WOW! What a great novel! I really enjoyed this book by Mexican magical realism author Laura Esquivel. The title "Like Water for Chocolate" or in Spanish "Como Agua Para Chocolate" refers to an expression used in Mexico to describe intense desire, heat and passion. Here in Canada we are used to instant hot chocolate mixes where all we do is add hot water to the powdered mix. In Mexico making hot chocolate with water is very rare as people make hot chocolate by melting chocolate pieces into whole milk. If water is used instead of milk, the temperature needs to be at the boiling point for the chocolate to melt completely so to say that a person is "like water for chocolate" would mean that they are one hot babe or feeling intense sexual desire.
The book centers around a girl named Tita who is cursed by a family tradition that states that since she is the youngest girl in the family, she must never marry so that she must care for her mother until her mother dies. Tita falls in love with Pedro but her mother does not allow them to marry so in an effort to stay close to Tita, Pedro marries her sister Rosaura. Drama! Tita is also a brilliant cook and her only way of communicating her desire and emotions for Pedro is through the meals that she makes. The book is filled with recipes and home remedies that are definitely worth a try if you can gather the ingredients.
Both the Spanish and English versions of this novel are available for preview and order through Amazon here and here. I bought my copy at Chapters in Fredericton and I'm pretty sure that you could also find a copy at the Owl's Nest downtown.
There is a great film adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate available, you can probably rent it at Blockbuster. Here's a clip:
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