A Lupita le gustaba planchar

by Laura Esquivel

A través de estas páginas, la autora de Como agua para chocolate recrea la historia de una antiheroína fuera de serie que permanecerá en la memoria de los lectores. Lupita es una policía poco agraciada físicamente, con problemas de alcoholismo, que ha padecido la violencia y sobrevive en un medio donde reinan las apariencias, el dinero y el poder, una sociedad marcada por siglos de injusticia, desamparo e impotencia, en la que no parece haber salidas verdaderas.
En su búsqueda del amor, Lupita llega al lugar equivocado en el momento equivocado y termina involucrada en el asesinato de un delegado político. Su historia da un giro radical, pues su propia vida está en riesgo y debe desentrañar el misterioso crimen, al que rodean oscuros intereses políticos, redes de corrupción y venta de drogas.
Con su característico lenguaje accesible y enganchador, un refrescante humor negro y una profunda mirada espiritual, Laura Esquivel traza una fascinante parábola moral de este mundo en crisis, que ha perdido el rumbo, donde casi todos somos un poco Lupita y buscamos algo que nos salve del desamor.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks, Spanish Literature, Mystery, Contemporary, Magical Realism, Audiobook

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Laura Esquivel is a Mexican novelist, screenwriter, and former politician best known for her internationally acclaimed debut novel Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate). Blending magical realism with deep cultural roots, the novel became a bestseller in Mexico and the United States and was adapted into a successful film that received multiple international awards. Originally trained in education and theater, Esquivel began her career writing for children’s television and later moved into cinema and literature, often weaving food, family, and emotion into her stories.
Esquivel’s fiction is known for its lyrical style and its exploration of love, tradition, and identity, frequently drawing on Mexican history and folklore. Her other novels include The Law of Love, Swift as Desire, and Malinche, which reimagines the story of the controversial historical figure linked to Hernán Cortés. She has also published essays on food and culture in Between Two Fires and returned to her most beloved character in El diario de Tita.
In addition to her literary work, Esquivel served as a deputy in the Mexican Congress for the Morena Party and has been active in cultural and environmental policy. Her writing continues to inspire discussions on gender, power, and the enduring bonds of heritage.

Reviews

[Francesc · Rating 2 out of 5]

No he conectado nada con la protagonista. La autora ha querido construir un personaje femenino protagonista alejado de todos los estereotipos y, en mi opinión, ha creado una mujer irreal.
Entiendo que se quiera salir de los tópicos, pero llegar al histrionismo perjudica seriamente la veracidad del personaje. A mi me ha ocurrido esto.
Además, en el libro, no hay trama alguna. Se resuelve todo como de casualidad cuando se pretendía que la policía investigadora era una mujer brillante.

Me ha gustado conocer la visión prehispánica de México, sobre todo, el tema de los chamanes.

Se capta bastante bien una crítica a la colonización española y lo que generó en los indígenas, llegando hasta la actualidad.

Aunque hay cosas que me han gustado, me esperaba mucho más.



I have not connected with the protagonist. The author wanted to build a female protagonist character far from all stereotypes and, in my opinion, has created an unreal woman.
I understand that the author wants to get out of cliches, but reaching histrionism seriously damages the veracity of the character. This has happened to me.

Moreover, in the book, there is no plot. Everything is solved as if by chance when the investigative police were supposed to be a brilliant woman.

I liked to get to know the pre-hispanic vision of Mexico, especially the issue of shamans.
A critique of Spanish colonization and what it generated in the indigenous people is showed quite well, up to the present day.

Although there are things I liked, I expected much more.

[Cari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pierced by the Sun by Laura Esquivel just might be the worst book I've ever read. I know there are a lot of tough nut book reviewers in the world of Goodreads, that give out way more one star reviews than they do four or five stars, but I'm definitely not one of them. In fact, I think this is one of two or three out of 800+ books that I've given one star.

