MISTRESS OF SPICES by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruna

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DIVAKARUN

Readers with an interest in magic or Indian culture will enjoy this story and its unusual conclusion.
Tilo chooses to serve as mistress of spices in a spice shop in moder-day Oakland. In fact, a mistress is a sort of nun, cloistered in her shop, dedicated to the spices, and strictly instructed not to become personally involved with the customers she helps by prescribing magical spices. Her celibacy is easier to maintain in the elderly body she is given. Most of Til's customers are immigrants or second generation, and clash of their new country's culture with that of their homes creates serious problems, as does prejudice and discrimination. Tilo becomes involved in these problems; worse, she falls in love with half-native American Raven. Raven has magical powers of his own and he loves Tilo, seeing the real woman through the disguise of her arthritic body. Of course, the spices exact their punishment, but it is not what Tilo or the reader expects.

SHARMILA's BOOK, by Bharti Kirchner

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KIRCHNER,B.

Sharmila is a successful graphic artist, thirty-two years old and feeling it is time she was married. She has not had much luck finding a husband, however, Indian or American. Her mother and father were born in India, but have afforded Sharmila all the freedoms of an American Woman.

Sharmila's mother tells her that finding a husband the American way is not working, therefore Sharmila should consider an arranged marriage. Sharmila agrees and a marriage is arranged to a wealthy young businessman living in Delhi.

This book is humorous and romantic as Sharmila stumbles through all the marriage arrangements and tries to get to know her new family. It is also suspenseful as she discovers the mysterious circumstances of her betrothed first wife's death. Sharmila's book offers a brief glimpse into the conflicts inherent in the life of a modern Indian American woman.