Desire for Chocolate, by Care Santos

Something must have been lost in translation of this award-winning Spanish novel. A white porcelain chocolate pot that acts as an incidental character and the setting of Barcelona links three separate stories of women in different eras. The first story, set in modern times, tells of a love triangle between traditional chocolatier Sara, innovative chocolatier Oriel and food chemist Max. Neither of the male characters is credible and while Sara is more so she is not likeable. The chocolate pot’s only purpose is as a rather clumsy metaphor for their relationship, shattered and painstakingly put back together with some hope for future utility. Set in the late 19th century, the second story is for some reason written entirely in the second person, an annoying and sometimes confusing conceit. Opera dominates this tale of an orphaned servant girl who makes good late in life. The chocolate pot once again serves as a rather obscure metaphor – redemption? Forgiveness? The letter format severely limits the third story of a French delegation to Barcelona in the 18th century and the chocolate pot’s purpose in this story is a complete mystery. The convoluted plot involves French spies, including a hermaphrodite, thuggish English soldiers and the murky start of the Barcelona guild of chocolatiers. While it introduces an interesting method of looking at the history of Barcelona and its chocolatiers, the novel is let down by its expository style and its uninteresting characters.