So now that I've plead my case, I guess I should explain what was so bad about this book. The answer is everything. If there was a single redeeming quality, I totally missed it. I despised the main character, Lupita, and it wasn't a "love to hate her" type situation (like in Dark Places or Girl on a Train). She's an alcoholic/druggie cop who (and I quote) "loves to feel sorry for herself" and "loves to be a bitch". The first third of the book involved Lupita witnessing a murder, urinating in her pants, and throwing herself a pity party while she washed the urine soaked pants. I also loved (ahem, sarcasm) the way Lupita/Esquivel declares multiple times that basically all of Mexico's problems are because of the United States. Poor Mexican drug cartel wouldn't have to commit murder and sell drugs if it weren't for the demand for drugs by American addicts. I totally believe Americans are their biggest customers, but to make the cartel out to be the victims of "American greed" is just insanity.

The entire tone of this book is just disgusting. I really expected more from the author of Like Water for Chocolate, which had some beautiful imagery and was full of descriptive language. If I didn't know any better, I'd think Pierced by the Sun was written by a first time author. It just felt so awkward and poorly written.

☆ one sad little star

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

This was an enjoyable story and showed a strength in Lupita that she didn't know she had and saw what was really going on. I enjoyed the strong willed women as well.

[Aylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitabın adından Meksikalı bir ev hanımının hikayesini okuyacağımı düşünmüştüm. Oysaki bambaşka bir okuma çıktı karşıma. Polisiye bir arınma öyküsü. Bu nasıl tanımlama demeyin vallahi de öyle 🙃

Lupita’nın trajedisi ile sıra dışılığını, onun alışkanlıkları ve sevdiği şeyler üzerinden anlatan çok güzel bir kitap.
Bir yandan Meksika’nın uyuşturucu ve yolsuzluklar ile dolu bu gününü resmederken bir yandan da Aztek inanışları, Şamanizm ritüelleri ile yerlilerin doğal dünyasını anlatıyor. Buram buram samimiyet kokuyor.

Ülkesinin kanayan yaralarını, Lupita’da beden bulmuş şekilde anlatıyor Laura Esquivel. Bence yazarın anlatıcılığının güzel tarafı, bölümlere ayırdığı kitabında ana bir hikaye ilerlerken bir yandan Meksika geleneklerine dair bölümler serpiştirmesi. “Acı Çikolata” kitabında yemek tarifleri ile ayırdığı bölümlere benzer olarak bu kitapta da Lupida’nın karakteristik özellikleri üzerine ayırdığı bölümler ile okuyucuyu sürekli zinde tutuyor.

[Özlem Güzelharcan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sana söylüyorum Lupita, sen anla Meksika!

[Maria Yankulova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Изключително абсурдна книга! Страшно много харесвам Лаура Ескивел, но тази книга е един страшен миш-маш.

Започна любопитно, даже забавно. Лупита е пълна кукувица - бивша или всъщност настояща алкохоличка, лежала в затвора за убийството на бебето си, понастоящем полицай. Звучи шантаво нали? Интересно ми беше да проследя какво я е накарало да посегне към алкохола и дори ми стана тъжно.

Паралелно опознавайки детството и настоящето на Лупита, авторката ни разкрива част от престъпния живот в Мексико. Прави го обаче толкова непохватно, че ако не бях чела други книги по темата нищо нямаше да разбера. Замесваме се и в убийството на кмета на района, в който тя живее. Отделно се вмъкват и разни митове за Ацтеките… тюрлю гувеч отвсякъде.

След средата спря да ми е забавно и интересно, а края беше абсолютно непонятен.

[Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little surprised that this book has as low a rating as it does – though only a little, since flawed female protagonists seem to draw a lot of hate. I definitely liked this one better than Esquivel’s major hit, Like Water for Chocolate; this book is much more grounded and contains very little romance (both the romance and the male lead in Like Water for Chocolate are incredibly unattractive).

