The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

[meganbmoore]

Tilo is a young woman trained in the ways of spices and made immortal (in the form of an old woman) when she is sent out into the world (specifically, California) to use her knowledge of spices to help people.

Like the children’s book The Conch Bearer, which is the only other book of Divakaruni’s that I’ve read, the imagery is vivid and involving

Comments

[wasabi_girl1]

I've seen the movie. I personally didn't really like the book, just because the end was so wishy-washy. The movie takes out that part, which made me happy, but it's not the best story in the world, y'know? Ash does a good job with the material she has...

[meganbmoore]

The ending was a bit "neat and tidy" for my tastes, but it worked, and I was strongly influenced by reading the whole thing in fear of a repeat of Conch Bearer.

[wasabi_girl1]

I personally think that Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni did such an amazing job with The Palace of Illusions - so far beyond Mistress of Spices - that I hope and pretend that it was just a blip on the road. ;)

[rachelmanija]

I suggest that you next Divakaruni be Palace of Illusions, the Mahabharata retelling.

[meganbmoore]

I have it, I just need to read the original first.

[rachelmanija]

I recommend Ramesh Menon's. Don't be intimidated by the length, it's a very quick read.