Summer Reading Blog Posting 1

[camjones1708]

"Congratulations," she said, " your stitches are perfect
---but you didn't baste it, did you?"
"No," answered Tita, astonished that the sentence of silence had been revoked.
"Then go and rip it out. Baste it and sew it again and then come and show it to me..."

This passage is an early on foreshadow of more conflict to come throughout the story. It is Mama Elena talking to Tita about how she did a good job with the stitches but still is not satisfied because Tita forgot a step in the process. No matter what Tita does throughout the story Mama Elena is never satisfied. Even when Tita made the rose petal dish, which everyone else falls in love with, Mama Elena makes the comment: "It's too salty."

I like this quote in it's significance to the book because it a preface of their relationship in the family. You could also conclude the relationship of Mama Elena and the other two daughters as well. It implies that Tita was probably more of a trouble maker or a hassle when she was a child, while the other two daughters, Gertrudis and Rosaura, were much more lovable. Early on in the novel she talks about how Tita grew up in the kitchen due to the death of her father. Through this she grew closer to Nacha then she did with her mother.

This quote shows Mama Elena’s very tyrannical rule over the household as well as how the entire house knows not to disobey her. She governs her family on the idea that change is terrible. For a family to be traditional and frown upon other ideas was very common in the early 1900’s. The Mexican revolution of 1910-1917 probably had most of it’s population on Mama Elena’s side. Tension begins to grow as Mama Elena stands in the way of Tita and Pedro with her traditional views on family and love. Tita disagrees that the youngest daughter must stay behind and take care of the mother. I like the way how the two sides contrast with each other throughout the book even after Mama Elena passes because Rosaura takes up the family tradition with her daughter. This conflict continues to pursue even after Rosaura passes because Mama makes Tita feel guilty about it even as a ghost. It surprises how much you can get out of these few lines of text.

[Megan Fudge]

Still Tita did not submit. Doubts and anxieties sprang to her mind. For one thing, she wanted to know who started this family tradition. It would be nice if she could let that genius know about one little flaw in this perfect plan for taking care of women in their old age. If Tita couldn't marry and have children, who would take care of her when she got old? Was there a solution in a case like that? Or are daughters who stay home and take care of their mothers not expected to survive too long after the parents' death? And what about women who marry and can't have children, who will take care of them? And besides, she'd like to know what kind of studies had established that the youngest and not the eldest is best suited to care for their mother. Had the opinion of the daughter affected by the plan ever been taken into account? If she couldn't marry, was she at least allowed to experience love? Or not even that? page 11-12




In 1990 Marissa Ayala was born to save her older sister, Anissa, who was dying of leukemia. At 16 Anissa was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia and desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. No positive bone marrow match was found for Anissa which left her parents with a tough decision. They could either just watch their daughter die or try to have another child in hope of a match for Anissa. Just like Marissa, Tita was born for a specific purpose. Whether she liked it or not Tita's life was to be devoted to her mother.
As any child would , Tita questions the undesirable decision her mother has made about Tita's fate. The author, Laura Esquivel, uses interrogative sentences to convey Tita's feelings. Questioning the tradition, the creator of the tradition, the practicality of the tradition and her own future show her doubts and reluctance to comply. She believes she shouldn't be forced to serve her mother for the rest of her life. She should be a able to make her own decisions about her future especially when she has the opportunity to get married.
The author not only uses interrogative sentences to capture Tita's feelings but she uses rhetoric questions to engage the reader. Who really starts family traditions? Are there flaws in these customs that are only able to be seen by someone unfamiliar with these ways? This device can be used for the reader to begin to speculate on his own life and about the life of the character. Who will take care of my parents when their health starts to fail them? Who will take care of Tita? The use of rhetoric questions can also be used to entice the reader to continue on. Will Tita obey and take care of her mother? Will Tita ever experience love? The answers to these questions can only be found by reading on in the book.
Just as Tita's mother received lots of internal criticism from Tita for predetermining her purpose, Marissa's parents received public disapproval for making Marissa a "biological resupply vehicle." Unlike Tita, Marissa never questioned her purpose becasue she was only 14 months old when she gave Anissa bone marrow. She grew up knowing she was born to save her sister and that's what she did. Even now she doesn't question her existence saying "Without her (Anissa) and her sickness, I would not be here. And without me being a perfect match for my sister, she would not be here as well.” If Tita had grown up knowing her fate and her mother not crushing her dreams at the potentially happiest time of Tita's life, she might have been more willing to serve her mother and might not have questioned everything as she did.

[brandonfeldmeier]

"He must have been hypnotized by her ample breasts swinging from side to side. He had never seen a women naked before. During his relations with Rosaura, he'd never had any desire to see her body or caress it. They always used the nuptial sheet, which revealed only the necessary parts of his wife's body. When he was done, he would leave the bedroom before she became uncovered. But it was different with Tita and he longed to gaze at her that way, without any clothes on."