This book makes no bones about being a parable for modern Mexico, with a broken woman representing a broken country. Lupita has had a hard life and coped poorly, and though she’s somehow become a police officer (an explanation would not have been out of place, since she previously served time), she struggles with addiction. Her fragile sobriety is shattered when she witnesses an at-first-inexplicable political assassination, which kicks off the novella.

I found this to be an entertaining book, with a good mix of action and forward momentum with introspection and backstory. Esquivel also brings the setting to life well; a reader would learn much more about Mexico from this book than Like Water for Chocolate. It is quite explicitly political, which isn’t in a fault in itself, as books should reflect life. Most Americans would probably be surprised to learn that Lupita’s opinions about the drug trade – that American consumers are largely to blame for generating demand in the first place – are commonly held in Mexico. However, the book’s solution for Lupita and for Mexico is simplistic, seeming to suggest that a reversion to indigenous beliefs (often explained in set-asides from the text) would bring instant healing of all wounds. An additional couple of chapters at the end could have done a much better job of wrapping up the story.

All told, then, an okay book, and the writing is better than I remember from Esquivel. Still not one I’ll recommend widely.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lupita comenzó siendo un personaje que me desagradó profundamente, - alcohólica, libertina, superficial, sobre todo muy superficial - , pero Laura Esquivel logra darle más profundidad en la medida que avanza el relato, comienza a ser una mujer de carne y hueso, con una historia terrible que la marcó, una mujer producto de su entorno ("En su vida había cometido grandes equivocaciones con tal de demostrar que ella tenía la razón").

La estructura del libro es muy buena, cada capítulo comienza con "A Lupita le gustaba ...", y en función de ese gusto es que logra la profundización del personaje, que nos lleva a empatizar con ella, con su historia vital.

Pero cuando estaba de lo más entusiasmada viene el final, un final muy mágico, demasiado mágico para mi gusto, demasiado new age. De allí que le dejara 3 estrellas.

[Magda Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lupita le gustaba planchar, es un análisis a modo de novela de la situación sobre la descomposición que están viviendo México en Relación a instituciones y los valores de la sociedad. Es por esta razón que la autora emprende esa cruzada en recordar la tradición mexicana, la tradición indígena, como alternativa al orden y “lógica” imperante. Lupita es la personificación de los vicios y virtudes del pueblo mexicano, encarna lo bueno y lo malo como la contradicción con la que se vive el día a día, la contradicción entre anhelo y realidad, entre lo que es y lo que debería ser.

La tribulación de Lupita, la lleva a confrontar su infierno personal y alcanzar un estado de aceptación y de esperanza, esta última acompañada con la fe de que se puede hacer lo correcto, y que la situación puede cambiar.

Aunque la obra tiene varios aciertos, el mensaje es relevante, personalmente me gusta que este tipo de mensajes no sean directos, me gusta que me dejen pensar y a Lupita le hace falta esa sutileza. Se entiende la vehemencia de la autora por exponer todas estas situaciones reprochables que se suceden, pero el mensaje político se vuelve repetitivo y forzado, y no deja digerir todo lo que Laura Esquivel quiere decir, no deja pensar en ese mensaje que invita a volver a la sabiduría de la tradición.

[Ecem Yücel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Esquivel's writing style always takes me away from the first paragraph. "Like Water for Chocolate" was so magical, and "Pierced by the Sun" was also so sweet to read.

Lupita is a police woman who faced so much pain through her all life, and just she thinks she is turning her life around a bit, she witnesses a murder and her world becomes upside down. I loved following Lupita's steps on her way to solving things, facing things and healing things. I found Esquivel's writing style great too, I loved how every chapter begins with a sentence describing what Lupita loves to do, such as "Lupita loved to do the ironing" "Lupita loved to dance" or "Lupita loved to feel sorry for herself". There were also some allusive sentences that Esquivel used to criticise the bad things going on in her country, or so I thought. The last sentence of the book is comparing Lupita to Mexico for example, it was a subtle and actually a bit hopeful sentence that made me think Esquivel still expects much better things from her country.

