Alka Joshi’s debut novel The Henna Artist was an absolute delight. You can just tell how much thought, effort, and research went into carefully structuring and developing this novel. There are some books where you just know it is close to the author’s heart; The Henna Artist is one such book. Birthed from Joshi’s re-imagining of her own mother’s life, it is a thought-provoking, deeply human tale about two sisters seeking their place not only in society but also with each other.
The novel transports us to 1950s India, not long after it gained independence from Britain. We meet Lakshmi, a highly sought after henna artist living in Jaipur. With her unique skill sets as not only an artist but also a healer, matchmaker, and confidante to the wealthy women of Jaipur, she finds herself armed with secrets, navigating sensitive circumstances and climbing the ranks of success and true independence – her dream after years of an abusive marriage. Before long, her world is turned upside down when she takes in a thirteen-year-old sister she never knew she had. High-spirited and naïve, Radha poses a threat to the careful life Lakshmi has built but also becomes the pathway to love and family that Lakshmi has never known.
Although a little slow to get going, this was an excellent novel. I absolutely loved being transported into a time period and culture with which I was previously unfamiliar. Joshi does an impeccable job setting up 1950s Jaipur with its British influences, Indian independence, high society, and impoverished communities. Her characters all go through significant development throughout the story, which I really appreciated. The story is told through Lakshmi’s POV, but we still get well fleshed out glimpses into what make Radha and the other supporting characters tick.
While tumultuous, I appreciated the sister storyline with Radha and Lakshmi. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced the things the two of them do in the book with my own sister, but I feel the impact of their bond. I understand the complications. I feel for them both as they struggle in their own ways to make sense of each other. Joshi definitely captures the essence of a sister relationship under the strain of some pretty intense circumstances.
There is a lot of dialogue and situations pertaining to women’s rights, the autonomy of their bodies, birth control, and abortion. Although handled delicately, if those are topics that are uncomfortable for you, this may be a book you want to pass on.
As I previously mentioned, the book was a little slow-going in the beginning, but by about 40%, I was hooked and flew through to the end. There’s a plot point I was not expecting that completely gripped me. There is a sequel titled The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and I admit I was very disappointed to not be able to locate it at my local libraries. I hope to find a way to read it someday and continue the story of Lakshmi and Radha. The Henna Artist does standalone very well, so don’t let that be a deterrent. I give this one four stars!
Jessica
Copyright Alka Joshi and MIRA. Image from Amazon.com.
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