This book has possibly been one of my favorite reads that has ever been assigned to. Due to the way the book is written in a cookbook like style, describing the story of a girl tormented by her life and needing advice for life and in the way the book dives headlong into the realm of sexuality.

Many books that have forced to read have barely touched about sex, but none of them have been able to talk about it openly. Usually it involves it taking place before the novel, such as The Scarlet Letter, or being a scene skipped due to the medium it was presented in, for example Romeo and Juliet. Far too many times I've been reading a book that have just glanced over this sexual encounters and thought, "Really? that was it?" I'm not saying that any of the literature I have used as an example is bad, I just am annoyed by the lack of detail into an experience that changes or even creates the story arcs. Yet this book willing goes after the subject and even uses it as the title for the book (Like Water for Chocolate is a Spanish term with a double meaning, describing the act of intense sexual feelings).

When I realized that this book was going to be very sexual, I was expecting to read passages that described deep details of the characters' bodies Yet the book is surprisingly conservative about the facts given about features. In the passage above, Laura Esquirel quickly goes over the characters' features before moving on about what other characters feel about it. While this seemed out of place for a second, it came to a realization that this allowed us more to go into the mind of the characters and their sexual desires. Shown in the above passage with Gertrudis' breasts being described in one sentence while Pedro's experiences and desires are used for the larger portion of the passage.

I give this book my respect for the interesting topic and my approval for the writing and great story. The book gave me a thrill all the way through and the amount of insane sexuality. Especially the scene involving the horse and the end, which surprise, ends in a climax.

[nickbaird]

'She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't notice that all around her something very strange was taking place. The moment they took their first bite of the cake, everyone was flooded with a great wave of longing. ... But the weeping was just the first symptom of a strange intoxication -- an acute attack of pain and frustration -- that seized the guests and scattered them across the patio and the grounds and in the bathrooms, all of them wailing over lost love.'(39)

A musician will be the first to tell you that music is their way of expressing themselves. Musicians have the ability to invoke a host of emotions ranging from melancholy to excited to apprehensive etc. No matter the mood the musician is in, he or she can potentially play a melody to match that mood. Painters, poets, writers, photographers, dancers, and those who practice other forms of art have the same range of possible emotional expression as the musician. But, those who practice culinary "arts?"

Credit must be given where credit is due, the art of cooking is not easy. That being said, cooking isn't something which has the ability to create emotional effects. I've never eaten a cheeseburger and suddenly started thinking "I'm sad." The only difference between a good cook and a bad cook is whether or not the food tastes good. Interestingly enough, the above quote is the first instance in "Like Water For Chocolate," where Tita's chief form of expression, cooking, has the exact effects that food should not have on people. In another portion of the book Tita was happily using rose pedals from the roses that Pedro gave her in a dish and for lack of a better word everyone became horny.

Tita's ways of expressing herself are (almost entirely) denied to her by her mother. The freedom to love/marry, to be independent, or to move out of the house are all forbidden. Laura Esquivel gives Tita "magical cooking powers" as a way to give her main character a (subconscious) way of expressing herself in a way that the expression manifests itself in others. The beauty of it is that Tita is unaware that her cooking has emotional effects on people. In a sense, within the confines of "Like Water for Chocolate," cooking is as much an emotional art just as music or painting is.

[Melissa MacNeur]

‘She remembered then the words that John had once spoken to her: “If a strong emotion suddenly lights all the candles we carry inside ourselves, it creates a brightness that shines far beyond our normal vision and then a splendid tunnel appears that shows us the way that we forgot when we were born.”

Upon this point in the novel I began to question what the author’s intentions were on ending this unconventional love story. Would the two die alone, or would they go on living their lives together? The cliché, happily ever after fairytale isn’t the case in Esquirel’s novel.

Pedro and Tita are finally able to express their deep burning passion for one another, both physically and emotionally. The constant restraints from Mama Elena, and Rosaura that once kept her away are no longer in place. At this moment there is nothing in the way of holding one another back from what they both are truly longing for, each other.

This quote reached out to me more than others simply because it shows us the essence of what true love really is which overall I feel is what the novel is based upon. Pedro has a hold over Tita that no one else can create. He is able to stop Tita in her tracks from worrying about whatever else is going on in her world. Tita is able to let herself go with all emotions taking full control when Pedro is around. They have such a sense of belonging with one another that it’s as almost as if they are meant for eachother.

