Book: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

"A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies" Hardback, 1992. Dust flap has a small tear but otherwise this copy is in excellent used/vintage shape. No marks, no dog-ears, no yellowing. "Tita longs for her beloved Pedro, but can never have him because of family tradition: the youngest daughter cannot marry and instead must take care of her mother until she dies. Tita is only able to express herself when she cooks." The prose here is fluid and gorgeous, and the story is a magical and romantic tale about strong Mexican women and the push-and-pull of fixed societal roles, set during the Mexican Revolution. Mixed in are traditional Mexican recipes, presented in wry ways. Quite enchanting--and it's worth checking out the movie too, for which Esquivel wrote the screenplay.