Background

 This book was first publish in 1989. It is Laura Esquirel first novel. It was translated in English in 1992, and then it became a best seller. This book is know for using magical realism. a theme that you mostly see in Latin-American culture. Magical realism is a sharply etched realism in representing ordinary events and descriptive details together with fantastic and dreamlike elements, as well as with materials derived from myth and fairy tales. In this novel it is use in a very interesting way. When we see Tita emotions poured into the food that she is cooking, and the way her mood is effects the people that eats the food. So for example when pedro was getting married to Rosaura , Tita was in a bad mood. while cooking the food, her tears fell inside of the food being cook. her tears affected everyone, and even killed her closest "friend" that gave her the love that her Mom, Mama Elena, could not give. Natcha dies in the second chapter when she eats the food with Tita's cruel emotions. This is an example of magical realism, and it is a very interesting concept to read and understand.