Are you interested in a book that exposes you to other cultures? Or helps you understand the challenges women face in other countries? Or has beautiful story telling and characters you can relate to, even though they are set in a different time and place? I have just the book for you!
The Premise
The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi, tells the story of Lakshmi, who escaped an abusive marriage when she was 17 years old to start a new life in the city of Jaipur. There, she gains respect, some independence, and a good income working as a henna artist for the wealthy women of the city. However, her business depends on the good graces of men and the women she serves, and when multiple event threaten to ruin her reputation, her livelihood hangs in the balance.
What I liked
Joshi expertly weaves information about Indian culture into her plot. She also includes a glossary of terms and a name index in the back of the book to help readers understand Indian words and follow relationships between characters. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the world she creates, nor did I perceive an “info dump.”
Joshi’s characters are interesting and complex. Lakshmi, the main character, is smart and talented, and I couldn’t help but root for her as she negotiates class, caste, and misogyny in 1950s India. While her world is so different from my own, I could relate to her feelings of frustration in multiple areas, especially in mentoring her younger sister. (They have more of a mother-daughter relationship than a sibling relationship.)
Although Lakshmi faces challenges, she has some true friends and a resourceful young helper to support her. I especially like that by the end of the novel, Lakshmi must reassess if the things she thought would give her power – a house, a job, the favor of the wealthy – actually bring her happiness.
What I didn’t like
The frequency of Indian words confused me at first… until I found the glossary. Then I started to enjoy learning the different words and being able to understand context better. I also questioned whether a woman in India in the 1950s would have as much independence as portrayed in The Henna Artist, but I suppose we can give the author artistic license. In her author’s notes, Joshi says part of the reason why she wrote the novel was to explore how her mother’s life might have been if she had more independence.
Recommendation
If you enjoy historical fiction, women’s fiction, or learning about other cultures, The Henna Artist is a good choice for you. A few members of my book club listened to the audio book said it was well done and helped with pronunciation of the Indian words.
Have you read The Henna Artist? What did you think? Can you recommend other books about foreign cultures? I think The Kite Runner is excellent for learning about Afghanistan.
Grabbing it off of my shelf right now!
This sounds like a good one~ thanks for the recommendation!
You’re welcome Jessica. Hope you are healthy and well.