The Mistress of SpicesA first novel by the author of the short story collection, "Arranged Marriage, "The Mistress of Spices is a mystical tale told by Tilo, a young Indian woman in an old woman's body who has been trained in the secret powers of spices. Her special knowledge leads her to Oakland, California where she uses it to help the local Indian community by opening a spice shop from which she administers spices as curatives. Tilo can see into people's hearts and minds but it is a mistress's duty to keep herself at a distance, "not too far nor too near, in calm kindness poised." However, Tilo is unable to obey her charge, and she becomes emotionally involved with her customers as they struggle with the demands of their families, the clash of the old way versus the American way, racism, abusive husbands-all of the complexities of living in the modern world. It is also her duty to limit her involvement to the Indian community. But Tilo finds herself mysteriously drawn to an American man named Raven, whose innermost thoughts she cannot read. Her complex and passionate relationships with her customers and Raven are in violation of her spice mistress vows, and so she finds herself forced to choose between the magical of an immortal and the vicissitudes of life in the real world. Vibrant, vivacious, headstrong and daring, Tilo is unforgettable and so is her story." |
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Common terms and phrases
Ahuja's wife already amchur asafetida Basmati beautiful besan body bones bougainvillea girls breath burning cardamom chapatis chest CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI color comes counter Daksha dark door dream dupatta eyes face feel fenugreek fingers Geeta Geeta's grandfather give glass hair Hameeda hands Haroun head hear heart hold Indian inside island Jagjit kalo jire Kheer knew laddus laugh leave lips listen lonely American look lotus root Mistress Mistress of Spices mother mouth never night once packet pain palm papads parathas Perhaps pull push Ramu redblack remember sandalwood says Raven shake Shampati's fire silence skin smell smile someone sound Spice Bazaar spices stare stop sure sweet tell things thought throat Tilo Tilottama told turmeric turn Veena voice waiting watch whisper woman women words