3 (differents) BOOKS I READ RECENTLY

Lately, I haven't had much time to read as I would like because I've been studying (so I've read a lot, but not for the love of it, haha), and I consider my reading to be quite varied! So, here are three recommendations on: magical realism, poetry, and existential novel/fiction.

🍫🌊"LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE" (Magical Realism)

First of all, I'd like to explain the genre of this novel, 💫magical realism: it is a literary style that combines realistic elements with magical or fantastical elements. It originated in Latin America in the 20th century, and renowned authors include Gabriel García Márquez, Juan Rulfo, and, of course, Laura Esquivel.
The Mexican novel "Like Water for Chocolate," written by Laura Esquivel and published in 1989, has everything I particularly enjoy: magical realism, romance, and cooking🍳! It is set during the Mexican Revolution at the beginning of the 20th century. 

The story revolves around the life of Tita de la Garza, a young woman trapped by a family tradition that forbids the youngest daughter from marrying👰, and she must remain single to care for her mother until her death. Unfortunately for Tita, she falls desperately in love with Pedro👦, who, by tradition, must marry Rosaura, Tita's sister.

Throughout the story, we immerse ourselves in Tita's feelings, who finds solace in cooking. Each dish reflects different moods, and those who eat them experience a range of emotions, from ecstasy💥 to melancholy😢. This is something I enjoyed a lot while reading it, as I believe that through cooking, we express who we are and how we feel. 

The novel📕 addresses themes such as the struggle for freedom and the liberating power of love and passion. It also explores family dynamics, the role of women in society, and how traditions can affect people's lives and destinies.
In conclusion, "Like Water for Chocolate" is an emotionally intense and visually rich story that has captured my attention due to its 💖melodramatic love story💖. This captivating and gripping novel is emotionally charged, and at the beginning of each chapter, it provides a recipe—my favorite being 🎂"Chabela's Cake". Also, the book's ending undoubtedly took my heart with it.
Very interesting fragment: "They say that Tita was so sensitive that since she was in my great-grandmother's womb, she cried and cried when she chopped onions; her crying was so loud that Nacha, the household cook, who was half deaf, could hear it without effort. One day the sobs were so strong that they brought forward the delivery (...) Nacha said that Tita was literally pushed into this world by an impressive torrent of tears that overflowed onto the table and the kitchen floor. In the afternoon, after the scare was over and the water had evaporated, Nacha swept up the residue of tears that had remained on the red tiles. With this salt, she filled a five-kilo sack that they used to cook for quite some time."

Extra: If you don't enjoy reading, there is also a 🎦film adaptation in 1992, directed by Alfonso Arau (rated 7.1/10 on IMDb). 

"THE STEPPENWOLF" (Existential Fiction)

This is a novel written by Hermann Hesse, first published in 1927.
The story revolves around the main character, Harry, a tormented and lonely man who feels divided between his 👨human nature and his "steppenwolf"🐺 aspect, a wild and rebellious being that doesn't fit into conventional society.
Harry is facing an existential crisis. He suffers from intense alienation and discontent with the modern world and its social conventions. He is introverted and finds it difficult to connect with people around him. He often seeks solace in reading to find meaning in his life.❔❕

One day, he meets Hermine👩, a mysterious and liberated woman who seems to understand and accept him fully. Through his relationship with Hermine, Harry is introduced to a 👀world of parties, music, drugs, and erotic experiences that temporarily liberate him from the existential anguish that haunts him.

Throughout the story, Harry discovers that he is immersed in a surreal and symbolic game, which leads him to question his identity and perception of reality. He experiences a series of visions and encounters with enigmatic characters, allowing him to confront his inner demons and challenge his beliefs.

In this somewhat autobiographical fiction, the author explores themes such as the duality of the human being, the search for the meaning of life, the struggle between individualism and social conformity, and the nature of human existence.

I must say that this book📘 was challenging for me to read as it requires great attention to follow the thread, given its lengthy monologues of reflection, which are beautiful but complicated. In my opinion, "The Steppenwolf" is an introspective and philosophical work that has been appreciated for its profound portrayal of loneliness, isolation, and the complexity of the human soul. Another book by Hesse that I recommend reading is "Siddhartha," which is magnificent!

😵 Fragment from the book: "(...) In him, man and wolf ran alongside each other, and still less did they help each other, but were in constant and mortal hatred. Each lived exclusively for the torment of the other, and when two are mortal enemies and dwell in the same blood and soul, then life becomes impossible." 

"GOODBYE TO THE COLD" (Poetry)

"Goodbye to the Cold"😰👋 is a book of poetry by the Spanish author Elvira Sastre, published in 2020. The book deals with themes such as love, loss, loneliness, and hope💜. The poems are written in a simple and direct style, expressing emotions and feelings in a moving manner💬.
In the book, the author says goodbye to the cold, both literally and metaphorically. She bids farewell to the cold of winter, the coldness of the heart, and the coldness of the soul. She says goodbye to fear, sadness, and loneliness. She bids farewell to everything that has hurt her and opens herself to the possibility of love and happiness😁.
I remember that while reading some poems📑, I cried a lot; it's very emotional, reminding you of yourself and of others, that other person you love. "Goodbye to the Cold" is a book I consider "happy," celebrating that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, that everything will be alright in the end. It is a book that invites us to embrace our emotions, both the good and the bad, and to move forward.

I'll leave you a snippet of a poem that I liked a lot, it says, "I want to love you until love becomes infinite, and we can't imagine life without you. I want to travel the world with you, hand in hand, and discover all the secrets it holds. I want to walk with you along the seashore on a starry night and share all my stories with you. I want to sleep with you, embrace you, and feel your warmth on my skin. (...) I want to live with you, a whole lifetime, and love you, a little more each day. I want to do with you everything that poetry hasn't written."💟

🙆That's it for today's blog! Lots of reflection and books, completely varied. If you enjoy light and entertaining reading, books like "Like Water for Chocolate" are for you! If you're eager to explore new emotions and introspect, "The Steppenwolf" is your recommendation. And if, in addition to all that, you're a hopeless romantic, I urge you (haha) to read Elvira Sastre's poems, they are wonderful.

I hope you enjoyed it and that it inspires you to read, just like it does for me! What book do you recommend to me?

- Pinwi🐧