[.ca] The Mistress of Spices (ISBN 0333999681)

From Amazon.com:
On a mythic island of women "where on our skin, the warm rain fell like pomegranate seeds" powerful spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and fenugreek whisper their secrets to young acolytes. Ordained after trial by fire, each new spice mistress is sent to a far-off land to cure the life pains of all Indian seekers, while keeping a cool distance from the mortals. Only stubborn, passionate Tilo, disguised as an old woman merchant in present-day Oakland, California, fails to heed the vengeful spices' warnings. Fragrant with spice and sensuality, this winning tale rolls off the tongue. Written in the soaring, poetic tradition of China Men and Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

One half of this book is worth it:
I recently re-read this book because I vaguely remembered liking it. I realize know why the feeling was a vague memory. The first half of the book is well-written and fabulistic in the best sense. The writing style fits the way the secondary characters and their experiences are introduced. Tilo's mythical story is also fascinating. But, with the introduction of the rich, handsome, exotic Raven, the story completely flounders. Tilo breaks many of the rules assigned to her. And the Old One and her return to the island are abandoned at the end without a second thought. I agree with a previous reviewer that it resembles a Harlequin novel. It made me want to throw the book across the room. A great first half, undermined by a flaccid 2nd half.

Magic mixed with reality.:
This book is my favorite by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Whereas her short stories all seem to end with depressing ending, this book does the complete opposite and leaves the readers with a complete sense of hope. It's the story of Tilo and how she incorporates her enchanted world into the mundane lives of those that need her help. She uses her magical spices and her powers that were granted to her to help those around her. It's a modern day fairy tale that throws mystical elements into an ordinary California town and Divakaruni writes it so magnificently, that the magical world seems believable. The stories of those that Tilo helps, tugged at my heartstrings and I found myself empathizing with more then one character. But most of all, I found myself empathizing with Tilo as she goes on her journey to find her place in the world and what she is truly meant to do. This is a heart warming story full of rich characters that the author writes with very colorful and precise details. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

A Treasure:
This is a beautiful book. Each word seems carefully chosen to weave a spellbinding story of an other-worldly woman who faces the timeless struggle of finding and honoring her own path. The prose is rhythmic, almost poetic, and rich with marvelous imagery. It is a favorite I'd recommend to anyone who knows, or wishes to know, her own heart.

A Culinary Delight!:
This book might as well be classified as culinary fiction. I was hungry for more with every flip of the page. Every word, every description, left me aching for more. The book comes alive with its vivid descriptions. I enjoyed reading it, however make sure you keep a snack or two on the side..it will make you hungry. Banerjee is a masterpiece storyteller. Her characters leap from the pages and into your heart. If you read this, I would also recommend "Arranged Marriage" along side it.

Fantasy and Real Life rolled into one:
THE MISTRESS OF SPICES by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni The story of THE MISTRESS OF SPICES by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a beautiful tale of a young woman who lives and travels through time and space, experiencing things that normal mortals do not, as she learns the secrets of the spices. Her story is intertwined with the present and the mythical past, as she explains how she came to be, and how she landed in modern day Oakland, California, where she finally ends up serving as a shop keeper selling spices to the Indian community. In her present day life, she is an old woman. She never leaves her store, which doubles as her home, and she sells spices and hands out advice as she deals with each of her customers. Deep inside, however, she's a young woman, full of life and energy, but forever trapped in this store and in this old body. She yearns to be outside, but knows that it is her fate to make no real contacts with people, to live her life alone. One day she meets a new customer, and this man is not of her people. He is an American, not Indian. But he senses something about her, and she feels a connection to him, too. She cautiously strikes up a friendship with him, something that is forbidden, but as her past showed, Tilo was always reckless and never thought of the consequences. As Tilo crosses the line over and over again, the clock starts ticking. What will finally happen to Tilo, because of her disobedience to the spice gods? Does she dare to continue in her reckless behavior, as she had done in the past? Or will she beg forgiveness, and stay content in living her life out as this old Indian woman, knowing no love or passion, only loneliness? THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is a fantasy, mixed in with our contemporary world. Once again Ms. Divakaruni writes with a lyrical pen, and creates a story a beautiful type of art. I found the reading fast and easy, and although half the story was pure fantasy, I found myself immersed in Tilo's anguish and sadness, as she deals with a life that she is not sure she wants. It's a story about what is most important to one's life, and making painful decisions that could alter one's course for the better or worse.