Book Review: The Henna Artist

Quick Facts About the Book

• Book Summary: The book is set in 1950s India. It follows a woman named Lakshmi who escaped a bad marriage to start over. She becomes a popular henna artist for rich women, and also a trusted secret keeper. But her past catches up with her, and the life she built is threatened.
• Author: Alka Joshi
• Genre: Historical Fiction. The story is set in 1955 and gives a look into Indian culture.
• Series Information: The Henna Artist is the first of three books in The Jaipur Trilogy. The story continues with characters from the first book. The books in the series are:
  1. The Henna Artist (2020)
  2. The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021). This book follows Lakshmi's helper, Malik.
  3. The Perfumist of Paris (2023). This book is about Lakshmi's sister, Radha.

What's the Story About? (No Spoilers)

The story starts with Lakshmi Sastri enjoying her success in the city of Jaipur. She has built a good reputation over ten years and works for wealthy clients. Her main goal is to finish building her own house, which is a big symbol of her freedom.

Then, her world gets turned upside down when two people from her past show up. First, her husband, who she ran away from 13 years ago, finds her. His presence could expose her past and ruin everything she has worked for.

He also brings a 13 year old girl with him named Radha, who is the sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Lakshmi suddenly has to take care of her, which clashes with her careful, professional life. The story is about her struggle to keep her past, present, and future from crashing into each other.

Main Ideas in the Book

What is the Book Really About?

• Being Independent: The book is about a woman's fight to control her own life in a time when that was hard. For Lakshmi, independence means making her own money and owning her own property. This way, she never has to rely on a man again. She also helps other women by giving them special herbs, which gives them choices about their own bodies.
• Old vs. New: The story is set right after India's independence, and things are changing. Lakshmi is a mix of old and new herself. She uses traditional knowledge about herbs to live a modern life as a single, working woman. This is different from her younger sister Radha, who is more curious about Western culture.
• The Power of Secrets: In Jaipur's high society, secrets are like money. Lakshmi's whole business is built on knowing her clients' secrets and keeping them safe. Her power comes from being an outsider who knows everything but says nothing. The trouble starts when her own secrets are about to be exposed.
• Family You Choose: The book looks at different kinds of family. Lakshmi's relationship with her new sister Radha is difficult. But the book shows that the family you choose can be just as important. For example, her mother-in-law taught her everything about herbs, and her young assistant Malik is very loyal to her.
• Social Class: The story shows the class system in 1950s India. Lakshmi was born into a high social class, or caste. But because she works for a living and touches other women's feet, her job is seen as low-class. This puts her in a strange position where she doesn't fully belong anywhere, but it also allows her to move between different parts of society.

What Henna Represents

The art of henna is the most important symbol in the book. It has a few different meanings.

1. Lakshmi's Two Sides: Henna is used for beautiful art, but it was also used as a medicine to heal people. This is just like Lakshmi. On the outside, she is an artist, but her real power comes from being a healer who helps people with their problems.
2. Women's Secret Stories: The complicated patterns in henna are like the complex, hidden lives of the women Lakshmi works for. On the surface, the design is just pretty. But underneath, it can hold secret meanings that only the artist and the wearer know.
3. A Path to Freedom: For Lakshmi, henna is how she earns money and becomes independent. Applying henna lets her into the private homes of rich women. This is where she learns secrets that help her build her other business selling herbal remedies.
4. Things Don't Last Forever: A henna stain is temporary and fades over time. This symbolizes how things like reputation, beauty, and even secrets can fade. The design might disappear, but the effect it had, or the stain it left on your life, remains.

So, Should You Read It?

The best part of The Henna Artist is the world it creates. The author does a great job describing the sights, sounds, and smells of 1950s Jaipur. You really feel like you are there. The main character, Lakshmi, is strong and easy to root for.

But sometimes, the story can feel a bit slow. The focus on description can take away from the plot's energy. While the story is dramatic, some of the solutions to problems can feel a little predictable.

Overall, it's a very enjoyable book, especially if you like certain types of stories.

This book is a great fit for you if:

• You love historical fiction that pulls you into a different time and place.
• You enjoy stories about strong women.
• You are interested in learning about other cultures.
• You're in a book club, as there is a lot to discuss.

Common Questions About The Henna Artist

Is The Henna Artist a True Story?

No, The Henna Artist is fiction. But the story is very personal to the author, Alka Joshi. She based the character of Lakshmi on her own mother.

Joshi's mother had an arranged marriage and never got to choose her own path. The author wrote the book to imagine a different life for her. It was a way to give her mother the independence she never had.

To make the world feel real, Joshi did a lot of research. She traveled to India and talked to many people to learn about life in 1950s Jaipur.

Is There a Movie or TV Show?

Yes, The Henna Artist is being made into a TV series, not a movie.

Here are the details:

• Where to Watch: Netflix has the rights to the series.
• Who's Making It: It's a Miramax TV production.
• Who's in It: Freida Pinto (from Slumdog Millionaire ) will play Lakshmi. She is also helping to produce the show.

What About the Audiobook?

• Length: The audiobook is 10 hours and 56 minutes long.
• Narrator: It is read by Sneha Mathan.
• Reviews: People love the audiobook. Listeners say the narration is beautiful and really brings the story to life.

What Did Critics Say?

The Henna Artist was a huge success. It became even more popular after it was chosen for Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. It quickly became a New York Times Bestseller.

Major reviewers also loved the book. They agreed it was well written and had a great story. Here is what some of them said:

• Publishers Weekly called it "Eloquent and moving."
• The San Francisco Chronicle said readers will want to root for the main character, Lakshmi.
• Booklist called it a "bewitching glimpse into the past with a tough heroine."

Critics and readers agreed that the book mixed a rich, interesting world with an exciting plot. It was a hit with both serious readers and book clubs.

What Happens at the End? (Spoilers!)

This last section explains the ending of the book. Stop reading now if you don't want spoilers.

• How the Main Problems Get Solved:

  The end of the book is a series of disasters for Lakshmi.

  1. Radha's Pregnancy: Radha has an affair with a rich young man named Ravi Singh and gets pregnant. Ravi refuses to take responsibility for the baby. This is a huge problem.
  2. Lakshmi's Ruin: Ravi's mother, Parvati, finds out about the pregnancy. She is angry and decides to get revenge on Lakshmi. Parvati spreads rumors that Lakshmi is a thief, which destroys her business and her reputation.
  3. The Adoption: Lakshmi arranges for a royal family to adopt Radha's baby. But when the baby is born, Radha can't give him up. Lakshmi has a change of heart and gives the baby to a kind, childless client instead, knowing he will have a loving home.
• What Happens When Secrets Come Out:

  The world of secrets that Lakshmi lived in falls apart. Her clients' secrets and her own are exposed, and it costs her everything.

  One surprise is her estranged husband, Hari. Lakshmi always thought he was still an abusive man. But it turns out he has changed his life and now helps women escape bad situations. Seeing this gives Lakshmi closure on her past.

• Where Lakshmi Ends Up:

  By the end, Lakshmi has lost her business and her dream house. She has to sell her unfinished home and leave Jaipur.

  But in losing her old dream, she finds a new purpose. She moves to a mountain town called Shimla with her new family, Radha and Malik. She starts working with a doctor, combining her herbal knowledge with his modern medicine.

  Lakshmi is no longer focused on wealth and status. She is finally free from her past and her old ambitions. She has found true independence and a new home with the family she chose.