The Henna Artist

Description

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK "Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page."―Reese Witherspoon Vivid 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 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. “Eloquent and moving…Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love.”― Publishers Weekly Look for The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris from New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi! Review: Couldn’t put it down!! - What a great read!! Loved it from start to finish! Review: Captivating - “The Henna Artist”, is an expressive tale filled with colourful characters, it enlightens the reader on the deeply rooted Indian caste system and the importance of henna as a cultural phenomenon. The storyline is compelling and intense in its portrait of Lakshmi’s struggle for fulfillment in a society rotating between the traditional and the modern. The author paints a picture as beautiful and intricate as Lakshmi’s designs, Lakshmi aims to balance impossible burdens, those curve balls that life throws our way. The setting is in northern India in 1955. The timing is significant since India had become an independent country just about a decade earlier. The nation’s struggle to achieve its own identity is mirrored in the struggle of the novel’s characters to define their own course in life, regardless of the caste they fall into. “The poor weren’t the only ones imprisoned by their caste”. At times the upper castes were so constricted, they too felt imprisoned, everything that glitters is not gold. Lakshmi flees from an abusive marriage at the young age of seventeen finally arriving to the pink city of Jaipur, gaining her independence over time, she is free, becoming a henna artist whose skills are in constant demand with the rich and powerful. The untimely arrival of Lakshmi’s husband Hari with her younger unknown sister Radha in tow turns her life completely upside down and inside out. The novel is mesmerizing, exotic and simply beautiful. What matters in the end is the significance of having the choice to live a fulfilling life, the ability to forgive and to muster the courage and strength to move forward releasing the heavy weight of the past. I throughly enjoyed the rich culture displayed within this book and how it showcases the intricacies in the art of henna as well as India’s food and traditions. Eloquently written, the freedom of choice is a powerful tool, sometimes the impact is positive and sometimes it is not, but there are lessons to be learned from it all, regardless. It’s a story that will captivate your heart. *The glossary of Indian terms proved to be very useful. They are located at the end of the novel. This novel has a couple of recipes at the end as well.