Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (1989)

The youngest daughter, required by tradition to remain unmarried to take care of her mother, finds that her emotions cannot be contained.

Book Review: Like Water for Chocolate was a mixed bag. I expected to love it to pieces and thought the first half was wonderful. The character of Tita reminded me of my own mother, private and reserved, but who made every meal with total care, made every meal perfect, as a way to show her love. Just as Tita, emotions blocked and thwarted at every turn, magically releases her feelings into delicious meals. The book is filled with wonderful family recipes, lovely descriptions of cooking, the warmth of the kitchen. There are family traditions and sayings ("When the talk turns to eating, only fools and sick men don't give it attention"). The characters, though not complex, are wonderfully drawn. The "magical realism" (or whatever you want to call it) is delightful. There are a few bumps along the way, but the reader is confident all will work out in the end. Then somewhere after the mid-point of Like Water for Chocolate it all went wrong for me. The main love interest is a selfish, jealous, cowardly brat ("I'm only sleeping with your sister to be close to you." Hmm?). Not attractive at all, unless we want to perpetuate the myth that violent, possessive men are "real" men. Rape does not make a woman fall in love. And this is the good guy. The competing love interest, a decent person, is presented as not a real man -- too much a saint, I guess. The characters keep saying that they're "worried what people will think," but they're not, they're only worried about getting caught betraying and hurting their loved ones. Marry your sister's boyfriend. Sleep with your girlfriend's sister. Sleep with your sister's husband. Cheat on your fiance. All just fine, with the only concern being how to get away with it. Their actions are just an effort to justify violating the second rule of life: "don't hurt those who love you." Loved ones get hurt for no reason and other wrongs are treated lightly. There are bad lessons being taught here. Reading the first half of Like Water for Chocolate I thought it was going to be an all-time favorite. I took the second half a little too seriously, and it left a bad taste.  [3½★]