A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK“Eloquent and moving…Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love.”—Publishers WeeklyVivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is … fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.
Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…
Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.
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I felt like I was walking in the streets of 1950s Jodhpur India. An excellent book about a woman who tries to break the chains of what imprisoned women – from all walks of life and nations – and the twists and turns along the way. It’s amazing to me how much has changed, but then again, how much remains the same. Our bodies are not our own. Really great read. And now, I’m going to find a book where women have all the power. Wish me luck.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction featuring strong, smart, women and fascinating locales, you’ll get all that and more from Alka Joshi’s The Henna Artist. My favorite things about this book were the descriptions of Lakshmi’s art and her struggles to free herself from the constraints of an unhappy marriage, her station in life, and the limitations of her gender. I rooted for this dogged woman from the first page to the last, riveted by every situation she faced, whether it be gaining entrance to the palace or painting a bride’s hands and feet.
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi is a vivid look at life in India in the 50s and one woman’s search for independence, and it has got to be one of the most stunning debuts I have ever read. This book is so rich in culture and imagery that I felt like I was there the entire time. The characters also felt entirely realistic, and I was a huge fan of Lakshmi and so many of the women in the novel. I was so sad when the book ended so I was incredibly excited to learn there are going to be two more books after this, AND that The Henna Artist is going to be a TV series.
I ended up listening to the audio of the whole book and Sneha Mathan did such a stunning job narrating. Anyone who can narrate so many characters plus a bird so well is clearly going at the top of my list for narrators. While I do highly recommend doing the audio of The Henna Artist, I would also recommend having a copy of the book on hand as well. There are a lot of characters as well as a lot of terms I wasn’t familiar with, so it was helpful to have a physical copy as it has a glossary of both terms and characters that appear in the book.
The core of this book is about women, and I think there was so much to relate to as a woman, even if you aren’t Indian. Plus there seemed to be a lot of similarities to other cultures as well, so this is a book you can read no matter where you are from. It was so enlightening to me, especially since I don’t know a whole lot about India or the culture there. The Henna Artist is so complex and engrossing that I will definitely be recommending it to everyone, but especially those who are fans of historical and literary fiction. It was such a delight to read and I absolutely can’t wait for the sequel!
Rich. Lush. Evocative. The author is a master storyteller who introduces us to unforgettable characters and a particular world that comes to life on every page. Loved!
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of THE HENNA ARTIST, which shot right to the top of my top 10 favorite books of 2019.
Holy WOW this book is amazing! I found myself catapulted into an entirely different world right from the first pages.
The book is written in a thoughtful, nuanced, complex fashion that is much like Lakshmi’s intricate and enduring henna designs–and Lakshmi, herself.
Joshi brings the north-central city of Jaipur to life with her elegant, direct prose. The time is only a few years after Indian Independence and the massive country is undergoing the inevitable shifts and growing pains that come with such change. Lakshmi’s own existence is about to undergo an upheaval of a more personal nature.
This book is just fascinating and 1950s India is a time and place I knew nothing about. I don’t recall the last time I’ve learned so much–so pleasurably–while reading a work of fiction. Joshi has a real talent for educating and informing her reader without lecturing or preaching and I found my knowledge growing subtly with each page and new character. Just a walk down the streets of the city was an adventure in learning.
I think this book will appeal to anyone who demands rich characterization and vibrant settings in their fiction.
The Henna Artist is the first book I’ve read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last! Lakshmi is a 17 year old girl who has fled her arranged marriage to an abusive man. She ends up in the city of Jaipur where she becomes a much in demand henna artist. While her wealthy clients share their own secrets with her she is careful not to reveal too much about herself and her past. Eventually her husband finds her and he brings her sister with him…a sister she never knew she had. Life is not always kind to Lakshmi. This is a story of hope and determination. The characters in this book are written in a descriptive manner and the story is very well written. I had a hard time putting the book down. I highly recommend this book!
I was way too late to this wonderful story but I loved every minute. You can tell when an author pours their soul into a book. Alka Joshi has created a wonderful main character named Lakshmi Shastri, who is a modern woman living in the Indian city of Jaipur in the mid-fifties. She lives an independent life, having left her abusive husband, but the appearance of an unknown sister changes everything she thought was important.
This was a beautifully told story with a bit of adventure, a bit of feminist flavor, and a ton of culture. I knew very little about India after they were given their independence but it was a fitting time for a woman like this who values her freedom above all else. I was fascinated by the herbal remedies that Lakshmi administers and the social gossips that constantly lift and tug at her in turn for favors or their own needs. It’s a delightful bit of women’s historical fiction that I wished I’d read a long time ago.
I learned so much from this book. I knew very little on the culture in India. It was heart breaking what the protagonist had to go through because of her gender and caste. Highly recommend.
I love a book in which I can learn: another country, another culture, other ways of living life. Here is an enthralling story of a woman’s fight for independence in a patriarchal, caste Indian society. Rich with culture and interesting details of henna artistry and medicinal herbal treatments, Joshi has created a page-turner with well-drawn vivid characters and a complex story steeped in history. Lakshmi, Rhada and Malik survive much adversity and difficult challenges to become a family.
