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I just really love magical realism. Here are some things that are impossible, but this is a true story so they happened. Great stuff.
I'll admit I mostly skimmed the cooking bits. But honestly, they were a fantastic device for storytelling.
Also, while this book is labeled as lighthearted, it had some heavy stuff. Like gut punches in one sentence and moving on with the next. Kinda disconcerting but still a likeable read.
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Infertility, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War
The strong theme of cooking, and that each chapter is based on a different recipe, was also something I enjoyed. I found myself wanting to make note of each recipe to try for myself, although without the powers of Tita's to influence whatever dish she makes my results will probably be much different.
In terms of plot however, maybe because I can't help but it read it from a 21st century point a view, there were specific plot points that I didn't enjoy. Pedro the male lead is that specific kind of intense dominant male that I no longer find myself falling for. Tita's decisions frequently left me frustrated as I felt that they were the wrong choices, but another person just as well might find them the right ones.
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence
Graphic: Death, Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, War
Minor: Child death, Rape
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Forced institutionalization
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
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
Casi todos los trigger warnings fueron moderados o menores (se cuentan con metáforas o de paso en una o dos oraciones), excepto la
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, War
Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization