Vous voulez voir cette page en fran�ais ? Cliquez ici.

2 used from CDN$ 3.57

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Mistress of Spices (Paperback)

by Chitra B Divakaruni (Author)

4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.

2 used from CDN$ 3.57

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Sister of My Heart: A Novel

by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

4.5 out of 5 stars (150) CDN$ 13.83

The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

by Maxine Hong Kingston

3.5 out of 5 stars (154) CDN$ 11.64

What Night Brings

by Carla Trujillo

4.5 out of 5 stars (4) CDN$ 14.24

Their Eyes Were Watching God

by Zora Neale Hurston

4.2 out of 5 stars (250) CDN$ 13.86

The Last Report On The Miracles At Little No Horse: A Novel

by Louise Erdrich

4.2 out of 5 stars (35) CDN$ 14.56

› Explore similar items

Product Details

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Transworld Paperbacks; Film tie-in edition edition (April 4 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 055277345X
ISBN-13: 978-0552773454
Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.8 x 2.6 cm
Shipping Weight: 223 g

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Divakaruni, author of the award-winning short story collection Arranged Marriage (Anchor, 1995), has crafted a fine first novel that makes a smooth transition to the audio format. Tilo, proprietress of the Spice Bazaar in Oakland, California, is not the elderly Indian woman she appears to be. Trained as a mistress of spices, she evokes the magical powers of the spices of her homeland to help her customers. These customers, mostly first- or second-generation immigrants, are struggling to adapt their Old World ideals to the unfamiliar and often unkind New World. Though trapped in an old woman's body and forbidden to leave the store, Tilo is unable to keep the required distance from her patrons' lives. Her yearning to join the world of mortals angers the spices, and Tilo must face the dire consequences of her disobedience. Divakaruni, whose conversational style translates well into audio, blends social commentary and romance into an eloquent novel of the human condition. With superb narration from Sarita Choudhury, this production is highly recommended for all fiction collections.?Beth Farrell, Portage Cty. Dist. Lib., Ohio
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?

	66% buy the item featured on this page: Mistress of Spices 4.0 out of 5 stars (77)
	34% buy Sister of My Heart: A Novel 4.5 out of 5 stars (150) CDN$ 13.83

Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

77 Reviews

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (77 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic mixed with reality., Jun 28 2004

By	* "lopa94" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mistress of Spices: A Novel (Paperback)

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.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure, Oct 31 2003

By	"fireflies2" (Richardson, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mistress of Spices: A Novel (Paperback)

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.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars A Culinary Delight!, Oct 13 2003

By	SB "arcticflame" (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mistress of Spices: A Novel (Paperback)

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.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 77 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars 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. Read more

Published on Aug 2 2003 by nikitabot

5.0 out of 5 stars 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... Read more

Published on Jul 21 2003 by Ratmammy

4.0 out of 5 stars Very beautiful
It took me a bit to get into The Mistress of Spices, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. The beginning just -- well -- begins and I admittedly got lost. Read more

Published on Jun 29 2003 by jmz

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb novel, sensual and intriguing
It is always nice to see new writers protraying other cultures. This offers us a window on the world of the India sub-continent. Read more