There is nothing I could say that would do this book justice so I’ll just leave it at I loved it tremendously and I’d read absolutely anything by this author. Literally anything. Thank you Alka Joshi for this story.
A beautifully written story that was both entertaining and educational. The descriptions of the henna designs, the saris, and the people of Jaipur were so vivid that I felt like I was seeing it. Lakshmi is such a strong and smart woman in a man’s world in Jaipur and as a “widow” she only has herself to depend on for her future. Throughout the story we find out more about Lakshmi’s past and her family. This story was engrossing and is highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
It took me a bit to get into this one, but once I did I could not put it down!
Beautiful writing and vivid descriptions allowed me to visit a place and time I know very little about. Lakshmi’s story really makes you stop and think about what the true measure of success is and how far one would go to obtain it.
I read a sample of this book first & knew that I wanted to read the whole thing! I really cannot relegate it to a particular sub-genre, it contains geographic background, romance, coming of age, coming to terms with one’s past, creating family, succeeding in spite of the odds plus dimensional characters. The story gives an insight into 1950s post-colonial Indian traditions & their effects upon the society. If there is a negative, it would be the author’s failure to create setting, for her descriptions of the locations are not as colorful enough to truly place the reader there. — This book is a beautiful read, leaving the reader in a positive state of mind!!!
Loved this book.
What a wonderful read. Ms. Joshi has done a delightful job of pulling a reader into her world, creating characters we care about, and telling a story we won’t soon forget!
This book is about two sisters life journey. As the story begins Radha is wearing everything she owns, which isn’t much, as she leaves the village to find her sister, a sister she knew nothing about until recently, her sister Lakshmi who doesn’t know she has a sister or that her parents have died is a Henna Artist in Jaipur who escaped a abusive husband and brought shame on her family for doing so. Lakshmi is a talented Henna Artist who has dreams of her own, she is welcomed into the grandest homes to henna the well to do women for all occasions, this is derailed by lies the gossip eaters spread, she once again has to reinvent herself as she is also a talented herbalist from her mother in law. They learn to get over resentment they have for each other and Learn to love Each other and come together to succeed in a way neither expected. This book was a journey that I felt a part of from beginning to end. This was a 5 star read for me!
Beautifully written, I found myself immersed into the life of henna artist Lakshimi Shastri. I felt her struggle and determination to escape the life she was born into. Married to a husband who beat her she had the courage to leave everything behind and seek out a new life in a new city. Life was going well until the younger sister she didn’t know existed enters her life, bringing secrets from the past that Lakshimi had buried.
Joshi’s writing drew me in and allowed me to be a part of Lakshimi’s life. I loved the descriptions of the works of art she drew upon women’s bodies. I felt the oppressive heat, smelled the flowers and scents of cooking food. I felt fear and happiness, anger and longing, desperation and defeat. Such a roller coaster of emotions. The characters were so real to me, eliciting the same emotions I would have had had I truly known these people.
Secrets, lies, manipulation, redemption. This is a look at what it took for Lakshimi to survive. Joshi does not shield us from the hard world Lakshimi faced. She gives us Lakshimi with all her flaws. Her doubts, her betrayals. Finding and making her own family. This was a journey I was honored to be on with her.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for the advance copy to read and review.
Lakshmi was in an abusive, arranged marriage. She escaped and created a whole new life for herself. She is the most sought after henna artist in her city. She thinks she is on the right path to riches. Then her estranged husband shows up with her little sister in tow. This threatens everything she has worked so hard to achieve.
I love Lakshmi! As most of you know, I love strong women characters and Lakshmi is one of the strongest. She has created herself a new life. She is building a house and creating a business which just keeps growing. She has a tenacity rarely seen. And her talent! Oh my! I could just picture her work in my mind! When her new life starts to unravel….you need to read this to find out how…she LEARNS from it and does not let it stop her.
This book is super good. I have never read a book about a henna artist. I will be honest, I did not even know they existed. I was so impressed with Lakshmi’s courage, talent and intelligence. Plus, the culture in this read…I learned a great deal!
Do not miss this one! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Vivid details make 1950’s, post-British India come to life in this thought-provoking novel. The author did a fantastic job of addressing multiple complicated topics, including the caste system and other societal “norms” of the time through the actions and motivations of the characters. The plot itself was interesting, and I enjoyed following Lakshmi as she followed (what she thought were) her dreams. It is a fascinating story that you don’t want to miss. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I loved this novel for the compelling characters and delightful storytelling. It took me thousands of miles away to a place I’ve never been but that I could see, hear, taste and smell so clearly! I was sorry to see it end. I just wanted to live in that world.
Lakshmi is someone I wish I knew. I felt she would help me solve anything that was troubling me. She would listen and paint henna on me and tell me everything was going to be okay. I just loved the character and her work with the “ladies” of Jaipur.
I didn’t know anything about henna when I started reading this book. Had not idea that the art was thousands of years old, that it heals, that it’s impermanent, unlike tattoos. Loved learning all that stuff and way it’s woven into the story of a henna artist who is making a life for herself outside of cultural boundaries. If you like learning about ages-old crafts and natural rituals and traditions, you’ll love this book.