First thing which surprised me was this book has not been reviewed in MS....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...*