It's a bittersweet story that warms your heart towards the end.

[Jalilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoughtful novel by Laura Esquivel, author of Like Water for Chocolate. As the description says, the lead character Lupita is a policewoman and recovering alcoholic who has a relapse after witnessing a murder of a local politician.
After going trough a downward spiral she encounters an indigenous healer.
The story is realistic and kind of a political thriller, but each chapter tells an Aztec myth.
While not quite as entertaining and creative as Like Water for Chocolate, I still really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it for anyone interested in Mexican culture, politics, Aztec mythology, as well as indigenous healing.

[Christine Lowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Depressing Story

I wanted to like this book. I tried for several days to finish it but could only take the misery I felt to the halfway point. The main character, Lupita, is a miserable woman and she is the main voice of the story. The chapter headings should have warned me. Each chapter is titled "Lupita Liked" and is followed by how she acted I.e. to feel sorry for herself, to be a bitch....you see how tortured she really is.

I can't recommend this book. It may have literary value but I just couldn't find it.

[funda · Rating 4 out of 5]

200 sayfada Meksikanın karanlık yüzü, aztek kültürü ve şamanizm, sıradan ve örselenmiş bir kadın olan Lupita’nın yaşamından kesitlerle aktarılmış. Öncelikle kurgu süper ve her bölüm çok ilgi çekici olarak başlıyor ama eksik birşeyler var hissi de yakanızı bırakmıyor.
Öte yandan total Goodreads puanının neden bu kadar düşük olduğunu anlamak ise mümkün değil. Kesinlikle çok daha fazlasını hakkediyor

[emre]

sevmeye çok çalıştım ama ı-ıh, olmadı. lupita'nın onca travmatik şey yaşadıktan sonra birkaç hafta yerlilerin evinde kalıp arınıvermesi, kitap boyunca aztek mitleriyle kurulan bağlantılar, bölüm sonlarındaki "tabii lupita aslında o işin öyle olmadığını, falancanın onu konuşurken duyduğunu bilmiyordu..." tarzı merak uyandırıcılar falan çok zorlama geldi.

[divayorgun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lupita'nın polisiye hikayesini okurken hem çok eğlendim hem de onunla bu bilmeceyi çözmek için uğraştım.

Yazarın daha önce Acı Çikolata serisini sevdiğim için bu kitabı yeniden okumak istedim -ki bence şu monoton havada iyi bir tercih yaptığımı görüyorum. Su gibi akıyor okurken sizi sıkmıyor,yormuyor üstelik baya da akıcı.

[Meriraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me sorprendió muucho! Aparte de que es entretenido y presenta un formato de capítulos muy chulo, tiene una mezcla de contenidos perfecta; mujeres autogestionadas, un misterio de asesinato, críticas a los narcogobiernos, a México, acción, porque Lupita en realidad es una badass policía....
Recomendaría 100% este libro para quien quiera leer algo distinto de lo habitual:)

[Burak Göral · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edebiyat dünyasında “Acı Çikolata” (Like Water for Chocolate) adlı ilk romanıyla ilgi çeken Meksikalı kadın yazar Laura Esquivel’in yeni kitabı “Lupita Ütü Yapmayı Seviyordu”nun arka kapağında yer alan şu cümle, romanı tam olarak tanımlıyor aslında: “sadece paranın, başarının ve güzelliğin geçerli olduğu yozlaşmış bir ülkeye sıra dışı bir kahramanla aşılıyor umudu”.

Kitabın ana kahramanı Lupita, Meksika’daki küçük bir kentin belediye başkanının koruma polislerinden biri ve bir etkinlik sırasında başkana yapılan suikastte onun en yakınında olmasına rağmen başkanı koruyamıyor. Koruyamadığı gibi, olay sırasında altına kaçırdığı için rezil de oluyor.

