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Jan 03, 2009

bookczuk rated it:

I must say that this really was unlike anything else I have ever read, but more because of the multimedia opportunities: straight-forward science fiction (ha!) graphic novel, poetry, arias and even an accompanying CD. Whoa!

A romance that covers a span of 14,000 past lives and a time period from Montezuma to the 23rd century-- and does it all in a plausible, manner. I'd just re-read Like Water For Chocolate and while on one hand the two novels seem so different, there is a similar to More...

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Jan 09, 2012

Hardly rated it:

After all the hype regarding Like Water for Chocolate, and in view of my deep interest in reincarnation in fiction, I had greatly anticipated this book. It had a compelling start, in detailing the karmic events set into motion with Rodrigo and Citlala, but the switch to the futuristic setting, with all its fantastical and foreign new technologies and philosophies, was too much far, far too soon.

Problems I identified were: poor, scanty characterization; almost total lack of blocking (d More...

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Oct 05, 2011

Jess rated it:

I found this book several years ago in the hallway of my first apartment building in New York (the one that also frequently had chicken bones littering the halls). It had been discarded by my neighbor across the way; she had put out many books over the time I lived there, mostly of a semi-mystical, feminist bent (for example, this is also where I found a copy of Women Who Run With the Wolves). I was kind of fascinated by the neighbor, as she designed clothes and had a fabulously overstuffed livi More...

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Jun 22, 2011

Deborah rated it:

This book was amazing! Ms. Esquivel did an amazing job of blending science fiction, humor, Buddhism, & Catholicism into a beautiful story that quite simply is a call to mankind to come together in love. This is a book that I must own so that I can re-read it throughout my life. ;-)
Here are three of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Most people are constantly forming opinions...This creates an insurmountable barrier and we find ourselves dominated by intolerance. As soon as we mee More...

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Apr 07, 2009

BJ Rose rated it:

Is this meant to be science-fiction? Or is it a tongue-in-cheek spoof of every aspect of life the author could toss in? The fact that I still don't know after finishing it tells me that whatever the author meant it to be, it missed completely with me. Reincarnation over centuries until you get life right - I'm OK with that. A man having to be reincarnated as a woman so 'he' can experience rape from her perspective - I'm fine with that. Because fetuses 'created' in a lab become bodies without sou More...

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Jan 05, 2009

Cheryl rated it:

This book came with a CD to listen to as you read the book, a multimedia experience that was amazing. The illustrations were interesting and added depth to the story. It was one of the most unique reading experiences in my life and I wish there were more like it! I loved the CD and still listen to it, it has some great songs by Liliana Felipe, a Mexican folk singer as well as arias from Puccini. I like most of Esquivel's writing, it can be spiritual and funny and philosophical all at the sam More...

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Dec 11, 2009

Laurel rated it:

Another odd multimedia novel by this quirky, romantic author. This take place in a Farenheit 451'ish futuristic world where people are "protected" against the unhappy emotions brought on by music. In such a sheltered environment, this story is what happens when an inhabitant hears the great opera arias as her only exposure to music. As an added bonus, a CD of the music she hears in included. As you read, you can listen along with the character. It adds a fun twist to this cautionary ta More...

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Mar 09, 2010

Lola rated it:

Everyone has heard some variation of the saying that goes there’s someone out there for everyone, that everyone has a soul mate. Now, imagine the future, to where your twin soul is not just known to exist, but traceable. You may enjoy your and share your love with your soul’s other half, but only after you have proven yourself worthy of such a reward by paying off karmic debts from 14,000 of your past lives. After completing the necessary requirements, and meeting your twin soul, imagine they a More...

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Nov 25, 2008

Lausº rated it:

I am not sure that is true, but when I bought it, they told me it was the first interactive novel. The fact is that in certain parts of the book are a series of illustrations (like a story-book) wich are complemented by a CD with opera and popular music.
The main character is Azucena and the story focuses on the search for their soul mate, with which it has been involved in their past lives since pre-Hispanic times.
I read it twice, the second time, I decided not to use the interacti More...

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Jul 25, 2009

Miriam rated it:

I really admire Laura Esquivel for trying to combine graphic art, music, and writing. This novel is ridiculous, like a space-aged telenovella (time travel, lots of explosions, reincarnation, trips to mars, mind-reading, teleportation, lovers bodysnatching grandmothers (just read it)). Her conception of prison as a place where criminals are rehabilitated by pampering, praise, hugs, and encouragement- the worse the crime, the lovelier the loving- Is a dreamy, wonderful idea.

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Oct 27, 2011

Kazza rated it:

It was such a novel idea to combine music with the story. The book came with a CD (unfortunately, as it was a library copy, the CD was not with the book when I borrowed it) and throughout the story, the reader is prompted to listen to certain track. I was, however, happy that there was a list of the CD tracks at the back at the book and I mostly listen to the music (not exactly the same but it will do) on youtube.

A totally magical realistic book set in a 'dystopian' era, it was truly More...

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Mar 26, 2008

Robert rated it:

Laura Esquivez is like a Mexican Kurt Vonnegut. This novel is an entertaining, if not an easy read. Set primarily in the distant future, it is the story of Azucena, an old soul who finally connects with her soul mate only to lose him immediately. She must unravel a complicated past of confusing past lives to restore the Aztec Law of Love and the temple that holds it before she can again know the bliss of perfect love. At times hilarious, the original book was published with an accompanying C More...

