"Earthy, magical, and utterly charming this tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico became a best selling phenomenon with it's winning blend of poignant romance and bittersweet wit."
When I picked up this book I really didn't know anything about it. I heard good things, and since I'm reading romance this month I thought I'd give it a try. I was really surprised by what I found.
As you might expect there is "love" in this book, but I think food played just as important a roll. There were lots of recipes and directions for preparing the meals. I really enjoyed this about the book. As a wife and mom who cooks most every night for my family, I can certainly understand how food can be used to show love. I feel really great when I cook a meal that I know is good for my family and tastes good too. I just want them to know that I care enough to put forth the extra effort.
But for all the love and good food in the book, there is just as much tragedy and darkness in this book. Most of the darkness is thanks to the main character, Tita's, mother. She was an evil woman!
If you are looking for a light, airy, romance...this book is not for you. If you are looking for a truly interesting book with a little bit of everything...love, romance, food, magic, pain, tragedy, jealousy, scandal...then I'd say give Like Water for Chocolate a try.
I'm half way through Like Water for Chocolate. I am a bit surprised by this book. I didn't expect it to be so much about food. I'm not blown away, but I like it. I'm hoping to finish tonight and post my full review tomorrow. I plan on doing some shopping with my mom and sister tomorrow, so I should have some new books to share soon.
This weekend my husband and I are going to rent the movie, Anonymous. I'm really looking forward to this one. I'll add the preview below so you can check it out.
"A man with a faded, well-worn notebook open in his lap. A woman experiencing a morning ritual she doesn't understand. Until he begins to read to her. The Notebook is an achingly tender story about the enduring power of love, a story of miracles that will stay with you forever..."
"I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough"
--Noah Calhoun
The Notebook
The above quote is my favorite quote from the book. In fact it's one of my favorite quotes of all time because it makes me think of my husband. He would call himself a common man, but to me he is anything but common and I have loved him since I was 14 years old. And I'm lucky enough to know that he loves me too with all his "heart and soul".
I watched this movie years ago, and loved it so much that I bought it. I had put off reading the book because I was afraid it would be nothing like the movie, but after reading the book yesterday I am happy to say that the movie is very true to the book. I love them both!
I know most people who read romance novels have read this one, but if by some chance you've missed this one give it a try. It is a heartwarming story of unconditional, undying love, and I'm always inspired by it.
"California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.
Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.
The she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father's heart in everything. Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.
But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come down from the One who loves her even more than Michael does...the One who will never let her go.
A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God's unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love."
"Love the Lord your God, and love one another. Love one another as he loves. Love with strength and purpose and passion and no matter what comes against you. Don't weaken. Stand against the darkness, and love. That's the way back into Eden. That's the way back to life."
(Source: Redeeming Love pg. 462)
If I could use just one word to describe this book, it would be...POWERFUL!
I loved this book. From the epilogue to the prologue I was hooked. I couldn't put it down. It's full of passion and betrayal and unconditional love. There are parts of the book that are very hard to read, making me sick with the horror of what was happening, and there were chapters where I just wanted to slap Angel and scream at her..."Open your eyes!". But then I'd remember that 8 year old girl and what she'd suffered and my heart broke for her. There were times when I was on the edge of my seat anticipating the break through Michael was so lovingly urging her toward, and there were times of beauty and laughter.
But I think the main thing I took away from this book is...To love anyone the way you should, the way they deserve to be loved--your husband, your child, your mother, father, sister, brother, friends--you have to love God above all else.
Ithink anyone who enjoys a good story will enjoy this book, but if you love romance novels, Redeeming Love is must read!
I'm now on page 266 of 464, and I'm loving this book.
At the beginning of each chapter there is a heading. Most are from The Bible, but not all. I was particularly touched by the heading for chapter 15. It is from The Bible.
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18: 21-22
I woke up this morning to my eight year old daughter (*S*) jumping on my bed and saying "breakfast will be on the table in 3 minutes". She and my husband cooked breakfast this morning...eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, and my daughter made the pancakes and coffee all by herself. She was very proud and even took a picture of the table all laid out with the food. It was really good and I'm extremely full (: It's gray and rainy outside, and I feel a day of reading, movies, and a game of Monopoly coming on.
Photo Credit: *S* (8)
Last night was date night at our house, so my husband (being the great husband he is) agreed to go see The Woman in Black, so we went out for dinner and a movie. My sister (aka fellow book lover) kept *S* for us. She had big plans for the night...playing outside, pizza, video games, and movies. My seven year old nephew (*C*) knows how much his cousin loves Goosebumps. He and my sister were picking out movies before they picked *S* up for the night, and he spotted the Goosebumps movies. He offered to put the movies he picked out back if they could just get *S* a Goosebumps movie. Of course my sister told him he didn't have to put his back and they could still get a Goosebumps movie, but I think it's so sweet that he offered. It just so happens that he picked out the movie for the book that *S* had just finished and returned to her school library earlier that day. Needless to say *S* was super excited!
Now as for the movie version of The Woman in Black...
First of all we were in the movie with A LOT of teenagers, therefore it was loud in the theater. I was a bit surprised by this, and I thought maybe they all came because it was a "scary" movie. Then my husband suggested maybe they were all Harry Potter fans and there for Daniel Radcliffe. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes good sense. Whatever the reason, the theater was full of kids.
I thought the movie was visually stunning. The village, the marsh, and Eel House were exactly as I had imagined them in the book, very dark but beautiful at the same time. I loved Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps. I thought he did a very good job. So much of the movie was him reacting to things...no words...just the expression on his face, and I thought he was great.
As I expected, the movie was very little like the book. The names of the characters, the woman in black, and the circumstances that made her are all that remain of the book. The movie did have those "boo" gotcha scary parts...you know those parts in a movie that you know are coming but you still jump when they do. It might not have been so bad if the little girl next to me (I'd say she was 14) didn't scream like like a banshee at every scary part. My husband and I did a lot of laughing at the kids. You could tell they were bored at the first half of the movie, but when the action started they were into it.
Over all I liked the movie, but I think it's more of a mystery than a scary movie. And my husband, who knew nothing about it going into the movie agrees. He said it was a decent mystery movie for him and an appropriate scary movie for young teens...nothing to heavy....just a good ghost story.
So if you like historical movies with a great setting, if you like mysteries, if you like light ghost stories, or even if you just like Daniel Radcliffe, go see it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Next month's date night...The Hunger Games!!! They showed a preview for it before the movie last night, and my husband says he's interested in seeing it. Excited!!!!
We got the Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. 2012 Spring Catalog in the mail a couple days ago. My husband and I are looking it over and making our wish list for this spring. There are so many beautiful photos of fruits, and veggies, and flowers. It's fun to look at even if you aren't thinking of doing a garden.
Source: My Photo
If you'd like to order a catalog or just browse around their website you can do so by clicking HERE.
Here's a few items from my wish list! I'm so ready for spring!
