Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

17 reviews

tashtasher's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Medical content, Murder, War, Child death, Racism, Grief, and Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Colonisation, Abortion, Animal death, and Classism

motherofpearly's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Mixed emotions about this book. Loved how the rich imagery made me feel like I was in the kitchen with Tita. The author took care in describing each flavor, aroma, and cooking technique. I loved how Tita’s emotions infused with each dish and magically affected those who ate it.

However I felt that the meals were more developed than the characters, and many large plot points were skimmed over. A few times I had to re-read sections to make sure I didn’t miss a page or two. Ultimately  I had little emotion about the romance, heartbreaks, or traumas that any of them experienced. 

Also I found the spicy scenes to be boring and sometimes creepy. Especially the first time between

Tita and Pedro which I expected to be more passionate since the sexual tension had been building up to a boing point. One night, he decided to hide in a dark room, and pop out unexpectedly when she came in. Startled, she asked what he was doing, and he answered by “throwing himself upon her, caused her to lose her virginity and learn of true love”.

Super creepy and made me feel uneasy. Don’t even get me started on Gertrudis

losing her virginity on horseback after being found naked in a field by a man who literally tracked her down by her magical scent.

Probably could have done without reading this book, but it was definitely memorable 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape and Animal death

Minor: Racism, Death, Suicide, and War

lizzym126's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Vomit, Rape, and Racism

mags_'s review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Child death, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Animal death

belladonnashrike's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this story so much (both the film and the book). a perfect example of latine magical realism - forever one of my favorite genres. 

the way it’s written is really unique, I loved reading the recipes sprinkled throughout the romance. 

I forgot that he died post-nut like that oh my god. the deaths in this book are so fucking funny

 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, and Rape

Minor: War, Fatphobia, Racism, and Violence

charlotteih's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

WOW this book was really fun and entertaining. some bits were maddening, some hilarious, some romantic, and others sad. there was a sense of poetic irony and exaggeration that gives this story the feel of a folktale. the ending was a bit wild, but after letting it simmer (haha) in my mind i’ve come to like it. (this a very food-oriented book, so pls keep that in mind if that is a sensitive topic for you)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Physical abuse

Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Rape, Vomit, Confinement, War, and Forced institutionalization

lmagie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Matriarca egoísta y controladora gobierna sobre sus 3 hijas a extremos, con lujo de violencia física y mental.
Tita, la menor, está destinada a cuidar de ella por el resto de su vida. Pero Tita quiere casarse con Pedro.

Creando problemas innecesarios, la matriarca Elena, hace a todos miserables.

El uso de la "magia" con la comida y las emociones es muy interesante.

Es un libro muy entretenido, pero las decisiones de los personajes lo vuelven frustrante en ratos. Me alegra haberlo leído, lo disfruté, pero no lo volvería a leer.

Al no ser una trama completamente linear (muchos recuerdos y flashbacks) es un poco dificil ver el objetivo o la meta de los personajes en un determinado punto.

Los personajes tienen sus fallas, de más incluso. Tal vez faltó verlos más tiempo resaltando sus lados positivos, desarrollando sus personalidades, para así encariñarse con ellos realmente.

El único personaje con el que pude encariñarme fue

John. Honestamente, Tita debió haberlo escogido a él. La trataba bien, tenía su casa, le había dedicado tiempo y paciencia infinita, sin miedo de qué pensaran los demás. Todo lo contrario a Pedro. Pedro era un celoso inmadura y cobarde por el que no valía la pena suicidarse

Casi todos los trigger warnings fueron moderados o menores (se cuentan con metáforas o de paso en una o dos oraciones), excepto la

fatphobia. Tanto y con tanto desprecio que hace pensar si la autora comparte el mismo sentimiento

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Fatphobia, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Infidelity

Moderate: Gun violence, Child abuse, Infertility, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Vomit, Alcohol, Racism, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

The more you advance in the book the more TWs escalate

beckycarter97's review against another edition

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

colombian_gothic's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Infertility, Child abuse, Sexual content, Child death, Violence, War, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual assault, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

buttermellow's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Racism