Blog Tour & Review: “The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi
About The Book
Synopsis: After fleeing an arranged marriage as a fifteen year old to an abusive older man, Lakshmi Shastri steals away alone from her rural village to Jaipur. Here, against odds, she carves out a living for herself as a henna artist, and friend and confidante to wealthy, upper caste women. Surviving by her wits and talents, she shares her knowledge and keeps their secrets in a delicate balancing act amid the changing 1950s social mores brought about by Indian Independence. Vulnerable to opinion and innuedo, at any point her intentions might be misunderstood, and she could fall prey to a damaged reputation or worse. Still Lakshmi manages to save to build a house with the dream of bringing her aging parents here to live with her and redeem herself in their eyes. Then one day her ex-husband arrives in town seeking her out with a girl in tow, a sister she did not know she had. Her sister is both passionate and reckless by nature, and all of a sudden the caution that Lakshmi has carefully cultivated is threatened, along with her livelihood. But she preseveres, and in doing so manages to lift up the others around her with her success.
Lakshmi’s tenacity and spirit see her join the ranks of other brave women of historical fiction, such as Farough Farrokhzad in Jasmin Darznik’s Song of a Captive Bird.With gorgeous prose and urgent themes, the novel will captivate readers of Shobha Rao’s Girls Burn Brighter, and those who seek a narrative both compelling and necessary.
Review
The Henna Artist is a novel set in is set in 1950s India. Our main character, Lakshmi, is a henna artist who discovers she has a younger sister named Radha. She takes her sister in and tries to develop a bond with her, but Radha, feels abandoned by her due to surviving on her own for so long.
Lakshmi is very independent and wants to make a name and living for herself. She is known for her services around the community and her excellent henna skills, but is also looked down upon for being a single women. She carries the heavy weight of the past of her. She feels conflicted about her family and leaving them behind, but she wanted to escape Hari, her abusive husband. Radha has a youthfulness and naivete that makes Lakshmi yearn for her childhood. Lakshmi is always working hard and has no time for fun. She has to make money and be on her best behavior as people are always watching her every move in social circles.
The two sisters have a somewhat strained bond, but Lakshmi is trying her best to a sisterly and a mother figure to Radha as she adjusts to city life. Every one within the social circles seems so fake on the outside and cold and calculating on the inside. They look to make connections to benefit their own (families) and stray away from the tiniest scandal.
As the story progress we see how even though Radha and Lakshmi spend more time together they slowly grow apart. Their dynamic shifts in the relationship as Lakshimi becomes more of a mom and radha like a child. We see how how societal standards pull them apart, but their journey of strengthing their overall bond.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the rich culture displayed within this novel and how it showcases the intricacies of the art of henna as well as India’s food and traditions. I also enjoyed the themes about familial ties and journey’s of self-growth. It was a enriching novel that was laced with heartwarming and sad moments. Definitely recommended!
*Trigger Warnings: Mentions of domestic violence, death, and miscarriage/abortion
Final Verdict:
About the Author
Alka Joshi is a graduate of Stanford University and received her M.F.A. from the California College of the Arts. She has worked as an advertising copywriter, a marketing consultant, and an illustrator. Alka was born in India, in the state of Rajasthan. Her family came to the United States when she was nine, and she now lives on California’s Monterey Peninsula with her husband and two misbehaving pups. The Henna Artist is her first novel. Visit her website and blog at thehennaartist.com
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Harlequin Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.
