Literature Companion: Like Water for Chocolate

by History World

The story of the novel revolves around a young girl named Tita. Pedro is her lover, but she continues to long her entire life to marry him. Unfortunately, they are never married because Tita’s mother upholds the family tradition of the youngest daughter not marrying but taking care of her mother until the mother passes away. Tita remains unmarried, taking care of her mother. While cooking, she is able to express what she feels.


Magical realism has been very effectively employed by the author to combine the ordinary with the supernatural.


Literature Like Water for Chocolate
Copyright
Chapter Introduction
Chapter Plot Overview
Chapter Characters
Chapter Complete Summary
Chapter Critical Analysis

Genres: Fiction, Romance, High School, School, Book Club

ebook

First published July 16, 2014

Reviews

[Shy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I clearly am the only one rating the book this low. But to be honest, to this day i have yet to dislike the leads characters in a book the way I dislike Pedro and Tita. So before I go any further, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. Why? It portrays love in an unhealthy way. Pedro never loved Tita. This wasn’t a love story.

First, let me explain what exactly is wrong with them.
Where do I start?
Pedro is everything that is wrong with men in this world. Throughout the entire book Pedro thinks of himself only. He couldn’t married Tita because of mama Elena, Tita’s mother. He could’ve run away with her or wait until that monstrous mother finally pass away but no!!! What do you think he did? HE MARRIED TITA’S SISTER OF COURSE!!! MAKES NO SENSE
THEN WENT TO LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE AS TITA WITH HIS NEW PREGNANT WIFE. Had the audacity to tell Tita that he married her sister to be close to her. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS TITA’S REACTION? SHE WAS HAPPY!
Tita is in my opinion, is weak and silly. She had no self respect or dignity whatsoever. It annoys me to no end to see how so many romance books portrays women this way.
She had to renounce getting married, having children of her own and a loving family she could call hers. All of that for what? A coward, who despite being married to Tita’s sister and being a father, refused to renounce his own selfish desires, guilt tripped Tita for wanting more in life and almost raped her.
AND THIS IS THEIR LOVE STORY. Woman have to sacrifice everything to the men they love as always.

[JADE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Water For Chocolate is simply divine taking place during the Mexican Revolutionary War. Full of Magic, Forbidden love, home remedies, Delicious recipes, stirred in with family drama..this was hard to put down. I like how each chapter is divided into months, and a different recipe as the theme. This book focuses on culture, identity, and most importantly food that connects everyone together. 🏡💃🏽🛀🏽👩🏾‍🍳💍⁣
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I find it very fascinating that Tita has the power to control food with her emotions. For example, Tita was feeling amorous when she received a bouquet of roses from Pedro the love of her life that her mother demanded Tita to get rid of. Instead she uses the roses to make a rose petal sauce with quail, and whoever ate the meal magically became amorous just like Tita. Talk about whoa, but HOW!?!? Kind of mind blowing if you ask me. ⁣
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I related to Tita in so many ways. She is also the youngest sister out of 3. Mama Elena (the mother and boss of the household) is your typical, old-fashioned Mom with so many strict rules, it saddened me she lived her life So Bitter and took it out on her daughter “Tita” but she had a reason for it. You’ll find out why when you read this story. ⁣
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A few OMG moments in the book for me and steamy scenes too so I wouldn’t categorize this as a YA read. The ending was explosive. I can’t wait to watch the movie now. In summation I highly recommend this classic to anyone who wants to learn about Mexican culture, beliefs, and of course all the bomb amazing food. I was famished after reading this one. ⁣

[Arianne Alog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Water for Chocolate is an enchanting novel written by the Mexican author, Laura Esquivel. The story revolves around the protagonist, Tita, who is a talented and passionate cook with a tragic love story. Her emotions are infused in the food she prepares, and the people who eat it are affected by it. The book is set during the Mexican Revolution and reflects the culture and traditions of the time.

The characters in the book are memorable and unique, and their relationships with each other are compelling and complex. Tita's love story with Pedro, her sister's fiancé, is the central conflict of the book, and the way that it plays out is both tragic and beautiful.

