First novel by the writer Laura Esquivel, Like water for Chocolate tells the story of an impossible but eternal love, which develops in the heat of the pots and pans of a kitchen at the time of the Mexican Revolution. Likewise, the author gracefully combines the supernatural and the mundane in a microcosm where the heart is undoubtedly in the kitchen.
Although many critics consider her part of magical realism, others think that she is the initiator of a genre known as culinary literature or kitchen fiction. However, beyond labels, the work has connected with readers not only in our country but throughout the world, as it has been translated into more than 30 languages. In fact, in 1994 the novel won the North American ABBY Award for Book of the Year and Esquivel was the first foreigner to receive this distinction.
Like water for chocolate and their impossible love story
Set in Coahuila at the beginning of the last century, the story follows the life of Tita, the younger sister of three women who, by family tradition, is forced to remain single for life in order to care for her mother until the day she dies. However, her destiny has other plans for her, as she falls madly in love with Pedro Muzquiz and is reciprocated by her, although they both know that her love has no future.
Likewise, the novel develops through 12 chapters with the same amount of sublime cooking recipes; since Tita, faced with a future without love, consoles herself by preparing seasonal delicacies such as Christmas Cakes, Quail in Rose Petals, Mole de Guajolote with Almonds and Sesame; and Chiles en Nogada.
Finally, it is worth noting that the title of the novel, Like water for Chocolate, refers to feeling upset, furious, upset or affected; Like water about to boil and the author wanted it to represent Tita’s frustration at the impossibility of being happy with Pedro.
adaptations of the novel
Tita’s story was successfully adapted to the cinema in 1992 by director Alfonso Arau, Laura Esquivel’s then husband, and received ten Ariel awards from the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences, including Best Film, Best direction and best male and female lead performances. In addition, it occupies a place among the best hundred films of Mexican cinema and is the ninth highest grossing foreign film in the United States.
Finally, last year the book was adapted as a choreographic piece for ballet and premiered in London. Similarly, it will be presented at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and according to Esquivel, her musical on Broadway is in pre-production; while also preparing an adaptation in the United States for a television series. And you, have you read Like water for Chocolate?