Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel

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A story of how food and cooking reflects the flavours of life.

I always enjoy stories where food and plot are interwoven together. My last read of a similar style was Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Mistress of Spices.

Laura Esquivel is a South American Writer and this Mexican love story apparently was the bestseller list in Mexico and America for over two years. Written way back in 1989, it was made into a movie in 1992. I haven't seen the movie though and came across this book when it was recently mentioned in my writing class when they were talking about a book which had food and cooking as an important element for narrative. The reason why it is in news is it is part of a trilogy with its sequels written in 2013 and 2017. 

However, I came to this book not knowing that it was perhaps the book whose copies matched the sales of One Hundred Years of Solitude. 

Luckily I was unaware of it and therefore no preconceived notions.

The title, which I found terribly intriguin was a literal translation from the Spanish that means "Agua para chocolate" meaning when a person's emotions are on the verge of boiling over. Having read the novel, the title makes sense now.

Gist:

Tita is the youngest in the De La Garza family. According to the family tradition the youngest girl is not allowed to marry since she was expected to look after her parents. However, she falls in love with Pedro. Knowing that marriage with her was not possible, he then marries her older sister Rosaura to be close to her. What follows is a 22 years of unconsummated passion. Their relationship is marked by freak mishaps, bizarre happenings until Tita and Pedro are united again.

What works:

• It is a slim novel that can be easily finished in one sitting.

• The writing is not conventional in the sense,  it does not introduce the characters as you would normally find, perhaps therein lies its appeal.

• The element of magic realism is put to good use especially when it comes to introducing the flavours of food.

• The way Esquivel has used more of third person narrative instead of dialogue. The story is plot heavy and yet Esquivel handles the technique well, making it a compelling read.

• What I really enjoyed is the fact that the writer does not seem to be moulded by the standard storytelling tradition which is carefully shaped by creative writing classes. There is a rawness to the style, a fresh approach that I really liked.

• The concept of rigid family traditions, rituals give an  insight into the Mexican Spanish society. A big plus in my book.

What  doesn't:

• Except for the character of Tita Pedro and the matriarch, I did not find any other character having that much of an impact.

• The story is not exactly linear, there is a bit of back and forth and situations are not clearly explained. There is a lot of third person here which makes it a bit of a difficult read at times.

• The writing style is a bit unconventional as mentioned before. Some readers may find it difficult to adjust and therefore be put of by it.

Overall, I can see what the appeal is. It has an exotic factor to it - the Mexican Spanish way of life and traditions and the element of food that is stirred into the fabric of the story.

A great combination. But not to everyone's liking. Pick it up if you are feeling adventurous or in a mood for something different.

Zizzle Literary Magazine - A review

An enchanting experience for both adults and children.

I had never reviewed a literary magazine and was keen to see what this one had to offer. First impressions? This bright blue hardbound copy definitely speaks of quality - the thickness of the page and the bright illustrations were a definite plus when I held it in my hand.

I reckon the difference was more obvious after handling those flimsy magazines that my kids pick up at the supermarkets. This one stands out for its solid cover and eye catching illustration. As the caption goes, it is a literary magazine for young minds. Interesting. Young minds include those budding minds yet to blossom into adulthood and those young at heart. Sums up the ethos of the magazine well.

THE MAGAZINE

Zizzle is a literary magazine published in Hongkong but the contributors are from mostly from United States, UK and Malayasia. The foreword shares an interesting anecdote on how the magazine was born. It was initially visualised as a flash fiction for 8-12 year olds. However when the submissions came in, the editors realised its appeal to the adults too. The focus then changed to children's stories that can be enjoyed by everyone. Therein lies its beauty. Instead of compartmentalising it, the magazine has attained a flexible form providing an enjoyable experience for adults and children.

What works:

• The layout. Each story is neatly spaced with and categorised in terms of reading level - Easy, Less easy, Not easy. It challenges the reader without putting them off. Like that.

• Author connection. Each story is accompanied by the writer's childhood photograph. A great way of getting acquainted with the writer before digging into the story.

• The stories are just the right length, a quick bedtime read.  

• There are tiny quotations that allow the reader to ponder over the story, adding value to the experience.

• The well planned illustrations bring the stories to life, adding colour and imagination to the pages. 

• The USP of the magazine is that these are stories about children that adults can enjoy too. Reminds me of the Disney movies that I enjoy watching with my kids. My eight-year-old daughter loved it especially when we read it together at bedtime. 

• What makes this a holistic experience is how the writers discuss their childhood books and share their experience of reading. A tiny detail that brings the reader and author closer.

• I also enjoyed reading the author bios where they also talk about idea behind the tale - a lovely insight into how stories are formed.

Verdict

• My daughter loved How the moon scared the giant. My favourite was the The Road to Valhalla - a story about a boy discovering his voice. 

• As a learner of the craft, I appreciate the style and the value of these stories. They are extremely high quality and yet accessible to the reader. A big plus in my book.

• I would think it is ideal for 11-14 year olds although they can also be enjoyed by younger children if the parent reads with them. Like I did. It gave me a chance to bond with my daughter through these stories.

For me as a reader, these were like a box of mouthwatering choco bites - quickly gone, but the aftertaste lingers on for a while. You won't be able to stop at just one.