Like Water to Chocolate (Laura Esquivel)
First things first… don’t you hate when they publish book with a movie tie-in cover? I do. Normally I wouldn’t buy a book like in that edition, but I had always wanted to read this one and I knew that if I let it pass me by I’d forget about it.
One word about it: delightful. If you like me are a fan of magic realism, if you spent hours and hours reading and re-reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ books or are a fan of Isabelle Allende… than this one is for you.
The lovely Tita cannot married her lover because her powerful mother wants her to upheld the family tradition of the youngest daughter looking after the parents in their old age, so he marries her sister to be near her… well… it’s all a big family mess from here, with humour, a huge amount of food, strong women and weak men, magic and mystery in Mexico at the time of Pancho Villa.
(my favourite chocolate)
The story keeps you, the language entertaines you, the words will leave you hungry and the characters captivates you. Each chapter begins with a recipe because a lot of the ‘magic’ element of the story is tied to the art of cooking ,eating and feeding.
A really gorgeous little book.
I haven’t seen the movie so I can’t comment on that, has anyone seen it?
2018 Mr Hanckock and the mermaid
2017 – Magari domain resto (Lorenzo Maroni)
2016 – Upstream (Mary Oliver)
2015
2014 – Annihilation (Jeff VanderMeer)
2013 – Careless people (Sarah Churchwell)
2012 – Wonder
2011 – The Paris Wife (Paula McLain)
2010
2009 – Let the great world spin (Colum McCann)
2008 – The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga)
2007
2006
2005 – Never let me go (Kazuo Ishiguro)
2004
2003
2002 – Everything is illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)
2001 – American Gods (Nail Gainman)
2000 – Coram Boy (Jamila Gavin)
1999
1998
1997 – Paradise (Toni Morrison)
1996 – Wilfred and Eileen (Jonathan Smith)
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991- Regeneration (Pat Barker)
1990
1989 – Like water to chocolate (Laura Esquivel)
1988
1987 – Norwegian Wood (Haruki Murakami)
1986
1985 – Oranges are not the only fruit (Jeanette Winterson)
1984
1983 – Heartburn (Nora Ephron)
1982 – The colour purple (Alice Walker)
1981
1979– The bloody chamber (Angela Carter)
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
while you're ahead... 
The film is fabulous & this has always been my best re-read book – I turn to it whenever I need a lift.
Another one, in a similar vein is Berta la Larga by Cuca Canals (I think!) – magic realism also. Can’t recall when it was written but it might fit in on your list!
LikeLike