This is a combination of myth and sensual realism, in a love story where a Mexican telegraph operator sets the world to rights by benevolently mistranslating messages.
Swift As Desire
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Amazon Review
Laura Esquivel's Swift As Desire is a novel-cum-tribute to her father Jubilo, "born happy and on holiday" in early 20th-century Mexico. Now on his deathbed and unable to speak, his daughter Lluvia, the story's narrator, tries to puzzle out what had driven her parents' marriage asunder, for "even though the lines were down, their love kept travelling as swift as their desire".
Jubilo seems to have had every virtue: as son, father and friend, his gifts of communication, generosity and warmth were legion. And if his characterisation as husband leans rather too heavily on adoringly possessive Latin who makes love like a divine demon--well, let's overlook the stereotyping. His passion for his wife Lucha and their two children, his dedication to his work as a telegraph operator and his general bon vivance made him a man for all worlds. And yet, and yet... a photograph found by chance leads Lluvia to the heart of the matter.
Esquivel's frequent, interspersed reflections and observations, intruding on the narrative flow, tilt towards the trite and obvious, and are often surprisingly clumsily expressed. But the award-winning author of the bestselling Like Water for Chocolate presents her characters with such affection and zest, and such bountiful sensuality, that the book's shortcomings can be overlooked. --Ruth Petrie
Review
'Esquivel's special gift is making ordinary lives appear extraordinary.. Ten years since LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, but (Esquivel) has lost none of her touch.' (The Birmingham Evening Mail )
'Small but perfectly formed.' Glamour
'Esquivel tells a story with earthy, observant sensuality ... it vividly evokes universal emotions in an exotic world.' (Jessica Mann Sunday Telegraph )
'A beautiful story, rich with love, that closely examines language, communication and misunderstanding.' (Punch )
'Haunting and hypnotic love story.' (Harpers & Queen ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'Small but perfectly formed.' Glamour
'Esquivel tells a story with earthy, observant sensuality ... it vividly evokes universal emotions in an exotic world.' (Jessica Mann Sunday Telegraph )
'A beautiful story, rich with love, that closely examines language, communication and misunderstanding.' (Punch )
'Haunting and hypnotic love story.' (Harpers & Queen ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Joanne
Format:Paperback
I read this book in only 3 short sessions and was so drawn in by the charachters and how "LOVE" was portrayed. That was 5 months ago and I haven't stopped recommending this book yet!
The storey follows the life of Don Jublio, who has the gift of commumication. From words, he could hear true message behind it all and so would often dabble in the lives of others as a diplomat on matters of love, bringing people back together.
As he lies on his death bed we learn how his loving relationship with his wife was destroyed and how his daughter tries to reconcile them both before it is too late.
I often read paragraphs 2 or 3 times, to think about the meaning of what was written or to enjoy the poeticness of the words. Here is one example.
'Love is a verb. One demonstrates one's love through one's actions. And a person can only feel loved when someone else shows their love with kisses, hugs, caresses and gifts. A lover will always promote the physical and emotional well-being of the person he loves.'
Esquivel continues with examples of the above.
'So we see that the verb to love can be conjugated in two ways. By hugging and kissing, or by supplying material goods'
It's a great read, which stirs up a wide range of emotions inside you.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
...but having read the rather negative review I felt compelled to. This is a wonderful story beautifully written. It is rather short, which makes it perfect for reading over and over again, which I do particularly when I am thoughtfully mulling over the complications of my own love life specifically, or when considering the absurd ways we as human beings conduct ourselves in relationship more generally! For me this book is an old friend.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Laura Esquivel, author of "Like Water for Chocolate" gives us a simple but universal story about what happens in families and marriages when people forget how to talk to one another.
Júbilo is part Mayan Indian, part Spanish, and learns at an early age to translate for his Spanish mother and Mayan grandmother, thus bringing them together for the first time. Júbilo has this effect on everyone, an ability to mediate and communicate, or as the narrator, his daughter Lluvia says 'his words are pure alchemy.'
He becomes a telegraph operator, and codes, signs and the conducting of messages, and electricity became metaphors for Laura's theme of the importance of communication and the transforming power of words. Beautifully life affirming, with all the exotic attraction of its Mexican setting.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great buy
Although I haven't read it yet. I love this author and the book arrived in just a few days and at such a good price I am very happy with it x
Published 5 months ago by Fairy clairy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good in Parts
Jubilo is born with a smile on his face and an immense zest for life and for love. His grandmother, a Mayan Indian, teaches him her language and, although only a small boy, Jubilo... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Susie B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple and Powerful
Having reread `Like Water for Chocolate' after approximately 10 years, I got curious as to what else Laura Esquivel had written and came up with this. WOW! Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2007 by maria1971
2.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing after "Like water for Chocolate"
I bought this because I enjoyed the mystical romance Like Water for Chocolate, but this didn't quite hit the same spot. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2004 by C. Black
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Escapism
This book is fantastic. It takes you on a journey through the life of Lluvia's father, Jubilo.The reader can absorb every emotion and feeling conveyed in the book. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2002
4.0 out of 5 stars
A reminder to love and communicate while you can
This short little book stayed with me for a while after I read it recently. Having been in a similar situation to Lluvia I found the deterioration of her father and the little... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2002
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