Sunday, 24th November 2002, 5:40pm
An opinion by: Nette

 

The Law of Love by Laura Esquivel

Laura Esquivel wrote the book "Like Water for Chocolate", which I enjoyed a lot, and also wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation. So here she explores mixed media further, by producing a novel that is accompanied by paintings and a cd of music. The effect is very cinematic, aided by the fact that her writing style is visual.

As you read the novel it tells you regularly which cd track you should be playing. Sometimes the characters in the book are also listening to the music, sometimes it is more of a soundtrack. It worked well when I was disciplined enough to sit myself down next to my cd player, but late at night while reading in bed I often closed the book because I didn't feel like getting up to sort all the elements out. The guilt of not participating properly in the multi-media experience wore off after awhile, and then I'd just continue reading without even noting the cd indications. There's gotta be an easier way to mix things up - a cd-rom, perhaps? Or another film? Still, a noble experiment.

The novel is futuristic, taking various elements of reincarnation theory to another level in a Brave New World kinda way. For example, a leaf from a plant contains the memory of events in a room that can be viewed with a special camera, (morphic fields, anyone?). The plot centres around all kinds of cameras and gadgets like this, and souls hopping from one body to another, (mildly confusing at times but still less stressful than knowingly ignoring the cd). The story was entertaining, but not entirely engaging because with all the past lives intertwining and the layers of karmic debt etc. every character is alternately victimized and villainous. And there is a lot of theory about the Law of Love that feels like a new age workshop or an afternoon with Oprah. This is rapidly drowned in the puzzle-solving, and easy enough to ignore by blasting the cd with headphones on.

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