One of the most striking aspects of the novel is the way that Esquivel uses food to symbolize emotions and relationships. The recipes that precede each chapter are not just interesting bits of trivia, but they also help to set the tone and provide insight into the characters and their interactions.

Overall, Like Water for Chocolate is a rich and vibrant novel that celebrates Mexican culture and traditions while also exploring universal themes of love, loss, and the power of food to connect people. It is a must read for anyone who loves magical realism, historical fiction, or simply enjoys a good story.

[Tyara Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like water for Chocolate is a book by Laura Esquirel. The book is written partially like a recipe cook book and partially like an old family story.The book is centered around the De la Garza family of women, with the youngest Tita being the main character of the story. Tita is the youngest female in the De la Garza family and based on family traditions must care for her mother Mama Elena and is unable to marry until after Mama Elena dies. That however, does not stop Tita from falling in love with a young boy named Pedro. Torn by his love for Tita, Pedro decides if he can’t marry her the best way he can be close to her is to marry her sister Rosaura but stay true to his love for Tita. The book follows Tita, Pedro and the rest of the family over the years as both love and heartache dance around the people in the family. The title of the book like water for chocolate is hard to understand at first. The title is used in reference in a part of the book when Esquirel writes, “Tita was literally “like water for chocolare” – she was on the verge of boiling over.” (151 Esquirel) From this statement you get the idea that the title is based off of the amount of heated pressure both good and bad experience throughout the book. From the presence of extreme sexual pressure to the presence of extreme anger, the book often uses heat, fire, and burning metaphors to explain the extent of a character’s feelings. Esquirel describes one instance of sexual pressure when she writes, “On her the food seemed to act as an aphrodisiac, she began to feel an intense heat pulsing through her limbs.” (Esquirel 51). The book itself was written exceptionally well. You could feel every emotion each character experienced, and you could almost taste the emotion in the food as it was being served. The way each recipe captivated the mood of the cook was exceptionally genius for me, because I have heard many times that good food is made with love, and this book was the epitome of that saying. At times the book did become a little bit confusing to follow when Esquirel would write about a future event that had not happened yet and then jump back to the present story line. I was slightly disappointed in the ending of the book, but I think it was the perfect fit for the story. All together I thought the book was well worth the read.

[Mylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed by the ending, it felt rushed 😞 but I enjoyed the writing style and how the passion for cooking was incorporated into the story line.

[Rebecca Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful from start to end

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

how to summarize this book? It's a love story mixed with so many aspects of other genres. Like horror fantasy etc. etc. You just have to finish it, You can't start and then not finish it, oh and it gives you a craving for every recipe mentioned in this book. I'm not kidding, every single recipe in this book sounds like a gift from the gods, if only judging on the responses it got in the book. (except maybe the food they served on Pedro's wedding, I will leave that on my plate for now) This book is very, very worth it! And me personally am definitely going to make at least one of these recipes!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my reading list since college. I have no idea why it has taken me 20+ years to finally read it. The book was a quick read, and easy to read (not always easy when it comes to Latin American mysticism). The story of frustrated love is entwined with recipes, and stories of how our emotions can affect the partaker of such a meal.

[Malayah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was amazing because it was educational with the different recipes, but the drama in it was also my type. It had love, kind of violence, and cooking!!!

[laelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only love story this book should have talked about is that of Tita with herself.
THIS BOOK IS NOT A LOVE STORY.

This would have been a 1 star if it weren’t for the first part of the book which I pretty much enjoyed.
At the start of the book I was interested in the magical realism mixed with the cooking recipes, however because of multiple things that happened in the second half I couldn’t care less about those things. Sooo many things wrong with this book, I don’t know where to start.

-First of all, I don’t understand what the point of this book is? What is it trying to teach? (cause the decisions that the characters make in this book shouldn’t be taken as advice, you should do the complete opposite). I don’t know if the random events that happen (like people dying out of nowhere, characters making a decision and then suddenly changing their mind) are supposed to be I guess non sensical on purpose? Like over-exaggerated, because sometimes it felt like the author was just trying to shock you without making sense of the situation and I hate when writers do that.

