The reviewer found 'Like Water for Chocolate' to be a disappointing read despite its initial charm. They criticized the novel's portrayal of family dysfunction and its inconsistent feminist themes, ultimately finding the story bizarre and unfulfilling.
The reviewer initially found 'Like Water for Chocolate' engaging due to its quirky narration and promising themes of magic, love, and female empowerment. However, as the story progressed, they became increasingly critical of its portrayal of family dysfunction and the mockery of traditional values. The reviewer was particularly disappointed by the novel's treatment of feminist themes, finding them vaguely defined and inconsistent. The characters were criticized for their weakness and the narrative was deemed bizarre, especially in its later chapters. The reviewer also noted that the novel's food-related magic often led to disgusting results, which detracted from the overall reading experience. Despite some moments of interest, such as Tita's time with Dr. John Brown, the reviewer ultimately found the novel unfulfilling and its conclusion unsatisfactory.
Quick quotes
The trouble with crying over an onion is that once the chopping gets you started and the tears begin to well up, the next thing you know you just can’t stop.
I did not crave Mexican food during this read and was in fact somewhat queasy at the thought of it.
The funniest thing about 'Like Water for Chocolate' is the vaguely defined yet repeated claim that it is somehow a feminist text.