنبهك "تيتا" لكل ما يفوتك

    هي رواية عن الأنثى المشعة..صاحبة الفطرة السليمة..المنتجة لكل ما هو ساحر..أكلات ..مشروبات..علاجات..ملابس.احاديث ؛اهتمام صادق..كيف تأسر من حولك

    في زمن الرواية كانوا يصنعون معجون الأسنان من عظم الحبار..والكبريت من الفسفور.. ومراهم حروق من البطاطس ..اى ان الحياة كانت كابوس لا ينتهي من العمل المتواصل

Miss Known · Miss Known · 2025-04-25
enjoyable 4.00

The reviewer enjoyed the book and found it surprisingly engaging, noting that it is not a typical romance novel despite its central romantic plot. They appreciated the unique blend of elements that make the story compelling.

The reviewer was pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed this book. They highlighted that while it has a romance at its core, it's far from a conventional romance novel. The reviewer appreciated the unique structure and the way the story unfolds, finding it captivating and well-crafted. They also noted the blend of different elements, which makes the narrative rich and engaging.

Quick quotes

    To my surprise, I really enjoyed this book.

    Like Water for Chocolate is not a romance novel.

    There is a romance at the centre of the story.

Nightmares, Daydreams, and Imagined Conversations · 2022-11-14
captivating 4.50

The book was described as captivating, exploring themes of family, obligation, desire, and food. The protagonist's journey is central to the narrative, making it a compelling read.

This review highlights the book's exploration of deep themes such as family, obligation, desire, and the role of food in our lives. The reviewer found the story captivating, particularly the journey of the protagonist, Tita De la Garza. They appreciated how the narrative weaves these themes together, creating a rich and engaging experience for the reader.

Quick quotes

    An exploration of family, obligation, desire, and food, Like Water for Chocolate was captivating.

    Tita De la Garza is the youngest daughter in her family.

    The narrative weaves these themes together, creating a rich and engaging experience.

thetorogichronicles.com · Unknown · 2021-04-18
inspiring 3.77

The book is praised for its practical advice on self-improvement and its ability to inspire positive change. However, some critics find the language outdated and the content redundant, with a few taking issue with the author's tone and certain offensive remarks.

Many readers appreciate the book's structured approach to self-improvement, finding it both inspiring and practical. The methods outlined are seen as effective in driving personal growth and habit change. For instance, one reader successfully quit smoking using the techniques described. The book's emphasis on values and beliefs is particularly well-received, with some finding it a helpful reminder of important concepts. However, the book is not without its critics. Some find the language outdated and the content somewhat redundant, with the core message being that changing beliefs leads to changed actions and ultimately a changed life. A few reviewers also take issue with the author's tone, describing it as long-winded and at times mansplaining. Additionally, some offensive remarks about certain public figures, which were made before their misdeeds were widely known, are noted as particularly jarring in today's context. Despite these criticisms, the book is generally seen as a valuable resource for those looking to make positive changes in their lives.

Quick quotes

    Loved the method of how he recommends going through your values and beliefs. I've heard many of these things before in other books or in therapy, but hearing it put together in this order was a great reminder and a nice way of putting the pieces together.

    Great book! The only thing stopping it from being a 10/10 was that it was pretty redundant. Change your beliefs, change your actions, change your life.

    This book was honestly better than I expected how much I dislike him (it was at my hotel and I decided to read it). It’s outdated at this point, but still some useful basics.

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