Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't

by Jim Collins
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't cover
Good Books rating 4.5
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  • ID: 3339
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-18
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
linkedin.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
appealing 4.50

The novel 'Like Water for Chocolate' is a unique blend of a love story, fairy tale, and cookbook, with food serving as a metaphor for love and life. The relationship between Tita and Pedro is intense and sincere, and the magical elements add to the story's appeal.

In 'Like Water for Chocolate', Laura Esquivel weaves a tale that is as much a love story as it is a fairy tale and a cookbook. The central characters, Tita and Pedro, share a deep and intense relationship that is both sad and sincere. The novel's unique appeal lies in its use of food as a metaphor for love and life, with Tita finding comfort and inspiration in the kitchen. The descriptions of food and meals are lush and sensual, adding to the story's richness. The magical elements, such as potions and home remedies, further enhance the narrative, making it a compelling read. The contrast between Tita's passionate cooking and Rosaura's bland life highlights the depth of emotions and the impact of food on their lives. Overall, the novel is a captivating blend of romance, magic, and culinary artistry.

Quick quotes

    The author uses the pleasures of food, meal preparation and eating a meal as metaphors for love and life and passion.

    The relationship between Pedro and Tita is sad and sincere and intense.

    The magical elements of the story - the potions and home remedies and old wives’ tales - add to the story’s appeal.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
captivating 4.50

Like Water for Chocolate is a captivating exploration of family, obligation, desire, and food, wrapped in the magical realism genre. The story highlights the constraints of a controlling and patriarchal system, with Tita's emotions affecting the dishes she cooks and those who consume them.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel is a captivating exploration of family, obligation, desire, and food, all wrapped in the magical realism genre. The story follows Tita De la Garza, the youngest daughter who is bound by tradition to never marry and care for her mother. Her love for Pedro is thwarted by her mother's cruelty, leading to a complex web of emotions and relationships. The novel delves into the discontent and resentment that arise from a controlling and patriarchal system, with Mama Elena's cruelty affecting not just Tita but the entire household. The magical realism elements, such as Tita's emotions influencing the dishes she cooks, add a unique layer to the narrative. The story contrasts Tita's relationships with her mother to those with other characters, exploring the difference between obligation and true affection. It's a fascinating study of interpersonal relationships and the impact of control and cruelty on family bonds.

Quick quotes

    The magical realism of the novel shows in concrete, undeniable ways that such cruelty is not limited to just the person directly on the receiving end.

    By dictating everyone’s roles so strictly and writing off or abusing those who stray from her dictates, Mama Elena undermines the very family bonds her rules are meant to reinforce.

    Seeing how the way Mama Elena treated her daughters — as tools to be used for her own comfort, as pawns to be played off each other to feel herself in control — and the different ways that impacted how they in turn treated those around them is a fascinating study of interpersonal relationships.

jacr.org · Unknown · 2004-01-01
engaging 4.50

The reviewer found 'Like Water for Chocolate' to be a deeply engaging and emotionally resonant novel. The unique format, combining a monthly calendar and traditional Mexican recipes, effectively tells a heartbreaking story of love and family dynamics. The protagonist, Tita, serves as a masterclass in accepting one's situation while seeking joy, making the story both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The reviewer was captivated by the unique format of 'Like Water for Chocolate', which blends a monthly calendar with traditional Mexican recipes to tell a compelling story. The narrative revolves around Tita, whose love for Pedro is thwarted by her duty to care for her mother. The reviewer found Tita's journey both inspiring and heartbreaking, as she navigates her responsibilities while seeking moments of joy. The recipes interwoven into the story add a sensory dimension, making the reading experience rich and immersive. The novel's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from joy to anger, makes it a memorable and thought-provoking read. The reviewer highly recommends it for its emotional depth and the way it explores human desires for love and family.

Quick quotes

    The novel is bittersweet, joyful, angering, and able to pull you in.

    Tita gives a masterclass on accepting your situation and trying to find things that bring you joy, and it hurt to watch her be both successful and unsuccessful.

    Esquivel told a story that reached deeply into human desires for love and family and found the creation of Like Water for Chocolate.

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