-The moment I started disliking this book is when THAT scene between Tita and Pedro happened. I WAS INFURIATED. Pedro literally RAPED Tita and the author tried to manipulate it and make it seem like it was a love scene?! Are you serious? For the whole chapter Tita was avoiding Pedro and at one point she made it clear to him (she told him) that she didn’t care about him anymore and she didn’t want a relationship with him. And then this happens:

“Without answering, Pedro went to her, extinguished the lamp, pulled her to a brass bed that had once belonged to her sister Gertrudis, and throwing himself upon her, caused her to lose her virginity and learn of true love.”

TRUE LOVE? You made it clear the whole chapter that she didn’t want to be with him anymore and then I’m supposed to believe that she enjoyed it?

The ending is even worse, it just doesn’t make any sense and the author is still trying to convince you that those two were true love and nothing can break them apart.

Also I’m so tired of women being presented in the way Tita was. Halfway through I thought it would focus on Tita’s journey to become her own person after the abuse she had been through but no, what was the final decision she had to make in order to be happy forever? Choose who to marry between a toxic abusive manchild and a pedophile doctor… I hate it here

At this point I don’t want to write anymore tbh, maybe I’ll continue another time but I don’t really care.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is certainly unique and has been a popular book and movie. I am not a big fan of book or movie but I do think this book is a success for what it is. It is humorous, sensuous, delicious, and, at times quite bizarre. Expect light reading, no real depth, but great entertainment.

There are interesting recipes and home remedies throughout the book. The descriptions of food are an integral part of the characters’ lives and add a strong sensuous, even sexual, quality to the narrative. This intertwining of food and events is done beautifully.

I thought the first third of the book was quite enticing. I was amused but got somewhat bored ar times thereafter. I think I was not in the mood for light entertainment, but I may want to reread it when I am in that mood. Some of it seemed a little too contrived to me. It is bizarre, certainly, and if you are looking for a fun light read, this is a good choice.

Tita is the youngest daughter of three and bound by her mother Mama Elena to take care of her in her old age. This practice is apparently traditional in well-born Mexican families. She and Pedro are madly in love but Mama Elena says they cannot marry. Tita’s older sister Rosura is to marry Pedro. Pedro consents to this marriage just to be near Tita. Mama Elena punishes Tita for objecting to the marriage, and Tita is forced to bake the wedding cake for her sister’s marriage.

Tita is a master chef, and through her cooking, people experience the emotions she is feeling when she is cooking. This connection to food started at her birth. She apparently cried so hard when she was in her mother’s womb that she forced her mother into early labor. She was born in the middle of the kitchen amongst the preparations for noodle soup.

There are some intriguing characters in the book, including one of my favorites, Gertrudis, who runs off with a low-born soldier and joins the revolution. The kind doctor, John, is another favorite. He takes Tita into his home to prevent her hateful mother from sending her to a mental institution. John offers to marry Tita and take care of her. John had depth and knew how to love. Although she came close to marrying John, Tita choose Pedro’s sexual passion although Pedro was rather shallow and selfish. This annoyed me, but the author’s focus was on sensuality and passion, so Pedro fit the bill for her purposes.

I think most people will really have fun reading this unusual book.

[Ana Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main characters are Tita and Pedro whom are deeply in love with each other. Pedro asked for Tita’s hand, but her mom said no she began to tell him how she can’t get married because the youngest is supposed to take of the mom until she dies. They gave him Rosaura’s hand and he agrees because that is the only way he will still be close to Tita. Years passed Rosaura and Pedro have a baby named Roberto. Tita falls in love with the baby and she feed him. Mama Elena sent Pedro and Rosaura out of the house, so that Pedro could not see Tita. When Tita was in the kitchen they gave her the news that Roberto was dead. Tita was devastated with the news and blamed Mama Elena for his death. She went kind of crazy and when to John’s house who falls in love with Tita.They broke into Mama Elena’s house, and Mama Elena lost movement under her waist and later died by drinking something that she thought would help her. Rosaura and Pedro went back to the house. Tita announced her marriage with John; she was not sure if it was love or if she wanted to not be around Pedro anymore. Pedro and Rosaura have a baby Esperanza who is the only baby they can have. She is forced to take care of her Rosaura until she dies. Pedro told Tita to not marry John. Pedro and Rosaura slept together. Tita told Pedro she thought she was pregnant, but then she realizes she is not. John came back to the ranch with his aunt. While they were having dinner Tita told John that she was not sure about the wedding and that she wasn’t a virgin. John said he did not care but he just wanted her to be happy. Tita doesn’t marry John, and Rosaura died. John’s son Alex married Esperanza. Tita and Pedro decided to get marry,but while they make love Pedro dies. Tita eats a box a matches to die with him.