“If a strong emotion suddenly lights all the candles we carry inside ourselves, it creates a brightness that shines far beyond our normal vision.” This portion of the quote pulls together the definition of what I believe true love really is. It’s obvious that true love is what creates these strong emotions between the two of them. If you are madly in love with someone they should be able to light your fire per se. Their love should shine much brighter than all the rest. Tita and Pedro are able to lose themselves in one another, just like the quote says, “a splendid tunnel appears that shows us the way that we forgot when we were born.” In doing so, Pedro sees the light and crosses over while the two make love for one last time. Little did Tita know, this would be the last time Pedro and Tita would be together. Tita is so in shock that she must find the “light” again to be sure she will stay with Pedro forever. The story finishes with Tita eventually finding the light, entering the tunnel, and back in Pedro’s arms. Up until this moment you can almost feel the intensity boiling over. The intensity built up between the two characters helps the novel stand out among others which is where Esquirel succeeded tremendously.

[mjmacneur]

‘She remembered then the words that John had once spoken to her: “If a strong emotion suddenly lights all the candles we carry inside ourselves, it creates a brightness that shines far beyond our normal vision and then a splendid tunnel appears that shows us the way that we forgot when we were born.”

Upon this point in the novel I began to question what the author’s intentions were on ending this unconventional love story. Would the two die alone, or would they go on living their lives together? The cliché, happily ever after fairytale isn’t the case in Esquirel’s novel.

Pedro and Tita are finally able to express their deep burning passion for one another, both physically and emotionally. The constant restraints from Mama Elena, and Rosaura that once kept her away are no longer in place. At this moment there is nothing in the way of holding one another back from what they both are truly longing for, each other.

This quote reached out to me more than others simply because it shows us the essence of what true love really is which overall I feel is what the novel is based upon. Pedro has a hold over Tita that no one else can create. He is able to stop Tita in her tracks from worrying about whatever else is going on in her world. Tita is able to let herself go with all emotions taking full control when Pedro is around. They have such a sense of belonging with one another that it’s as almost as if they are meant for eachother.

“If a strong emotion suddenly lights all the candles we carry inside ourselves, it creates a brightness that shines far beyond our normal vision.” This portion of the quote pulls together the definition of what I believe true love really is. It’s obvious that true love is what creates these strong emotions between the two of them. If you are madly in love with someone they should be able to light your fire per se. Their love should shine much brighter than all the rest. Tita and Pedro are able to lose themselves in one another, just like the quote says, “a splendid tunnel appears that shows us the way that we forgot when we were born.” In doing so, Pedro sees the light and crosses over while the two make love for one last time. Little did Tita know, this would be the last time Pedro and Tita would be together. Tita is so in shock that she must find the “light” again to be sure she will stay with Pedro forever. The story finishes with Tita eventually finding the light, entering the tunnel, and back in Pedro’s arms. Up until this moment you can almost feel the intensity boiling over. The intensity built up between the two characters helps the novel stand out among others which is where Esquirel succeeded tremendously.

[benelser]

"Those hands had rescued her from horror and she would never forget it." pg. 108

Taking place after john's heroic rescue of Tita from mama elanas house, this passage provides the reader with a temporary feeling of content as we watch Tita slowly recover from her life of misery and look promisingly at a new future. After all, John is the perfect husband. He, like no one else, was always there for her and wished to stay with her for the rest of his life. But, as life often shows us, the nice guy finishes last.Instead of sticking with him, Tita jumps on the first opportunity for a hookup with Pedro and leaves John in the dust.
This short period of content that Tita throws away causes me to loose all pity for her. So her mom's a jerk and her childhood sweetheart married someone else? Tita's self pity gets old after dropping such a good situation. The author strives throughout the book to make Tita appear to come off as the victim to bad circumstances, but it loses it's effect when she's presented with a solution and then drops it to chase Pedro.
Johns character reminds the reader of just how juevinille pedro and tita's " love" really is. John offers a safe and caring relationship, while all Pedro has to offer is a mutual infatuation with her. Like a child, Tita chooses sexual attraction over a loving husband. Perhaps mama elana was right in refusing her the right to marry Pedro. Titas sentence of chastity could have protected her from hurting a good person such as John.
Ultimately, the passage provides an option to test her free will and see what decision she would make for her life. Insteading of taking the mature choice of John, she finds "love" in her lust for Pedro. It is just then for her and pedro's lives to be ended in their final act of lust, because there is no further their relationship can go besides sex. Her gratefulness towards John for saving her proves easily forgotten as she travels to the afterlife with Pedro.

