The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Divacaruni

Here is a book that might be called “A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups.” It is Chitra Divakaruni’s first novel, and the label “Magical Realism” applies.

Downtown Oakland CA is as unglamorous a location as one can find, and yet, it is the ideal setting for this tale. In her spice shop Tilo sees, hears, understands a variety of customers. Readers hear the voices, smell the spices, and perhaps wonder how it is possible that one person has so much empathy and knowledge.

Divacaruni traces events, some firmly grounded, others that require readers to “willingly suspend” their view of normal, but both varieties are woven together in a skillful fashion, and readers glide through them. Her protagonist, Tilo, is an old woman, think the customers. Some are grateful for her intervention, others barely notice it.

Unlike the people come to the shop we readers know what risks she takes for them. We readers fear the result of tempting fate. . . and we, because we’ve read this book, perhaps understand the Oakland earthquake. ( )

Book is better than the film, naturally...
I love this story. The fact that I read a borrowwed copy and it is now on my Wishlist to purchase should say a lot about how I feel about this book. I look forward to reading other books by this author. ( )

I like this book.It is a romance story and imagine that tha spices can make our life better and we hopu if it is real.Also there is a film fot this story so i understant it very much.
Khadija

Mistress of Spices is the story of an Indian girl Tilo living in San Francisco. She manages a spice shop, called the Spice Bazaar. It is not one of the usual spice shops you see around, but one where the shop owner dispenses with spices that cure you of your problems and show them the way ahead.there are three rules that she should not touch any person skin, don't leave the stor and don't love. After that he destroy all the rules and many things happen.
Anon.

Tilo, the titular 'Mistress of Spices' is a shopkeeper and an immigrant from India who helps customers satisfy their needs and desires with spices. Her life changes when she falls in love with an American man and broke the rules.
Fatima ( )

This one is supposed to be one of the most acclaimed books of the author Chitra Banerjee Devakaruni and we even have a movie based on this one which was a horror story.Coming to the book...despite that fact that I have loved this author’s book I was avoiding it like a plague....the reason being the movie made based on this book and the lukewarm response it got....but then my better sense prevailed and I finally picked it and am glad I picked it.The Spices of true power are from my birthland, land of ardent poetry, aquamarie feathers. Sunset skies brilliant as blood.They are the ones I work with.If you stand in the centre of this room and turn slowly around, you will be looking at every Indian spice that ever was - even the lost ones - gathered here upon the shelves of my store.I think I do not exaggerate when I say there is no other place in the world quite like this.This the is the mystical world of Tilo. The story is a love story which transports you to another world. An imaginary world where the lead protagonist is a wonder kid, becomes a sea pirate & The Mistress of Spices (TMS).....Its the story of Tilo.....who runs an Indian Spice store in Oakland, California. She is endowed with magical powers, the power to know whats going on in people’s mind, its the story of her efforts to heal the Indians coming to her store....the author traces Tilo’s journey from her remote village to the island of spices & then to Oakland. Being a TMS she is not allowed to leave the store, she is not allowed to see a mirror, she is not allowed human touch...in few words she is a body with soul, she is supposed to feel for others but she can not feel for herself nor dream for herself.....she was quite happy with her restricted life Till Her American enters in her life & from here starts her journey of expecting more from life...she starts breaking rules, she is reprimanded & restricted by the spices....The book is about Tilo’s dreams, her efforts to follow rules but still breaking them, her efforts to heal people. But can she lead a normal life with her American??? Can she get out of the magical powers endowned on her??? Can she beat the spices? You need to read this book to know more....The book is divided into chapters & each chapter is named on a spice. For eg Turmeric, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Asafoetida, Fennel....It has several parallel stories (Tilo solves the problems lying therein)my favorite is the one of Geeta. In this one the author has very beautifully captured the cultural differences faced by Indians settled abroad...at one place parents give freedom to their kids but then they are also unable to give them a free hand....there is another story of a battered housewife which will surely touch your heart....And then there is the story of the American which is the highlight of the book...it is touching, its interesting, it has something magical in it & It keeps you guessing....Though the begining is slow & the end is quite unbelievable but in totality  the book is splendid....As I have always said about the Author she has magical fingers...the way she weaves fiction into facts is splendid....the book is all magic of words & thoughts which makes you believe the unbelievable.....Chitra Banerjee has a penchant of jumping from one story to another & keeps you wanting more....I recommend this book to everyone because as i have said earlier also it tarnsports you to  fairy world, It is about selflessness, about dilemma’s of people settled abroad.......Its about Magic, Its About Love, Its about holding on to your Dreams till they are fulfilled & then dreaming some more.....It is like a fairy tale hard to believe but easy to dream...  ( )

Once upon a time, a girl was born to a family in India. Although neither beautiful nor wealthy, she none the less became arrogant, obstinate, and merciless -- for she possessed magic. Though she wanted love, she knew only how to elicit fear. After causing the destruction of her village, she finds the Old One and discovers her true calling as a Mistress of Spices. Promising never to love anyone or anything above the spices, she dedicates her life and power to helping others as a sorceress of immigrant dreams from an inconspicuous and dilapidated storefront in modern-day Oakland, California. But then temptation comes in the form of an American whose loneliness matches her own. The story weaves back and forth from her present to her past, always with a hint of fragrant and enchanted spices on the air. Divakaruni has woven a modern-day fable about seeking redemption while longing for happiness and love in a world where magic is real, and spiced.