Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing, racist, cliche & predictable
Review: I HATED THIS BOOK. I would NOT recommend this to any one. I was insulted in every predictable chapter. I thought the comparison of this to Like Water for Chocolate is EXTREMELY MISLEADING.
Rating: 
Summary: A gorgeous book, delightful to read.
Review: This lush, imaginative fable of Tilo, Mistress of Spices, and her journey through life from childhood in India to a mysterious island, to a dusty and magical spice shop in Oakland, is an unexpected delight. Readers whose palates have been jaded by more sophisticated fare might find this book less than satisfying if they approach it with the expectation of finding another writer's work. This is not Allende or Marquez: "Mistress of Spices" is a delightful original, and should be read as such. The love story between Tilo and Raven, if taken as the center of the book, might seem a little flat to some; but intertwined with the exotic flavors of the other life-stories in the book, it works pretty well. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for a good read on a cold winter's evening.
Rating: 
Summary: A lousy read
Review: This book was very disappointing. I had high hopes in the beginning, thinking I had found an Indian Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende. The author started with potential--she managed the magical realism well and wrote charming descriptions of Tilo's shop and her customers. But I found myself caring much more about the side characters than I did about Tilo. Tilo seemed nothing more than a cliche--(the iconoclast who understands the truth better than the pious followers, the rebellious youth who is really the best loved, etc. etc.). The love story was complete drivel--the book quickly unraveled once Raven entered the story. The author went to great pains to explain the grand passion and attraction, but I didn't believe any of it--I didn't sense any romance or chemistry between the characters. Raven's character was completely unlikable; between his constant whining about his "earthly paradise" and his personal history, I wanted to throw down the book in disgust. But, all of that aside, the WORST part of the novel was the ending. The ending was a terrible, pathetic attempt to wrap everything into a nice, neat little mushy bow. It was a cop-out and incredibly adolescent. I'm disturbed to hear this book described as any sort of "woman's journey"--the main female character started strong and ultimately embraced weak stereotypes.
Rating:
Summary: Over-rated & sappy
Review: Though this book has some lovely passages & absorbing tableaus, much of it reads like a made-for-TV movie especially for those of us who have cut our teeth on Allende, Marquez & Robbins.Short stories may be a more appropriate form for this author.
Rating: 
Summary: A blend of colorful myth and magical realism.
Review: I was very exited to find another of Divakaruni's works after reading *Arranged Marriages* a couple years ago. The story of Tilo, a young woman from a distant time and place, takes place right here in our very own Bay area, Oakland. The theme of the story begins once Tilo, with the guidance of the sea snakes, reaches an island where she was taken under the wing of the Old One. Once it was apparent that Tilo had the gift of communicating with the spices she began to train in the ways of the ancient art of spices. Once Tilo accepted to be serve and give her loyalty to the spices,she was ordained as a Mistress of the spices. After her initiation and warnings from the Old One, Tilo walked into the fire and was set down in the body of an old arthritic East Indian woman...in a small spice shop...in the town of Oakland...in the present time. Tilo now was to practice her magic and share her remedies within the confines of her little spice shop. Tilo begins her work as a Mistress and finds herself testing the boundries of her lot in this life. Many situations arise that test the traditional ways of the way a Mistress is to be for Tilo. The inevitable romance arises and Tilo finds herself asking the spices to use their power for her own purposes, a taboo for a Mistress. Tilo uses up her time in Oakland and for her actions is consumed by the flames Shampati's fire. This causes a huge earthquake with it's center at Tilo's spice shop. Concurrently Tilo is back on the island where the Old One gives her a choice, to be her sucessor or return to Oakland and continue on her own path as a Mistress of the Spices within no confines. The story then flashes to Tilo back in Oakland and her searching among the ruins ways to help the people. The ending of the story leaves the reader to only imagine what Tilo has yet to experience. I enjoyed the book for it's creative story line and colorful details. I would suggest this book for a leisurely read. It would be ideal read the book in one or two sittings, because the story moves so fast. I must say that I like Divakaruni's book, *Arranged Marriages* more, so I feel that if I had not already had an expectation of this book, I would have given it a higher star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Lush and descriptive -- captivating
Review: A beautifully told story that easily draws in the reader. Best suited for those who enjoyed "Like Water for Chocolate" or early Isabel Allende. The element of mysticism is romantic, I was completely involved in this book from the minute I picked it up. I recommend it only when someone has the time to actually sit down and read it without distraction. What I like best about the writing is the totality of its descriptions -- truly sensual and pleasing to the mind and imagination. I very much look forward to reading more by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
Rating:
Summary: marketing exoticism
Review: The fact that this book was originally sold along with a packet of 'exotic' spices should alert the reader to the at times ridiculous brand of pseudo-eastern mysticism therein. By the end of the book, we are convinced only that divakaruni has a sound grasp of how south asia should be marketed to salacious readers eager to glimpse an imagined oriental fantasy-land.
Rating:
Summary: A great "spiritual journeying" book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Chitra Divakaruni. The style of writing is so beautifully descriptive. The visuals which were invoked made the book such a sensual experience. The story unfolds in such a way that your interest is held throughout. A real woman's "spiritual journeying" book.
Rating:
Summary: a unigue approach to storytelling
Review: I loved the way the author used the spice shop to weave small stories about the lives of many characters. I also liked that in all cases the mistress let compassion rule, even when it was a danger to herself. The ending was satisfying too...END
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting fairy tale
Review: It is a magical tale which is strongest when describing the customers in Tito's spice shop, but weakest in the Raven and Tito love story. I also felt a dictionary defining the innummerable Indian terms would have been of some assistance. I did enjoy seeing the consequences of Tito's actions when she disobeyed the spices. Yet the ending just seemed to flip flop with the back and forth of the love story, as if the author herself could not decide how to end it.
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