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May 06, 2007

liz rated it:

Past lives... whoa! Very cool, New-Agey, romantic (even if you don't agree with all of it), and features full-color drawings of the past-life regressions. And yes, the main character is a pain in the ass (why must that be a recurring theme in the books I've been reading lately?).

To know how to produce a work of art is to know how to discard the extraneous. All creation follows the same process. In the maternal womb, the cells themselves know what to discard; some sacrifice themselves More...

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Apr 06, 2007

Lynne rated it:

I bought this book YEARS ago after reading Like Water for Chocolate (by the same author) and it sat on my shelf until I was ready to give it away unread. Well, I'm glad I read it. In this story, Esquivel follows a group of characters who find each other throughout several lifetimes and reincarnations. In this universe, karmic debt is paid over hundreds or thousands of years, but in the story's "present" individuals can learn about their past lives through regressing using pictures, sou More...

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Oct 02, 2010

Tim rated it:

"The Law of Love" is a real curate's egg. A multimedia novel, containing a CD of songs listened to by the protagonists, it mashes up reincarnation, space travel, humour, tragedy, rape, revenge, politics, satire and the history of Mexico into a story which is almost always entertaining, but never very involving. Definitely worth a read, but don't expect more than flashes of brilliance.

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Nov 09, 2011

Ana rated it:

Una experiencia totalmente nueva y divertida, el libro viene con un CD que te permite escuchar las melodias que los personajes estan escuchando en ciertos momentos, además tiene partes ilustradas como un comic, es genial!! ademas la historia trata mucho sobre vidas pasadas, amor, despertar de conciencia, esos temas que cada vez son más tocados y hablados entre las personas

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Sep 22, 2011

Megan rated it:

Although this would never have been my choice of a book (without my book clubs guidance I never would have picked it up) I am finding that I really look forward to the little interludes: music, illustrations and poems.
Now that I have finished it I can say it was an interesting experience. A lot of lifes questions come up and it should be a good book club discussion.

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Jan 09, 2011

Casey rated it:

Fabulous love story that crosses lifetimes and deals with personal and cultural karma righting itself. It's a book that struck me deeply and I was entranced with the use of music and sound bites to accompany the text, transporting you into the scenes.

A must read for anyone with an interest in metaphysics.

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Oct 27, 2011

Bridget rated it:

I really like Laura Esquivel and I enjoyed this book. It includes a CD soundtrack of music that merges well with her surreal love story. Very much like Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who I also enjoyed reading very much. Esquivel is better known for "Like Water for Chocolate".

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Apr 08, 2009

R. Z. rated it:

A beautiful cover, an included CD, and pages and pages of pastel paintings couldn't make this a book worth reading. It was truely awful. I picked it up because I am a big fan of the magical realism often found in the South American literary tradition, but Esquivel just doesn't have it!

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Nov 17, 2011

QueenAmidala28 rated it:

I'm 3/4 of the way done with this book. I love how Esquivel combines history with mythology/native religious beliefs. This book definitely transcends time! Her philosophy on love and relationships is very cool.This is definitely a book I would purchase!

Finally finished the book (read two others in between). Glad I did. It's a little out there but I still couldn't put it down!

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Dec 06, 2009

Marianne rated it:

I generally love Laura Esquivel's novels, but I found this one didn't take me away as much as the other's did. I think it was the music tracks intended to go with the book that threw me off - it just kept pulling me back out of the book and into the real world again.

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Oct 15, 2008

Mari rated it:

the first multi media book that LAura esquivel has written. she is also the author of Like Water For Chocolate. This is a sci-fi love story. It is filled with the past from the days of the conquistadores and travels all the future where it is not only planet earth that is inhabited, but also the other planets in our solar system. There is a spaceship that brings entertainment to the planets that are considered "low status" and there are televirtual sets that bring the news and environm More...

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Jan 17, 2009

Stephanie rated it:

I wanted to like this more since it was such a cool combination of music, graphic novel and the author who wrote "Like Water for Chocolate" but the whole new-agey love story wrapped in science fiction with a huge scoop of reincarnation karma was just a big muddle. The music was the best part. The sound effects underlying the classical music (screams, sirens, crying) was very eerie.

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Aug 07, 2011

Qqbeans rated it:

This was amazing... just amazing, when I read this it was a multimedia experience, part graphic novel, part sci-fi, part non cheesy love story PLUS music

I love this one even more than her first

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May 01, 2011

Miki rated it:

Not nearly as delicious (pardon the pun) as "Like Water for Chocolate." Some nice, zany, interesting moments, but ultimately, the lead characters were woefully underdeveloped, and the ending felt way too pat.

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Aug 30, 2008

Kelly rated it:

I guess I am just not hip or open enough to this book. I didn't care for it. I felt as if Esquivel was pandering to the audience and trying to show us how cool she is to have illustrations and music and to write a book that doesn't fit into any one genre. Then I felt guilty for not liking the book (because I loved her Like Water for Chocolate so much) that I listened to it on audio after reading it. Nope, that didn't change my mind at all. I just think the entire story is bizarre. I guess it's h More...

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Oct 07, 2009

Juliana rated it:

Two souls born together living a thousand lifetimes of interaction to find a place of love and forgiveness. They find balance between male and female souls.

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Feb 08, 2009

Melissa rated it:

Beautiful book about life and love and how it doesn't aways work the way we want. But in the end even the things we didn't expect make us who we are.

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Sep 23, 2011

Daniela rated it:

A book indescribably unbearable. Full of faults, cliches ... Annoying. I would give minus 1 if possible. One of the few books that I had to give up

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