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    <name><![CDATA[Patrick]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Francisco, CA]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">94669</id>
  <isbn>0385482388</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780385482387</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Mistress of Spices: A Novel]]>
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  <average_rating>3.53</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[On a mythic island of women &quot;where on our skin, the warm rain fell like pomegranate seeds&quot; powerful spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and fenugreek whisper their secrets to young acolytes. Ordained after trial by fire, each new spice mistress is sent to a far-off land to cure the life pains of all Indian seekers, while keeping a cool distance from the mortals. Only stubborn, passionate Tilo, disguised as an old woman merchant in present-day Oakland, California, fails to heed the vengeful spices' warnings. Fragrant with spice and sensuality, this winning tale rolls off the tongue. Written in the soaring, poetic tradition of <em>China Men</em> and <em>Haroun and the Sea of Stories</em>.]]>
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    <id>51589</id>
        <name><![CDATA[Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni]]></name>
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    <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
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    <text_reviews_count>1135</text_reviews_count>
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  </authors>  <published>1997</published>
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  <read_at>Mon Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 17 21:54:14 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Aug 06 07:28:44 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Am really struggling with this. The writing is really irritating, and as much as I want to like it, I am getting put off by the writer's style. It may end up on my did-not-finish shelf, which would be two in one month - I don't think I've ever bailed on two books in a row before.<br/><br/>[update:...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60131403">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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