Like Water for Chocolate

Going home from my office, I was dropped off by a friend at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue. Realizing that I didn’t have any smaller bills for a cab, I decided to while away some time at the nearby McCafe’, and finish the book I was reading. Over bites of honey crunch cake (which was too dry and too sweet) and tea (which was…well, ok), I finished the last three chapters of Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate, translated in English from the original Como Agua para Chocolate.

Set in Mexico at the turn of the century and spanning twenty two years, the story is centered on Tita De la Garza, the youngest daughter of the unyielding and overbearing Mama Elena De la Garza. The De la Garza household, as headed by Mama Elena, is an epitome of a highly rigid, inflexible family structure deeply rooted in discipline, strict rules of conduct and traditions.

In between various Mexican recipes, home remedies and what not is a surreal and bizarre tale of family relationships, customs, true love, sex, and the struggle for independence. It all starts when Pedro Musquiz attempts to ask for the hand of Tita in marriage. Unfortunately, such offer of marriage was refused by Mama Elena on the pretext that traditionally, the youngest girl in the family is not allowed to marry but instead is destined to take care of her mother until her death. What follows next are chapters of situations that can only be described as comical, somber and satirical. Similar in style to perhaps a modern day soap opera, the book virtually draws you in to the story, arousing your interest, curiosity and sympathy for the characters by providing extensive character development and interesting back stories for each. Applying the correct amounts of suspense at the proper moments, the book is a page turner which does not fail to satisfy. With appetite stimulating descriptions of various recipes, graphical descriptions and a lively writing style which does not leave many dull moments, Like Water for Chocolate makes for a very entertaining read.

The build up towards the conclusion of the book, while somewhat unexpected and romantic, did not really sit well with me, as I felt that it seemingly favored the weak-willed, selfish, impulsive and immature character. But I guess given the sardonic nature of the story, it made perfect sense. And the end...well...you just have to read it. :-)

Some situations in the book seemed somewhat familiar to me, as I have had some similar experiences with some people…girls actually, that I had known before…in particular those involving the traditional role of children to their parents, and parents playing an active role in deciding who their children fall in love with or marry. One may think that such customs have went the way of the dinosaur, but you’d be surprised to know that in some places, these customs are not only alive to some degree, but in fact, flourishing.

The book was made into a movie in 1992, and after reading the book, it would be nice to see how the story translates to a motion picture…that is, if I can still find a copy of the movie.

A thoroughly amusing and enjoyable book, if I may say so myself.

"To the table or to bed
You must come when you are bid."

- from Like Water for Chocolate