Cafe Con Aroma De Mujer (Spanish Edition) (2024)

El autor colombiano Fernando Gaitan, escribio esta propuesta de 80 paginas ahora publicada como libro para la cadena de television RCN. Una vez aprovada entro en producción con actores principales Guy Ecker y Margarita Rosa de Francisco. "Cafe con Aroma de Mujer" se televiso en Colombia en 1994 con 169 episodios y resulto ser un gran exito. Mas tarde se televiso en otros paises y paso a ser un super exito internacional. En el 2001 y 2007 se hicieron otras dos producciones en Mexico basadas en la misma historia. Al igual que la primera Las dos tuvieron gran exito.
Para mi fue muy interesante leer con detalle este libro que es la propuesta original de Fernando Gaitan para la televisora. Tenia curiosidad por ver como este gran autor en 80 paginas describe por primera vez el bosquejo de esta gran historia que nacio de su imaginación. Curiosidad de ver como nacio este gran exito internacional! En mi opinion lo que hace interesante esta historia es que es un romance bonito, bien pensado que se desenvuelve entorno al mundo del cafe colombiano, tocando todo lo que se refiere al cafe, las plantaciones, la recolección, el proceso, la venta, la federación, el negocio de exportación y el mercado mundial. Todo muy interesante.
Cuando leas el libro ten en mente que este no es una obra literaria completamente desarrollada, sino una propuesta, una idea para los ejecutivos de la television colombiana. Si te gusta, te recomiendo que despues veas la telenovela original de 169 episodios. Creada tambien por Fernando Gaitan.

Café con aroma de mujer came to screen when I was young (almost 8 o 10) and every woman was watching it, it was romantic, dramatic and steamy... I LOVED Gaviota... I loved her voice and song, I named my guitar Gaviota, and I know the words of the lyrics by memory not because I speak the language... I wish such books and shows are available in different languages. Such a beautiful story and Margarita Rosa de Francisco is gorgeous!

The following comments originally appeared as Borrower review on LAPL catalog, but has since vanished from there, perhaps because such reviews have limited lifespan. Those who wish to keep or share such reviews with others might print out or otherwise save copies for future reference.

More remarks about the completed 1993 telenovela may eventually re-appear as blog posts about related TV novelas and films that seem to have inspired them--in the case of CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER, the 1941 film classic CASABLANCA, set largely in Rick's CAFE--not just coincidence important location in CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER is Hacienda Casablanca...

Disney's ENCANTO also seems to have a number of allusions to CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER--to be specified later on blog--and not just in Bruno's "free entertainment" imaginary telenovela. Might just be coincidence that name of Vallejo matriarch Cecilia shares name with minor character in ENCANTO. On the other hand, both Cecilias do seem to have same unusual hair color....

See also GoodReads review of novel ENCHANTED HACIENDA; to find specific one indicated, "search review text" for word PARIENTES, refering to 2021 telenovela currently streaming on Spectrum, another example of intertextual inspiration.

Intended more as "preview of coming attractions" than SPOILERS, the following is meant to interest readers in making the effort to watch story that runs over 140 episodes. Second part of EH review that had been on LAPL was meant as crash course on telenovela viewing, a genre very different from USA soap operas they are confused with by those who have done little research.

Book is basically story proposal created before script for 1994 telenovela was actually written. Like 1998 LA MENTIRA (with same lead actor), protagonists of original version of CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER symbolize fertility of the earth, rebirth & renewal of their community. Male half of couple in fact likens himself and his love to Adam in Garden of Eden, who didn't know he was lonely until he meets Eve. Rewatching first 2 chapters recently, Sebastian calls coffee plantation "paradise".

But there are many serpents who keep separating the two destined for each other, until both gain maturity and wisdom to unite against world, she eventually rising from coffee bean picker to become highly respected authority on all aspects of coffee industry & international diplomat. Only after he loses all (therefore invalidating accusation of marrying for money), will she accept him. Triumph of worker over capitalist may be one reason telenovela story was very popular in Cuba.

As in a folk tale or Shakespeare play, patriarch announces his coffee kingdom will go to children of his young male descendants who prove worthy of taking care of it. However, young Sebastian--one of three pretenders to the throne--is literally impotent (his little problem hinted at by Anthurium flowers seen everywhere). Another male cousin is closeted hom*osexual who has long-time male partner. So assumed heir is arrogant, imperious Ivan, an egocentric womanizer.

Like a fairy tale prince under a curse, Sebastian has fruitlessly consulted wise men around the world, but found no cure--until he meets humble migrant harvester nicknamed Gaviota after her favorite song about far-flying seagull. Boundless ocean represents immense love between blue-eyed girl and awakened prince; they even go scuba diving together in fecund underwater garden. Gaviota gains allies with names beginning with "Mar" (Spanish for "sea"), Martha, Margarita, Marlon, Mauro etc. and helps other women by her feminist consolidarity in workplace.

Water metaphor continues as indicator of depth of affection: Ivan's is only size of bathtub or swimming pools he dips into with his flings. Shower, spray bottle & dirty puddle are even more shallow. Cheating wife reclining on sandy beach doesn't even get wet when her gigolo lover arrives on Jet ski. Man in loveless marriage with frigid wife routinely pours himself drink with ice cubes on entering their apartment; on wedding day he says only way he can go thru with ceremony is to get drunk--hold the ice.

Sebastian specifically says his element is fire, he walks among fireworks, near bonfire, is called pyromaniac. Favorite drink of young lovers is "aguardiente" (fire water) "un sencillo con cara de double" (two shots served in one glass; figuratively means one person with two faces or a single being made of two). When each suspects wrongly the other is part of love triangle, they both order same "con cara de TRIPLE") Final image of story shows two walking together while closely embracing as if only one person, like biblical "two shall become one", surrounded by greenery of their vast fertile domain.

In her upward journey, Gaviota develops three identities, personas with different names, seemingly reflection of her mother constantly blessing her "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (latter represented by a dove).

Carmenza, Gaviota's humble mother, practically has a doctorate in telenovela viewing, citing incidents that apply to "real life" situations. In this series, characters' private lives repeatedly burst out into publically performed dramas with avid audience watching & listening in restaurant, or in one memorable scene evoking Elizabethan Globe theater, office workers looking down from balconies of surrounding buildings. And then there's climactic arena bull fight after pursuit thru crowded streets!

Student Sebastian shares traits with Shakespeare's Hamlet; he's "haunted" by ghost of his grandfather, and tells woman psychologist that one of his problems is being indecisive (remember "To be--or not to be"?) Depictions of Saint he's named after also evokes image of "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune". First time for either of lovers results in pregnancy, but he doesn't know of this until after baby dies before birth. Don't worry, eventually there's fruitful family happy ending.

Story is sweet and funny as well as weepy, tho lovely scenes can also cause tears to flow. Songs performed by leading lady (released as two soundtrack albums) and classic records heard by characters (on jukebox & vinyl) are wonderful too.

Hope that one day there may be book(s) about such classic telenovelas (perhaps by their creators), leading to greater appreciation of genre, the aim of book on another genre, A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL by Pamela Regis.

Like romance novels, telenovelas are extremely popular, yet apparently little studied, much misunderstood, and often confused with USA-made soap operas, judging by recent best-seller fiction by writers passing as authorities who may have only casually watched a few. On Demand access to some classics via streaming services such as VIX or ROKU may help rectify this lack of knowledge and respect.