Erin's Book #35: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

I had always heard of this book, but never had any particular desire to read it until I found it in the dollar bin at a bookstore. I breezed through it in less than a day and really enjoyed it.

Tita is a young girl madly in love with Pedro, but her ridiculously, horribly mean and tyrannical mother forbids her to marry, clinging stubbornly to the family tradition of the youngest daughter caring for the mother until her death. So Pedro marries Tita's sister, Rosaura, in an attempt to be near Tita. Their love endures births, deaths, moves, and more.

It's an interesting format - broken up in monthly installations, with each chapter beginning with a recipe. Food figures heavily into the story as Tita is the primary cook for their ranch and expresses her emotions through her food. It's also her path to Pedro.

With touches of magic realism, the book explores this dysfunctional Mexican family and the boundless love of Tita and Pedro. I think I'll rent the movie next.