The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

 

July 1, 2020 (by Leah)

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi is a lavishly beautiful book to escape into. This is a perfect summer read (especially this summer!)... one that will transport you to a world rich with exotic scents, flavors and traditions. 1950s India is a place where gender, family and class determine the opportunities available to you. Lakshmi dreams of being independent and owning her own house and has worked tirelessly to achieve her goals. She tends to her ladies with beautiful henna designs, herbal remedies and discretion until her past threatens to destroy everything she has worked for. This book will have all your senses swirling in delight... images of bright silk saris, tropical gardens and intricate henna, the smells of the spice market, the flavors of traditional chai and savories, the bustle of the busy Jaipur streets. Lakshmi is a complicated and likable heroine you will be rooting for from page 1 as she takes you from the careless wealth and opulence of India’s upper class to the desperate and stark existence of the working class.