Just arrived today from Amazon!

I'm 1/3rd of the way through this book. It moves at a slow, gentle pace. The story unfolds with mystery and magic enough to keep me wondering about who will come through the door of the spice shop next.

It is the story of an ageless woman, who since birth has had a longing for the thing that comes next that can never be identified. The protagonist calls it "calling thoughts". She found the strongest sense of self in learning the power and magic of spices from The First Mother on an island with other novices. She now resides in Oakland, CA and is a Mistress of Spices at a spice shop. But a stranger enters the store one day and his presence sets up new spiritual and physical territory to explore within herself and this tempts the magic of the spices to abandon her.

This story, which was slow to start, but lyrical enough to propel me forward has really griped me with anticipation of this coming of age of an ageless soul, the Mistress. The stranger who she refers to as My American, has a story all his own that I sense he is revealing for the first time. The submissions of this story are subtle and many, but there is a silk thread that runs through it that offers the reader the idea that a clashing of ideas is also a coming together, a blooming of human consciousness and heart. The agelessness of the Mistress implies to me that the process itself is timeless and blows the myth that "one is an adult at 18, 21, or should be at a certain place in their life at a certain time". Life is process, all about process.

This book will begin its travels with:

gypceyes/PA
Ardy/PA
16stepper/AZ
Betsy-STL/MO
DSM/MI
lightwavz/MI
klorden13/IL
bookaholic1346/FL
amymehta/TX
DrBrown/CA
and will end with Cherokeehawk/CA

Released on Monday, June 16, 2003 at To a Bookcrossing ya-ya in Brownsville, Pennsylvania USA.

Hi Dee, Tilo will start her visit with you.

I received this book last week from Karoda and can't wait to start reading it! I'll be back soon to leave my impressions..Thanks again Karoda!

I don't know what I was expecting this book to be like exactly, but it's safe to say it surpassed my expectations. It's written in extremely mystical, lush and sensual tones. The story of the main character told from her view point is perfection.. The way in which she delves into the frailties and strength of human beings is shown in the tenderest of ways. I don't want to ruin the story itself for anyone who has yet to read the book.. But what I found so striking about this mystical woman was that with all her power, her agelessness, conciousness, wisdom and the power of the spices to which she was co-joined, she had the needs and wants of any ordinary woman. I liked that she wasn't "above" mere mortals. The author explored the neverending and somewhat overwhelming pressure to work miracles for those who crossed her main characters path. I related to so many of Tilomatta's struggles but most especially her rebelliousness, vanity and desire to work magic for her "people"/customers. Her defiance of the spices, whom she loved and served so diligently, for what she believed was the right course of action was unexpected. It ultimately lent the story the necessary tension to find resolution for. The author's ability to create flawless imagery and magic describing what we often mistake as mundane was simply beautiful. I must confess to finding her "beautiful American" lacking as a superhero but I believe that was the author's intent and had to quash my wish for him to be more supernatural than the spices. She didn't defy and ultimately lose everything she served for perfection. Instead it was for the imperfect love of a man who was intuitive enough to see beneath the garb of an old woman disguise and yet incredibly flawed with pursuing an impossible dream. This is a beautiful, captivating story told with a rich, powerful and loving voice. Definitely a book I need to have on my bookcase to reread for years. I may have to come back to make additional comments because I am still a little awed! I can't believe this was Chitra Divakaruni's first novel! Thank you Karoda!

Ardy, please email me with your addy info so I can send this book out to you ASAP! :-) I don't know how to private message on here, so I hope you see this!

Received this book in the mail today. Thank you so much!

We just learned that we need to move, so I'm sending this book on to 16stepper to protect it from getting lost in the move!

The Mistress has arrived in Gilbert. She will entertain the other rays waiting to be read as I work through them. Thanks for sharing this, Karoda!

This is a wonderfully written story of the power of love. My father was raised in India, so I grew up on Indian food. They do have a very deep connection to spices in their culture, much more so than we do in the US. We are concerned mostly for their taste. The Indians are more holistic in their approach to spices. This book captured that in a magical. lyrical way. This is one of those stories I wished would never end. I want to know what happens next in the evolution of the woman and her loving heart.

This goes out to BetsySTL in tomorrow's mail.

Rec'd in today's mail and will read ASAP.

A very enchanting story of love, giving, and helping others. Chitra B. Divakaruni is a first class storyteller
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Will mail to DSM when I receive her address.
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Update: 10-28 mailed to DSM.

Mistress arrived safe and sound here in Bad Axe! I'm finishing up with my current read and will start the Spicey Mistress soon!

I truly enjoyed this book. Thank you so much Karoda for providing this bookring. I would never have thought to purchase or read this one w/out your input. Once again - your book selection has opened my eyes to so much more out there in the world.

My favorite passages:
Daughter, remember this, no matter what happens, you did no wrong in telling me. No man, husband or not, has the right to beat you, to force you to a bed that sickens you.
She does not say yes or no.
Go now and don't be afraid. This morning he's been to busy to call home.
How do you know?
We old women - we sense things
From the door she whispers, pry for me. Pray that I die soon.
No I say. You deserve happiness. You deserve dignity. I will pray for that.

Another favorite:
O yes Lalita, coming at last into your own, I am praying for you. O spices, o all the forces of the world, do not let her give up. Daughter, the birth passage is always narrow, suffocating. But that first free gulp of air filled the lungs, ah. I pray it for you.

The book sucked me in and I couldn't put it down!

PM sent to lightwavz for her address - will get out on Monday providing I hear a relpy!

Released on Monday, November 17, 2003 at Post Office in Bad Axe, Michigan USA.

Sending to lightwavz who is next in our bookray! Enjoy it!

Received this one yesterday in the mail... Can't wait to get started on it! DSM, I love the alpaca bookmark! Are they yours? If so, do you sell the yarn? It is SO soft! I'm sure that it will keep me good company as I read... I will journal when I am done reading, before I pass it along!

This was very nearly an almost-perfect book (how's that for wishy-washy?!). I really enjoyed seeing the stubborn Tilo going through her stormy life to land in Oakland. Her preparation of the spices and the stories behind her remedies were touching and heart-rending. Tilo's unfolding relationship with Raven was spicy enough to keep me interested and his story left just enough untold. The only downside I could pick out was the ending. While I wasn't expecting a sugar-coated Hollywood ending, I wasn't expecting what I got either (anyone else feel this way?!). I received another of her books from ironickarma at a Meetup and I am definitely looking forward to keeping up with this author! Thanks, karoda, for sending this around! I'll have to send you some India-patterned material so you can do a Spice quilt!! I'll mail off to klorden13 as soon as I get an address...

Received today! Will read & pass along to the next in line. Happy reading!!

This arrived a few weeks ago, but sat in my mail while I traveled. It will be read ASAP -- I have three bookring books to finish now!

This has to be me -- everyone else has enjoyed this book, but I can't get into it (and I've tried a great many times.)I'm going to let it go now and come back to it later on. Sparrowhawk, are you out there and ready to receive this, or shall I set it free here?

RELEASE NOTES:

Since I can't get ahold of Cherokeehawk, I will be releasing this into the wild. Happy reading!