Question 6

In the book, the chapters are divided into months. Each month has a different recipe of its own.

Why do you think that the author chose the recipes that she did? Do you think that she chose them in a certain order for a certain reason?

Question 5

Tita said that she would never go back to the ranch ever again. After she heard that Mama Elena was paralyzed and Chencha had been raped, she returned home even though she had been disowned.

Why do you think that Tita returned home to see her mom? What would you have done if this was your mother?

Question 4

In the book Gertrudis is swept away by a man on a horse who was able to “extinguish her flame”.

Why do you think that no other man was able to “extinguish her flame”?

Question 3

After Tita's mom finds out that Tita and Pedro's relationship is growing, she send Pedro to marry her other daughter, Tita's older sister, Rosaura.

Do you think that it is right that her mom is making Pedro marry Rosaura? How would you feel if this was happening to you?

Question 2

Tita, being the chef of her household, is responsible to feed Rosaura's newborn baby. Nothing works, but Tita soon finds that she has milk and feeds the baby with her milk without telling anyone.

Mama Elena soon sends Pedro, Rosaura, and the baby to San Antonio, for she fears the relationship between Tita and Pedro is growing. After a few days in San Antonio the baby dies. Tita goes crazy and distresses over what she thinks is her fault.



If this happened to you would you feel that it was your fault the baby died? Why or why not?

The Story

A reverting story of Tita, and her love, hate, and restrictions towards her family and lover, Pedro. Tita and Pedro have fallen deep into love, but Tita cannot marry because of an old family tradition. Pedro instead marries Rosaura, Tita's sister. Once they are bound, things only get more complicated for the family. Tita is hurt, beloved, confused, guilty, and in love again throughout this novel. She finds a second true love and is about to get married to him, Pedro gets terribly jealous. Tita and Pedro eventually turn things from lust into a huge love affair. In the end, Tita and Pedro are together but not in the way expected.

This novel by Laura Esquivel is separated into monthly installments with a new recipe each month. At first it seems that the story is really moving at a month's pace, but we later discover that the month might be in an entirely different year. This novel gives advice in not only the kitchen, but for household helps, medical remedies, and interesting facts we'd never think to look up.

I strongly recommend this book. The book is detailed on what people are thinking, feeling, and doing. It makes it seem as if the story was just retrieved from our memories.

Question 1

Tita, the main character of this novel, is in a situation of "forbidden love." She is unable to marry because of a family tradition. Her lover, Pedro, has decided to marry Tita's sister, Rosaura, just so he can be close to Tita.


Would you do anything if this happened to you? Do you think, if this was your mother, that she would understand? Why or why not?