The Mistress Of Spices: Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize Paperback – 5 Feb. 1998

This is one of those books that you begin with no expectations and are more and more amazed and enchanted as you continue. It is so well written, full of originality and totally gripping. I've put it on my 'best reads' of the year!

Mysterious and lovely book, but a bit disappointing(the setting in USA was boring and drab). I wish the book left me with a more cozy and exotic feeling, but because of the setting I kind of felt the gray light seep through everything. I’d appreciate the book more if the shop of spices kind of stood out as a safe and warm place, but the unimaginative setting in a gray town in USA ruins it a little bit for me. The author’s language is truly wonderful though and I love the chapters set on the island.

enjoyable and lyrical book and an easy read

Wonderful story, very good details and I had trouble putting it down.

I described this to a friend as 'Chocolat, but with spices' - although that's not quite the whole story. There are certainly similarities with Joanne Harris' famous novel. A woman in a small community runs a shop selling food products, and uses magical abilities to help her clients through her creations. However in 'Mistress of Spices' the magic is much more overt and deliberate and the character has been placed there by some sort of mystical grocer.The problem with formalising the magic in such a book is that unless you do it very thoroughly and clearly, readers are left picking holes or feeling confused. There was a lot that didn't really make sense to me - where did the 'spice mistresses' come from and why weren't they allowed to love/get involved with people? What was the point of it all? Why did spices seem to have special powers and be able to speak?The narrator, Tilo, the spice mistress herself, is a likeable character and as you'd expect the descriptive writing is excellent, evoking the smells, colours and textures of the spices. For me though, the underlying concept didn't really make sense and I found it hard to engage with the storyline. I also felt the love story element moved too quickly and went too easily.All in all it was an enjoyable read but not a book that bears very close scrutiny and I suspect not one that will stick with me.

i saw a film about a spice shop on tv a few months ago,then saw a book about scices,this got me thinking so got on amason found it with no problem,orded it and few days laiter started reading and could not put it down untill it was finished,it took me into a difrent world. i encourage others toget hold of the book emers themselfs in magik,mistry andwanders of spices.GREAT REED.

Just did not enjoy the story....; has great reviews but I was disappointed.

I liked the idea of the book even though mystical is not really my thing; however by the end of it I was pleased it had finished. I liked the spice aspect of it and the idea of her being sort of supernatural, but I did not quite believe in the romance, or the back story of the beloved.