[Elionnista · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I've ever read. I can't believe it's a 4 star instead of 1 star. I disagree with the opinion of the characters and disliked almost every single one of them. The characters in the book are all horrible in my opinion.

Spoiler:
- In the book, I dislike how cowardly Pedro was and Tita still wants to be with him even though of the horrible decision he made for marrying her sister.
-Pedro had sex literally with Tita's sister and her sister got pregnant. How can that be a love or romance book?
-How can Tita still cheat with Pedro in the ending when her sister literally had a child?
- How irresponsible Pedro is when he wants to run away with Tita leaving his daughter and wife? he is the one that made the decision of marrying her no?
.........

In the book, you will also see author hates Tita's sister Rosaura that author keeps making fun of her (she is bad cook, her wedding sucks, she became fat......). But in the end, she is a victim of the stupid love relationship between Tita and Pedro but author didn't put in effort and doesn't seem to care at all.

Another thing that author doesn't make is why Rosaura didn't even question about the marriage? How come she just married a man that she clearly know her sister loves? why will her sister Rosaura dislike Tita once she got married? shouldn't she blame Pedro because he is the one that made the unclear decision of marrying her?

Overall I dislike the book very much. I have to read it only because it's from my school and need to read it for the quiz and essays.

I'd rate a negative 100 if there's a choice.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, “Like Water For Chocolate” is a book that shows us many magic realism. From the point were TIta was in the womb, and would cry over the onions being cut to the point were Tita burned the house down by eating flames. This was such a great book that showed how strong love can be. You can come from a very bad family like Tita. Were her mom was a very bad person to her and she still managed to at last even for a little while to live the life she wanted. She overcame many obstacles from having to see the love of her life marrying her sister to finally being able to live at least one last moment with the person who was suppose to be her husband. When we think of love, we never think of how strong it can be. We always think of heartbreaks or living happily ever after. This book showed us that in order to be with the person whom you really love and really care for, you need to fight for it. It also showed us that we will have our happily ever after. It just takes time, just like Titas moment alone with Pedro took many many years to happen. This book did not only show us about love but also showed us about family. It showed us how a family is never perfect. There are many problems and arguments. When reading this book, I really connected to my family, the way that being a great family can be very hard sometimes. The thing is that we have to work together and accomplish things. Overall, this was a great book that I liked very much. I believe it was a well written book that with magic realism added into it made the love story of Pedro and Tita much intense.

[Jenie Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Synopsis, so no spoilers.

Reaction:
Honestly, I have to drag myself to finish the book. The shifts of POV in the story confused me a
lot. I have to stop and backtrack my reading to analyze whose POV I am reading right now.
Maybe it was due to the translation from Mexican to English. The timeline was also another
aspect in the story that I have a hard time following.

After all those hard things that I encountered in the story, I find it quite amusing and amazing.
The recipes per chapter were really detailed on how to prepare it. I love Tita’s cooking skills. I
think it is not just a skill, it is more than just a craft. It’s exquisite – how her feelings influence
her cooking, how the people who ate her food also feel the sensations and emotions that she had
when she was cooking it.

I always have this second-lead man syndrome thing, you know. I am always rooting for the
second lead to be the one with the main character. And it’s the same way that I feel with this
story. I was rooting for John, John was the excellent man for Tita (in my opinion) instead of
Pedro. But hey, who we are to decide on this thing. Tita just loves Pedro so much, Tita loves John
too but it’s a different kind of love (yes, I know what you’re thinking, what’s wrong with hoping for a different plot).