Lupita kahraman gibi bir kahraman değil bu hikayede. Kirli politikacılarla yozlaşmış bir ülkenin ‘tutunamayan’larından biri o. Daha 15 yaşında üvey babası tarafından tecavüze uğramış, hiçbir zaman refaha ve mutluluğa tam ulaşamamış, hatta tek çocuğunun ölümüne sebep olmuş yaralı bir kadın. Kendisini alkole, uyuşturucuya bırakmış, ruhen ve fiziken de deforme olmuş kadın üstelik. Suikast sırasında düştüğü durum bütün bunların üzerine tuz biber oluyor. Her şeye rağmen Lupita’nın iyi olduğu konular yok değil ama ve Esquivel, Lupita’nın bu özelliklerinden yola çıkarak kendisini ışığa çıkarma çabasını anlatıyor.

Zaman zaman heyecanlı bir dedektif hikayesine dönüşse de bu, yaralı ve umutsuz bir insanın iyileşme öyküsü aslında. Lupita’nın derdi suikastı gerçekleştirenleri bulmak değil, hayatına sahip olabilmek. Yazar özellikle kitabın üçte ikilik kısmında da bunu çok iyi başarıyor doğrusu. Lupita’yı size daha ilk sayfalarında sevdiriyor. Kahramanın dünyasını çok iyi oluşturup, karakterini sağlam inşa etse de olay örgüsünü başladığı kıvraklıkta sürdüremiyor. Yazar Meksika’nın bazı gerçeklerini ve efsanelerini olayları bölüp açıklıyor ve bilgilendiriyor ama sürekliliği de zedeliyor bunu yaparken. Bütün bu Meksika mitleri hikayeyi modern bir masala doğru sürüklüyor belki ama olay örgüsü özellikle finale doğru bir tırmanış ve katarsis (rahatlama) bekleyen okuyucuyu tam tatmin edemiyor. Yine de bir çırpıda okunan Esquivel’in sade ve akıcı diliyle özellikle belli bölümlerinde gülümseten ve keyif veren bir roman olduğu söylenebilir.

[Mark Plum · Rating 5 out of 5]

El único otro libro que había leído hasta ahora de Esquivel había sido como agua para chocolate. Este libro no podría ser más diferente, y en mi opinión mejor. La protagonista, Lupita, es una policía que trabaja en el D.F. Lupita tiene varias buenas calidades pero también se perjudica con el alcohol y varias otras mañas que le causan problemas. No sólo esto, Esquivel logra armar un cuento de detective además de crear una protagonista completa en Lupita. Esquivel destaca la corrupción y las narco guerras que son tan común en México hoy en día; pero a su vez, Esquivel también piensa en el México que había antes de qué existiera México. El último capítulo del libro dejará a lector con la respiración cortada, con una visión nueva no sólo para Lupita, sino para la sociedad entera.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Water for Chocolate, I didn't really understand the story. It was a story. But like Water for Chocolate, I sat back in amazement at the end.
There are some pretty powerful statements about women, sexual assault, addiction, and human nature in this story. It was a compelling read, and then, it ends. Kinda like jumping off a cliff. While my mind is still processing the message, it ends.
I like Esquivel's work and will read more.

[Eduardo N · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es un mal libro, pero tampoco es espectacular. La verdad es que tuvo muchas bajas y altas. Se vuelve algo confuso a la mitad y al final del libro. Lo más interesante desde mi punto de vista es saber quién, cómo y por qué mataron al delegado

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

For my ¨not yet bilingual¨friends! Also, it´s easier for me to rage in English. :)
A Lupita le gustaba hacerme perder el tiempo. Prometiendo misterios, acción, soluciones, personajes interesantes, se dejaba perder en las reflexiones sobre la situación actual de México, sobre su niñez, sobre su pasado y sus errores. (Lupita liked to waste my time. Promsing mystery, action, solutions, interesting characters, she would lose herself in reflections on the current state of affairs in Mexico, her childhood, her past, her mistakes.)

