cecile87 's review for:

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
3.0

The magical realism was interesting. Sometimes I was confused about when things actually happened. I had very little sense of time in this story, even though names of months were mentioned at the head of each chapter.

As someone else said, John was the character I felt the most for, although I did sympathize with Tita. The best part of the book was her time with John. I also like Gertrudis, who was true to herself.

I appreciate the catharsis of getting rid of the ghost of her mother and the protection of the future for Esperanza.

I saw the movie version years and years ago. So I don’t recall my impression so of it. I do recall the gracious John and the boisterous and larger than life Gertrudis.

Anyway, I found the book unique but rather frustrating overall.