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The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist

The Jaipur Trilogy #1

by Alka Joshi

  • Readers' Rating (9):
  • Published:
  • Apr 2021, 368 pages
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Djcminor

A Mesmerizing Read
I received a copy of The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi from Bookbrowse.com. This review reflects my own thoughts and opinions without bias for having received the free book. The Henna Artist is Joshi’s first novel. Joshi runs an advertising and marketing firm. Born in India and raised in the US, Joshi has lived in India, France, Italy, and the US. On her Web site, Joshi focuses on her advertising and marketing abilities, but The Henna Artist is also featured.
When I began reading about Lakshmi, a woman of thirty, who is a renowned henna artist in Jaipur, I could hardly put the book down. Lakshmi’s father had been amore
Travelady

A very engaging read
The Henna Artist has all the ingredients I look for in a great book: a strong (female) protagonist facing a seemingly insurmountable task who manages to survive admirably. To be honest, I knew very little about the culture/caste system in India. One will learn a lot about about this by reading this book.

I was immediately engaged by the characters. I wanted to know more about their lives and situations right from the beginning. I have often puzzled over arranged marriages. I have never been able to imagine myself in a culture where your future spouse is arranged by your parents. As former high school teacher whenmore
Christine

Excellent Book
I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of this book through BookBrowse and the publisher. Thank you. I will comment during the discussion when it opens up. A perfect read!
Kimberly Caipa

The Henna Artist
Beautifully detailed, the journey of Lakshmi, The Henna Artist transports the reader into 1950’s India, engaging all of your senses. When Lakshmi escapes an abusive husband from an arranged marriage she uses her strength, wisdom and knowledge of herbal remedies to build an intricately woven life with the Indian elite as a henna artist. I struggled not to rush through this page turning adventure as to savor it like one of Lakshmi’s treats with a warm cup of chai tea.
Jayne Dough

The Henna Artist; a compelling new novel by a new author!
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 ofmore
AJ Bunuan

Captivating
From the first few pages of the Henna Artist I knew at once that Alka Joshi had a true gift as a writer. She brought a part of the world unknown to me fully alive.

I sped through the pages eager to follow Lakshmi's efforts in becoming a woman of independence and self sufficiency.

The Henna Artist is a brilliant first novel from a writer whom I shall look forward to reading further captivating stories.
Bradley J. Owens

Alka Joshi's "The Henna Artist" is an evocative and engaging read
The Henna Artist is a beautifully realized and evocative novel set in mid-century India after independence.

The heroine, Lakshmi, flees her small village, and an abusive marriage to create a new life for herself in the larger city of Jaipur. A henna artist, healer, and cunning businesswoman, she finds her first clients among Jaipur's prostitutes. Just as she begins to gain success and make her reputation in the houses of the wealthier, and more discerning, Jaipur women, her plans are interrupted by the arrival in Jaipur of the husband she abandoned, and a younger sister that she didn't know she had.

I lovedmore
sandy

OY, the glossary....
Enjoyed reading the story...but absolutely hated having to flip back and forth to the glossary. I'm somewhat familiar with Indian culture and enjoyed the vast majority of the story. But doing the "back and forth" interrupted the flow of my reading, and therefore my enjoyment. With so many words translated, perhaps the author could have put them at the bottom of the page in smaller type? Just a thought...
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