En fin, todo eso es válido, Sin embargo, no ha logrado un buen misterio aquí.
Confieso que a pesar de que tengo las otras dos novelas de la autora aquí en la casa, todavía no llego a leerlas. Sí he visto la peli que se hizo de la primera, pero según cuentan, no es nada como la novela. (In short, that's all valid. However, this is not a good mystery. I have to confess that, while I own her previous two novels, I still haven't read them. I have seen the film made from the first novel, but from what I've heard, it's not faithful to the novel.

Volviendo al tema...primero, hay que comentar la intensidad, o la falta de intensidad, y la intención de la novela. Comienza la novela con un ¨misterio¨-¿quién asesinó al delegado que le tocaba a Lupita proteger? Y ese misterio sí se resuelve al final, pero no de la manera tradicional. (Back to the topic at hand....First, the intensity, or lack thereof, and the intent or point of the novel. It begins with a "mystery"-who killed the delegate that Lupita was assigned to protect? That mystery's solved at the end, but not in the usual way.

Me di cuenta después de tres capítulos de que no se iba a llevar a cabo de la manera tradicional, pero decidí darle chance, a ver si resultaba algo innovador. Me he quedado decepcionada. El personaje principal, Lupita, una policía mexicana, es una mujer con antecedentes (sí, poli con antecedentes, vaya país), traumada, acomplejada, y adicta (alcohol principalmente, aunque sí utiliza las drogas para bajarse el humo). Es decir, una heroina defectuosa, léase ¨gente normal¨, porque todos tenemos nuestros defectos. Y parte de la novela es su proceso de auto-conocimiento, evolución, aceptación de los errores que ha cometido en el pasado y de sí misma, de aprender a valorarse por sí misma y quererse a sí misma. Sin embargo, le quita bastante al misterio. (I realized after three chapters that it wasn't going to progress as a typical mystery would, but I decided to give it a chance, to see if there was something innovative at work here. I was disappointed. The main character, Lupita, a Mexican police officer, is a woman with a record (yep, a cop with a record, what a country!), traumatized, with issues and addictions (mainly alcohol, although she uses drugs to come down). Which means that she's a flawed character, in other words, "normal people", because we all have our problems and defects. And part of the novel is her process of self-discovery, her reaching acceptance with the mistakes she's made in the past, acceptance of herself, learning to stand on her own two feet and love herself. However, all of this self-exploration takes away from the mystery.)