[meganfudge]

Still Tita did not submit. Doubts and anxieties sprang to her mind. For one thing, she wanted to know who started this family tradition. It would be nice if she could let that genius know about one little flaw in this perfect plan for taking care of women in their old age. If Tita couldn't marry and have children, who would take care of her when she got old? Was there a solution in a case like that? Or are daughters who stay home and take care of their mothers not expected to survive too long after the parents' death? And what about women who marry and can't have children, who will take care of them? And besides, she'd like to know what kind of studies had established that the youngest and not the eldest is best suited to care for their mother. Had the opinion of the daughter affected by the plan ever been taken into account? If she couldn't marry, was she at least allowed to experience love? Or not even that? page 11-12




In 1990 Marissa Ayala was born to save her older sister, Anissa, who was dying of leukemia. At 16 Anissa was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia and desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. No positive bone marrow match was found for Anissa which left her parents with a tough decision. They could either just watch their daughter die or try to have another child in hope of a match for Anissa. Just like Marissa, Tita was born for a specific purpose. Whether she liked it or not Tita's life was to be devoted to her mother.
As any child would , Tita questions the undesirable decision her mother has made about Tita's fate. The author, Laura Esquivel, uses interrogative sentences to convey Tita's feelings. Questioning the tradition, the creator of the tradition, the practicality of the tradition and her own future show her doubts and reluctance to comply. She believes she shouldn't be forced to serve her mother for the rest of her life. She should be a able to make her own decisions about her future especially when she has the opportunity to get married.
The author not only uses interrogative sentences to capture Tita's feelings but she uses rhetoric questions to engage the reader. Who really starts family traditions? Are there flaws in these customs that are only able to be seen by someone unfamiliar with these ways? This device can be used for the reader to begin to speculate on his own life and about the life of the character. Who will take care of my parents when their health starts to fail them? Who will take care of Tita? The use of rhetoric questions can also be used to entice the reader to continue on. Will Tita obey and take care of her mother? Will Tita ever experience love? The answers to these questions can only be found by reading on in the book.
Just as Tita's mother received lots of internal criticism from Tita for predetermining her purpose, Marissa's parents received public disapproval for making Marissa a "biological resupply vehicle." Unlike Tita, Marissa never questioned her purpose becasue she was only 14 months old when she gave Anissa bone marrow. She grew up knowing she was born to save her sister and that's what she did. Even now she doesn't question her existence saying "Without her (Anissa) and her sickness, I would not be here. And without me being a perfect match for my sister, she would not be here as well.” If Tita had grown up knowing her fate and her mother not crushing her dreams at the potentially happiest time of Tita's life, she might have been more willing to serve her mother and might not have questioned everything as she did.

[Thomas McGuire]

First of all Austin, you took the onion thing from Shrek.
That said, I think you've come up with a brilliant metaphor. When I began reading your blog post, I was a bit skeptical at first when I read that onions were supposed to represent love. But after reading through your reasoning, it makes clear and total sense. The onion causes tears when cut, like a true romance causes tears and pain at points, but by preparing it perfectly, patiently, and lovingly, you get the ultimate end result.
Something to add to your comment though, is the onions layered depth (I'm for sure nabbing this from Shrek): the onions skin represents love's many steps to happiness. The skin is like a first encounter, once you peel that back and get to know your love interest, you begin to peel successive layers off the bulb. Peeling or cutting these layers, like love, causes tears to flow. Love is seldom perfect, you have hardships that both parties must endure before getting to heart of the relationship. Once the center has been reached, if both sides have pulled through and persevered to the end, then you have happiness. When peeling an onion you're happy when you get to the middle cause you're done peeling the onion and you can stop crying. Tita and Pedro certainly persevered through their peeling process, and in the end they received their happiness. It may not have been as soon as they'd wanted, or in the manner that they'd wanted, but through it all it was their perfect conclusion.

[katherinetoppe]

Afton's comparison of Tita and Pedro's romance with the love of Edward and Bella in the tween sensational novel Twilight is a simplistic yet completely realistic view of young naive love. People of such a young age, as Afton stated, are more in love with the idea of being in love rather than truly experiencing deep, passionate, mature love. Given the fact that Tita describes being overheated and almost in a drunken state when the object of her lust, Pedro, is near her, this leads one to believe that a large component of this "fantasy" arrangement is physical. This doesn't necessarily mean that there are not legitimate feelings involved, but does point to a more physical rather than emotional attraction.

Afton goes on to explain that the numerous aspects of a person's character cannot be known or discovered in such a short period of time that Tita and Pedro knew each other. Furthermore, she alludes to a connection between this lack of deep understanding between two people who seem to barely know each other and the high divorce rate that is experienced in the world today. There probably is some truth to that with few exceptions. In fact, my own grandparents had only known each other for a few weeks before marrying. Their union happened to last nearly fifty years.

Although i agree with Afton's conclusions on the selected passage, my point is simply that human relationships are very complex and love is the most complex emotion of all. Love is truly blind, as evidenced by Pedro's hopeful declaration of love after so few encounters with Tita.