The Mistress of the Spices
Divakaruni,Chitra B.. The Mistress of Spices. New York: Anchor Books, 1997.
Fennel, chili, asafoetida, peppercorn, and turmeric. Are you ready for a sensual, exotic, and magical treat? If so, you will find it in ,The Mistress of Spices. I picked this book up last weekend at a used book store, and was immediately drawn in. Tilo, a wise woman and seer, runs an enchanted spice store in California. Initiated by fire into the ancient magics of spices, she is bound to help others, yet never to use her power to help herself. As the story unfolds, so does Tilo’s rebellion against the rules she is bound to follow, and she finds herself in an internal war in which she must choose to follow her heart….or burn within the same fires which initiated her. More than just a magical tale, this story also explores the trials and tribulations of being an immigrant in a new land, through the voices of Tilo’s customers. I won’t say more, as I don’t want to spoil the book for those who haven’t read it. Overall, The Mistress of the Spices, is a novel that I found making me reach into my spice cabinet in hopes that I too, might hear their voices, both kind and cruel.
Filed under: Books - Fiction