Cada capítulo empieza con ¨A Lupita le gustaba...¨ , unos párrafos introspectivos sobre el papel que esa actividad había hecho en su niñez o en su formación como mujer policía. En algunas instancias, veo la relación entre los quehaceres domésticos y su trabajo de policía bien forzada. Por ejemplo, le dedica un capítulo a sus ¨poderes de observación¨ en una discoteca-los cuerpos de tanto las mujeres como los hombres, cómo bailian juntos, quién se va a llevar a quién a la casa, cómo les irá en la cama. Sin embargo, no adelanta nada la solución al misterio, y resultan estas introspecciones un poco contradictorias-porque si Lupita prestara sus poderes de observación a su trabajo, se solucionarían los casos mucho más rápido que éste. Si le fascinara tanto correr, lo más probable que no estuviera tan gorda como se describe. Los talentos que dizque tiene los malgasta en cosas de poca importancia en su trabajo y hasta su vida personal-resulta chismoso, una oportunidad para que la autora de la novela nos comunique sus observaciones sobre la naturaleza humana, a su ver. Para colmo, con más frecuencia mientras se va acercando el final del caso, la autora también incluye comentarios sobre las culturas antiguas de México, como si dudara de la inteligencia de sus lectores-las creencias antiguas no se han desaparecido, y las antiguas leyes de la justicia siguen vigentes. No hay que pensar mucho para ir juntando los cabos, porque la autora nos lo pone todo bien claro y en las narices. Total, estos párrafos introspectivos al comienzo de cada capítulo más los comentarios sobre los aztecas alentan el paso y la intensidad.
(Each chapter begins with "Lupita liked to...." followed by some introspective paragraphs on the role that that activity played in her childhood, in shaping who she was, or in her becoming a police officer. I think that sometimes, the relationship between certain domestic chores and her work as a cop are forced. For example, there's a whole chapter on her "powers of observation" in a night club when she's on a bender (she's supposed to be in recovery, but continually falls off the wagon)--the bodies of the men and women in the club, how they dance together, who's taking whom home, what it will be like for them in bed. However, none of these introspective passages really advance the case's solution, and even turn out to be contradictory--because if Lupita used these powers of observation for constructive purposes, then she'd solve cases a lot faster. And if she truly loved to run that much, she probably wouldn't be so overweight. These supposed talents are wasted on things completely unimportant to her work and even to her personal life-they're just gossip, a chance for the author to tell us her thoughts on human nature as she sees it. To make matters worse, more and more frequently as the case's solution approaches, the author includes fragments of text mid-chapter on ancient cultures, as if she didn't trust her readers to be able to draw the conclusions themselves. No, she doubts our intelligence as readers--the ancient ways haven't disappeared, and the ancient laws of justice remain in effect. You won't have to dedicate any brain power to putting the pieces together, because she lays it out plainly for you. So these introspective beginnings and interruptions in the action just slow down the pace of what should be a very short and enjoyable novel.
El comentario sobre la influencia de los narcos en México actual, y la forma en que la gente se resiste a ella, es un tema con vínculo a la trama, pero que también se presenta de manera tan fácil y explícita que al lector no le hace falta pensar las conexiones.
The commentary on the influence of traffickers in Mexico today, and the ways in which people resist it, is linked to the plot, but again it´s done so blatantly that the reader doesn´t need to expend any effort to figure out the connections.

So why does this flawed character not work, if she's more like "one of us"? Because a good detective or cop is supposed to be principled, dedicated to solving the mystery. Because a character who describes other characters as chauvinistic should be more concerned with her person and personal integrity than with her physical appearance and others' opinion of her appearance. There are so many moments when she almost nails what it means to be an intelligent career woman negotiating a man's world, but then she loses it when her character makes the conscious decision to blow off work/not follow a lead for another dance with her boss (who, it seems, may have taken a liking to her), and/or another drink. (People with (past) addictions are more than welcome to comment here on my take on this-maybe that's truly how addiction works, but as a good detective that we are supposed to care about, she makes it hard.)

I'm not sure what could be construed as new or innovative here. Stories of police corruption abound, in all countries, not just Mexico-and the reach of the trafficker's power has been explored in many more serious works, too. There were just too many contradictions-a judgment of those who have flaws and defects, but a willingness of overlook her own. A criticism of chauvinists, but a kow-towing to superficiality. Just when you're ready to accept the events, because life isn't always perfect and rosy, Lupita does something that makes you lose respect for her. In the end, I truly didn't care about how the case was solved-and when it did come to light, and Lupita discovers that not everything is black or white, and the guilty ones aren't always the bad guys, it makes you say to yourself, "Yes, but we had all of this information 80 pages ago, why now?" I'm sure someone will think it's cool, and based on the success of the film from the author's first novel, they'll do a film. However, I feel as though it would be presented as a total parody, like a Melissa McCarthy film. She'll be the object of derision.

[Mª João Monteiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A história de Lupita gira à volta de uma morte misteriosa. Lupita é uma agente policial alcoólica que tenta juntar as peças do enigma enquanto foge de uma traficante perigosa. Entretanto, vamos conhecendo a sua história dura e as suas motivações. Cada capítulo está ligado a uma atividade desempenhada por Lupita, como passar a ferro, mas também dançar ou deduzir. Com a sua história entrelaça-se a história de uma sociedade corrupta, mas onde existe uma parte que vive da terra, de uma forma ancestral. É uma história pequena e um pouco poética que me trouxe à memória outras histórias desta autora, como "Tão veloz como o desejo" e o magistral "Como água para chocolate".

