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Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist Paperback – 18 May 2020

by Alka Joshi (Author)

6,847 ratings

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A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK

'This vivid story is so rich and complex...reading about Lakshmi's journey from escaping an abusive marriage to becoming one of the most sought-after henna artists in Jaipur captivated me from the first chapter to the final page.' Reese Witherspoon

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.

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.

PRAISE

"Eloquent and moving...Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love." - Publishers Weekly

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Product details

Publisher : HQ Fiction US (18 May 2020)
Language : English
Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 1867209810
ISBN-13 : 978-1867209812
Dimensions : 15.5 x 2.8 x 23.5 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 18,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 262 in Cultural Heritage Fiction
- 3,185 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
6,847 ratings

Product description

About the Author

Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts and runs an advertising and marketing agency. She has lived in France and Italy and currently lives in Pacific Grove, California, with her husband. The Henna Artist is her first novel.

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Grannysebooks

A good book

Reviewed in Australia on 28 August 2020

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This was a really interesting story spanning castes and cultures in India .
Following the life of Lakshmi and her little sister Rhada from their rural home to the city of Jaipur.
While explaining a lot of the the Indian culture during the 1950's it is also a novel about family and responsibility and ambition. A good read. Looking forward to more from Alka Joshi

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Kerrie Ferguson

Interesting

Reviewed in Australia on 4 January 2021

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Not at all what I was expecting. This novel is a nice blend of fiction and fact. From what I am told, the Indian culture of henna is accuracy portrayed, as are many aspects of Indian society (class, social norms and expectations). These descriptions are cleverly blended with the intriguing tale of a woman and how her life emerges. This novel captures my interest and held it to the end.

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jessica

A story exploring the cracks

Reviewed in Australia on 12 July 2020

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With independence in India a new enthusiasm and energy drive ambitious Lakshmi to seek a better life. Despite a new sense of self, women in India are still constrained by tradition and false sense of propriety. Joshi's storytelling envelopes the reader in the henna artist's tale. A fascinating time in history and opportunity for women unlikely in earlier times. Well.worth a read.

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Melinda L.

Novel Artistry

Reviewed in Australia on 30 January 2021

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I read this page-turner while locked up in hotel quarantine. It transported me to other places, thankfully, and now I want to visit India even more. It is beautifully written and I can see how it took so long for the author to research it. The last time I read a book this well crafted was “Where The Crawdads Sing”. I definitely recommend this book, especially if you appreciate other languages and cultures like I do.

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Kindle Customer

What a read!

Reviewed in Australia on 28 January 2021

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What an amazing journey I found myself on! Thrown into another culture with seemingly odd traditions, food and social norms I'd never imagined. It was so great to learn about some of the Indian culture whilst being immersed in a solid story line about family, love and self discovery. I've already recommend this book to several others. Well done Alka Joshi.

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Karen M

Warn, insightful and relaxing read of India in the ‘50’s

Reviewed in Australia on 19 June 2020

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Enjoyed this book immensely. Loved reading about Jaipur in the 50’s and especially the work of a henna artist. If you’ve been to India and fallen in love with its people like I did, you’ll love this book, and if you haven’t been you will likely want to meet these characters for yourself!

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Shannon

Interesting and Enjoyable

Reviewed in Australia on 13 November 2020

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Really enjoyed this book , was recommended to me by a friend . It held my attention at all times ans looked forward to reading it each day .

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lorraine henworth

Awesome, couldn’t wait to pick up and continue reading

Reviewed in Australia on 20 January 2021

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What a wonderful book, I didn’t want it to end. I started to read the book one day and couldn’t wait till the next to continue reading. I finished it in two days. The description
of everything was so detailed. Also makes me want to try some of the herbal remedies.

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Faery Jess

An absolutely stunning debut

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2020

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This stunning novel is one of my top three favourite books I’ve read so far this year. (And considering I’ve read nearly 60 so far since January, that’s saying something.) Top two, actually. Tied for first place, the more I think about it. (My other fave so far is Where the Crawdads Sing, in case you’re wondering.)

My knowledge of India and Indian culture is somewhat limited; I live in Glastonbury, a very new age hippie place (which I love), so I’m constantly hearing people talk about their life-changing trips to ‘Mother India’ where they inevitably change their names to something like ‘Jaya’ or ‘Deva’ or something like that. (And yup, it always seems to be white women who do this, and as a white woman I’m aware of the privilege that allows us to go on a jolly to India and come back with a name given by a ‘guru.’) With this in mind, it was refreshing to read a story set in India, written by an Indian woman, with an insight into what life there is actually like, without any of the white nonsense about spiritual enlightenment. Forgive me, I’m rambling.

Back to the book itself. The book walks the line between character-driven and plot-driven story perfectly: the characters are richly developed; there aren’t any clear-cut ‘villains.’ Everyone’s motives are understood and you find yourself sympathising with and understanding why they behave they way they do. The plot unfolds gently, with enough happening along the way to keep those who favour a plot-driven story interested. This is literary fiction at its most approachable- intelligent yet accessible, educational yet entertaining.

The descriptions are lush and evocative- you can almost smell the spices of the food, hear the sounds of the streets, and feel the coolness of henna being drawn onto your skin. You fall in love with the characters, especially the heroine, Lakshmi. And I defy you not to fall in love with little Malik. I’d read a sequel about him alone. (Hint hint, Ms Joshi, if you’re reading this.)

