The Henna Artist

Since Alka Joshi‘s The Henna Artist came out last year, I’ve been excited to read it. Set in India in the 1950s, eight years after they gained independence from the British, it’s told from the perspective of Lakshmi. At 17, she escaped an abusive marriage, and now, at the age of 30, she’s built a stable life for herself working as a henna artist. But the 13-year-old sister she never knew about, Radha, has just come into her care, and Lakshmi is finding herself in some drama among the women she does henna for. A lot is about to change for Lakshmi…

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Fiction
Setting	India
Number of Pages	400
Format I Read	Paperback
Original Publication Date	March 3, 2020

Official Summary

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

The Henna Artist sucked me in right away. Lakshmi’s character jumps off the page: She’s strong-willed, hard-working, and knows her mind. After escaping from an abusive marriage 13 years ago, she’s built up a life on her own terms—impressive for a single woman in post-Independence India. But now she’s saddled with a much younger sister, Radha, who was born after she left her husband.

While I liked Lakshmi and her story from the start, much of the first third of the book feels like a lot of side stories. Lakshmi does henna for the local women in Jaipur, and she’s privy to much of their personal drama. We get a lot about them, almost like short stories, distracting from Lakshmi’s plot. Thankfully, it starts to come together partway through and feels more cohesive.

I liked learning about 1950s India, from the rigid caste hierarchy to henna to their newly gained independence from the British. Lakshmi works for upper class women, most Indian, but at least one is a white English woman. We also see how religious differences play out. Lakshmi is Hindu, while the young man who helps her, Malik, is Muslim. (I loved his character, by the way!)

The Henna Artist incorporates words in several languages, keeping it true to how the characters would talk. The book includes a glossary of terms in Hindi, French, and English, which I found helpful. (There’s also a cast of characters, interview with the author, discussion questions, recipes, and more. Excellent for book clubs and anyone wanting to learn more about this world!)

This novel unfolded differently than how I anticipating, going in new and surprising directions. Even so, it was a fun read that brought 1950s Jaipur to life.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed The Henna Artist, even though it went in a completely different direction than I expected. This is a great book for anyone who wants to get to know post-Independence India and who loves women taking charge of their own lives. I’m excited for the sequel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, which comes out next month.