[Elif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acı çikolata benim için çok güzel bir okuma olmuştu o yüzden lupita ütü yapmayı seviyorduya büyük bir heyecanla ve beklentiyle başladım. Ancak ne yazık ki tam olarak aradığımı bulamadım. Büyülü gerçeklik bekleyişindeydim onun yerine kendimi polisiyeye yakın bir konuda buldum. Bölüm başlangıçları hoşuma gitti kurguya güzel oturmuştu ama hikayeye beni çekmeyen bir şeyler varmış gibi hissettim. Beklentimi tam karşılayamaması beni üzdü.

[aslushka · Rating 4 out of 5]

İnsanın sessizliğin içindeyken kulağının daha iyi duyduğunu ve yalnızlığın içindeyken hiç de yalnız kalmadığını keşfetmesi...

Ruhunun çözülmüş olan ipliklerini dikkatle eline alarak, sevdiklerinin iplikleriyle bir araya getirip bir daha çözülmeyecek biçimde örüyordu.

Bilincini kaybetmeden bedeninden dışarı çıkıp bedenine tekrar geri dönmenin bir yolunu bulmak ne harika bir şey olurdu.

[Klare · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read but quite dark and depressing.

[mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a book assigned for a class BECAUSE its bad. so. def had potential and now i have to write an essay about how i would fix it 3

[Rafa Benjumea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo acabé el otro día pero me dejó un resabio agridulce y no quise escribir una reseña hasta pasado un tiempo.

La historia pivota alrededor de Lupita, la protagonista. Con una prosa exquisita, la autora construye la figura de Lupita capítulo a capítulo. Basta leer las primeras páginas para advertir que es un personaje que rebosa carisma.

Diría que la trama principal es la propia Lupita, profundizar en su vida, apiadarse de ella y presenciar cómo se convierte en una (anti)heroína. La subtrama principal sería el asesinato del licenciado. Laura Esquivel combina ambas tramas con sorprendente facilidad, pero, llegando al final, la subtrama del asesinato pierde fuerza. A lo mejor no lo entendí bien, pero la resolución del asesinato no es lógica; se atribuye a las cualidades heroicas de Lupita y no se da mayor explicación. Precisamente cuando resuelve el asesinato hablando con Tenoch, la conversación deriva rápidamente en el reencuentro espiritual con su hijo, que es lo que concluye la novela. Quizás precisamente esa era la intención de la autora: no hacer de esta una novela policíaca sino la historia de cómo Lupita sana y finalmente recibe amor genuino.

A pesar de lo anterior, las referencias a la historia de México y la mitología azteca son sobresalientes y hacen que la novela tenga un carácter muy personal y reivindicativo.

[Anne Gray · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book I have ever read. Genuinely made me question all my life choices leading up to it.

[Leah Brennsteiner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lupita liked to make me want to rip the pages out.

[Hillary · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me quite a while to get into this book. Luckily, it was short and I managed to finish it quickly. It's part murder mystery, part fable, part parable. The narrative is interrupted by short pieces on Mexican history, primarily pre-Columbian history, native legends, stories, etc. It wasn't until the end, the very last sentence, that I understood that the book is a sort of prayer for Mexico, the country, its people.

But in the meantime, I wasn't a fan of Lupita. She was one messed-up woman throughout the book. A cop, but with alcohol addiction, angry at the world, seemingly set on self-destruction. Why is the book about her? I wondered. Then towards the end, the book takes on a magic realism type of story line. What? The entire tone and plot line changed. Then it ends with hope.

I got this book through Amazon Prime's free download in June. I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own. It was okay, nothing more, although I think the author meant it to be a lot more and pretty deep.

One more quibble I have is with the translation. I'm sensitive to language and linguistics (and yes, I speak Spanish) and I found the English writing awkward at times. If you have to stop and think about the words because the phrasing sounds off or the word choice is strange, something is lost.