I won’t say much about the plot itself, cuz if you haven’t noticed by now, I tend to overshare and don’t want to ruin the story for anyone who hasn’t read it yet. All I will say is be prepared to go on a journey, to learn, to laugh, and to find out that things have a way of working out for the best in ways you didn’t expect.

The author has thoughtfully included a glossary of Indian language in the back of the book, as well as a brief explanation of the caste system- and recipes, which I fully intend to try out ASAP. I loved this book so much that I’m going to order the actually physical copy of it as soon as it’s available again. (I generally prefer an actual book over a kindle version, but it wasn’t going to be in stock for a while, and I was too impatient to read it so ordered it on kindle.)

Five stars aren’t enough. Ten stars, at least.

18 people found this helpful

Angela Gibson

Just read it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2020

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After settling down to read The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi I knew I wasn't going to be doing anything else that evening and it was going to be the wee small hours before I would be seeing my bed.
The author took me by the hand and transported me to India a country I have visited several times and find fascinating - turning through the pages I was in Jaipur, in the 1950's a country still ruled by strict social etiquette and a class system.
I was a little apprehensive when I turned the first few pages and there was a biography of characters. Usually this means so many characters and little development of them and confusion, but I didn't need it and I need not have worried.
The main character is Lakshmi who fled an abusive marriage years before and ended up in Jaipur. Over the years she has developed a skill of being a henna artist and has a long list wealthy clients. She is a proud woman who has worked hard, and has saved enough to purchase a home of her own.
As Lakshmi continues to work to pay off her debts for the house he ex abusive husband arrives bringing with him a surprise sister. A sister she didn't know existed, thirteen year old Radha a vulnerable teenager.
As with all families their relationship is tested to the max and Lakshmi is torn with guilt.
Lakshmi is also a healer with herbal remedies and she uses the herbal remedies at times to help women who don't want to be mothers, or who are struggling to become mothers. Cultural challenges develop between city life and village life.
This is a book that will take you through each of the characters lives and the understanding of how people can change and make changes. The descriptions are so clear you really can smell the herbs, hear the peoples hearts breaking.
Some great secondary characters in the story, I was fascinated by the caste system and the way the women are treated as well as learning about the henna painting and how it plays an important part of these women lives.
Such a colourful story, with culture and characters galore. Unexpected, expected I was hooked to the many swirls to the story. Shattered, happy, perplexed, surprised it has it all. The ending put a great smile on my face. I am hoping that their will be a second book so we can continue with Lakshmi's new adventures.

2 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

This Is a Book Full of Beauty

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 August 2020

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This book has a great story and dips into many different levels of life in India even royalty. I was fascinated by the beautiful descriptions of the clothes especially the saris, the food some of which was exquisite. the homes, the parties and the life styles. I was also very interested in the use of herbs and plants and different beliefs.
The little boy character Malik brought humour and affection into the story. I loved it.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Brilliant Debut

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2020

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Hugely fond of novels set in India, I was immediately drawn to the title when this came up in my Recommended for you list. A brilliant debut novel written with love & the knowledge that comes from detailed research. India's culture good bad and intricate has been skillfully inducted into the story. Life can be hard, testing, unfair yet works itself out.
Fans of Indu Sunderesan, Sunanda Joshi, Renita de Silva and their genre will enjoy this immensely!!
Highly recommended. Looking forward to Alka's next book.

Kavitha Sharma

Gem! Gem!

Reviewed in India on 9 August 2020

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I breathed deeply. As if I could already smell the bracing air of the blue himalayan mountains'

- Lakshmi from 'The Henna Artist'

In the parallel universe, there are two souls longing for compassion and end up together in 'The Henna Artist' by Alka Joshi.

The colonialists left India in 1947 leaving the Indians baffled and confused about their culture and norms. We had rigorous rules in our culture and on the other hand western culture pampered us without any constraints. Post colonial peroid is remarkable because it enumerates the dispositions of Indians who lived in rigorous rules and western thoughts. The caste system and male chauvinism was brawny in post colonial India and threatened the women and her reputation.

We meet our protagonist Lakshmi as a busy henna artist, who does henna for upper class women. She veils her child marriage and the dark past in from the everyone.

As an independent woman Lakshmi manages to live without ruining her reputation in the pink city Jaipur. Her past knocks her door when her husband Hari and her little sister Radha turn up.

Lakshmi, who is a victim of domestic abuse, carefully pampers her sister and teaches her about the upper class ethics. On the contrary, Radha, a delusional thirteen years old girl who is not aware of the real world and its cruel treatment imagines her life as a fairytale by imbibing English novels and western writers' imagination.

In the setting of post colonial period, Alka Joshi has weaved the characters vividly in a beautiful storyline.

This is definitely not an exaggeration, I literally cried after reading this book. The impacts of domestic violence and the struggles of women to live independently amidst the parochial minds wrecked my heart into pieces. The writing style is spectacular with rich description.

Two years ago,I was blown away after reading an exquisite Indian novel 'Glass Palace' by Amitav Ghosh. Ever since 'Glass Palace', 'The Henna Artist' is the another exquisite and breath taking Indian book I read.

The refined prose and imagery startled me. This brilliant novel is in my highly recommended list now.

I am SCREAMING : C'mon, don't procrastinate pick it up soon!

11 people found this helpful

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