The magical realism from this tale is overpowering like the smell from the cooking of some strong spicy dish, an image quite fitting for this story framed by cooking and recipes. Como agua para chocolate was my first glimpse into magical realism all the way back in Spanish 100, when my professor Elena Polkhilko introduced the film to our beginners’ eyes. I had no idea how to really understand the idea of magical realism at first, except to see that this particular account told a tale of ghosts, food affecting the emotions of the people eating it and love overpowering all, so much in fact that the main characters burn to death with the heat of passion. Needless to say the ideas behind this movie were strange to my virgin mind of magical realism. Now in my wizened state as a fifth year (note the tone of sarcasm please), I have read many more books dealing with magical realism, and so understand the basic definition more so than in my first year, but it still does not get that feeling of oddness out of this particular novel. I do like magical realism; I find it unique and interesting to contemplate when analyzing a text, yet Como agua para chocolate seems inundated with the form. Every chapter has some sort of event that bursts into magical realism, whether it is a lake of tears; a sister that has an overtly sexual experience from her rose quail; nursing a nephew; lovemaking that creates flames for others to see; or a whirlwind of fighting chickens. I’m not saying that this book is necessarily completely bad, there are some elements to it such as the relationship between love, family and personal independence that the novel explores which creates a plot to think about, but sometimes a little magical realism is enough.
February 14, 2007 at 8:00 am
Yes, I agree that a little magical realism can be enough. The fact that there is so much of it kind of takes the magic out of it. I think the plot could be much better if there was less magic and more depth to the feelings and actions of the characters.
February 18, 2007 at 7:30 am
I think that what Laura Esquivel meant to be magic realism turned out to be just melodrama. I can see how it could be magic realism, sort of, i guess. I don’t know, I guess that it is just the execution that concerns me, it is not so well done that I could compare it the magic realism of Marquez. mainly because I don’t believe it and I think the point is is that your supposed to just accept that it happened, even if it’s as crazy as a woman vomiting up a room full of rabbits (see “Letter to a Young Lady in Paris” by Cortazar), I can’t just accept what Esquivel proposes.
March 6, 2007 at 2:04 am
Yo creo que tienes razón, el Realismo Magico en este libro se utiliza a diestra y siniestra, Esquivel no parece tener suficiente que decir en terminos literales, y emplea este recurso para describir casi todas las acciones del libro. Sin embargo, leyendo tu blog, recordé que este es un recetario de entregas semanales, de manera que capitulo tras capitulo deben de mantener una estructura similar. Es mas facil pensar en la novela como pequeños episodios con un mini final, en los que tiene que haber forzosamente un elemento de Realismo Magico.
March 9, 2007 at 4:27 pm
The use of magic realism really is abundant in this book, however I hesitate to criticize it, because my criticism of Magic realism would apply to any book using it. Personally, I do not enjoy it, however regardless of my opinion and that of those that agree with me, Magic Realism is a technique that has survived for many years and has appeared in many famous novels that became films, for example the french novel “Amelie”. Like “Como Agua Para Chocolate” the story is strange, perhaps more so, and personally I did not find the magic realism beneficial, however without it the story would have to be completely altered, and in that case, it would no onger be “Como Agua Para Chocolate” or “Amelie”.
November 4, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I defend Laura Esquivel!
Yes there is a lot of magical realism but it creates a fantasy world where lovers can be together and the cruel people get what that deserve!
Como Agua Para Chocolate simply would not be the same without it.
Sometimes it’s nice to escape from this world and imagine, just for a moment, that miracles can happen.
Amélie and Como Agua are famous for a reason.
There’s nothing wrong with a nice happy ending =]
April 11, 2009 at 12:37 am
I agree with the writer of this post. When I read “Like Water for Chocolate” for the first time, I remembered reading the scene with the chicken tornado and thinking, “Very…exaggerated.” I’ve just finished another book by Laura Esquivel, “The Law of Love”, and this is what I can say with certainty about her books:
She loves excessively functional endings, liberal amounts of magic realism, and sex. LOTS of sex.
In any case, I dislike Laura Esquivel’s writing because it’s too unrealistic and prone to scenes of mad lust. And regarding the point the above person made, the Mexico found in “Like Water” is too absurd to believe. This is another reason why Esquivel’s writing isn’t a prime example of literature. After all, real life does not work that neatly. Good people are not always rewarded; bad people are not always punished. Separated lovers are not always reunited, and true love is not always about lusty ardor.
Even so, this book isn’t so bad that one shouldn’t read it. It’s not a book I’d recommend to people, but it’s not a book I’d tell people to deliberately avoid, either.
December 6, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Todos ustedes son unos iliterados que no saben leer. Como Agua Para Chocolate es un libro fascinante y me encanta su historia. No pienso que tiene mucho realismo magico, yo puedo entender todo lo que dice. Ustedes no porque son unos idiotas.
February 15, 2011 at 11:04 am
PESIMISTIC SARCASTIC WOMAN WHO DOESNT EVEN BELIVE THAT LOVE CONQUERS ALL !!!!!!!
May 7, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Nice posting!I was cling on to listening to the rumor lecture about receiving boundless online grant applications,so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. thanks for your advice,will find some soon?buy hair straightener
February 14, 2012 at 12:14 pm
What a perfect tip people!
I just failed to come up with the idea before.
at present, I understand all vital factors.
I think that updated information at cell jammers will save you time while looking for necessary answers.