This is a good read, if you want to cook traditional Mexican dishes this is a plus thing for you.

[Autumn Ackerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the story of "Like water for chocolate", The story begins talking about a young female who is named Tita (the youngest) living on a ranch with her mother Mama Elena, Rosuara, (the oldest) , and Gertudis the second oldest, along with Nacha the cook and Chencha the ranch maid.

The story goes on talking about how a tragic event for Tita changes her life thorough out the years. That event being Tita goes to mama Elena and warns her that her boyfriend at the time Pedro was coming to ask for Mama Elena's blessing to marry Tita, but being the youngest mama Elena denies it and tells them that Tita is not allowed to marry or even leave because of family tradition's she has to stay at the ranch and take care of Mama Elena until she dies this leaves Tita is heartbroken when Mama Elena tells Pedro to marry Rosaura, and he agrees.

The book for me was weird but was semi good because it had family recipes in the book along with the chapters. Some settings were change and magical like incidents. I got weirded out because the book had some spicy context in it which went into a lot of detail. In general though it was good it had family drama, love hate emotions, and some family love that all worked out in the end, also some deaths leading to murders and mysterious ones.

[Jjdagreat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book leading up to the last chapter. The book chapters all take place around a meal. It is in rural may early 1900s Mexico and is about a girl who is unable to marry due to a tradition. She finds great comfort in cooking and in every chapter there is at least one new recipe that reflects what is going on in her life. The book is somewhat confusing until you finish then things start to make more sense. I loved the book all the way until the last chapter. It (for me) was disappointing and not how I was expecting it to end, but the rest was good. There is also a movie version for free.

[Kimberly P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time favorites. I read it once a year. I love the story! Almost every emotion can be felt while reading this book: anger, sadness, joy, anticipation, revenge, happiness - it's all there. The combination of a good story + food is an absolute winner. "Like Water for Chocolate" was the first book I read that combined food/recipes with a wonderful story. Laura Esquivel's writing makes you feel like you are there in Mexico with Tita throughout her journey.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expressive magical realism at its core, beautiful novella like structure. Not to mention it definitely excels in capturing South American culture. But it is not perfect, victim to the novella structure most characters were over dramatic and often one dimensional. Digging deep into this book will only take you so far. But as a quick, drama packed read it is one of the finest.

[Katelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars only because the writing is beautiful, otherwise it would be one.

I enjoyed the story up until the last third or so of the book. I loved the main character and identified with her, but there was nothing remotely likeable about her love interest, Pedro.

By the end, I was wishing the book was about her older sister who ran off and became a general in the revolution.

[Suzie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Esquivel, combined all the elements of life in this book. Family closeness, family secrets, family rivalry, culture, life and death, religion and spiritual beliefs and traditions. With love, food at the center of what brings people together and passed down from generations to generations. A must read!

[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started, and was so excited, really loved the begining and truly thought it would only go up from there.
It really broke my heart to realise it actually was the complete opposite...
Just truly disappointed with Tita, and Pedro...

[Emily S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story telling of this book was beautiful. The folklore that happens throughout the book reminded me of the stories my mother and grandmother used to tell me. All the superstitions and hyperboles felt like home.

[Lilah Hadley · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this a zero I would. This. Is. Trash. Hate the main character. Only liked the ending because its over. The descriptions and amount of random metaphors were so strange and I hated every moment of reading this in school.

[Oralia · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved loved loved this book !!! i really enjoyed this book and really loved the magical realism !! my only complaint would be that Pedro did not deserve Tita !! but i won’t lie …. they had a really beautiful ending ! ( TITA DESERVED BETTER )

[Michelle Brough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a foodie's daydream. Told like a mexican folk tail, this story made me want to visit this make believe house and experience the culinary masterpieces she described.

[Upuia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books when I was a teenager. I have read this book 3x and I would read it again. The movie I tried watch....sucks.

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance, family struggles, fairy tales and recipes rolled into one. Ecstatic!

[Katie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildly entertaining

[Piyali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magnificent magic realism.