La artista de henna
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- Create Date：2021-12-19 10:15:58
- Update Date：2025-09-24
- Status：finish
- Author：Alka Joshi
- ISBN：8418184647
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Summary
Jaipur， India， 1955。 Con tan solo diecisiete años， Lakshmi escapa de un marido abusivo y se dirige a la vibrante ciudad de Jaipur， donde se convierte en la artista de henna más solicitada y en la confidente de las mujeres de las castas superiores。Las clientas creen que la henna de Lakshmi tiene el poder de seducir a sus esposos e incluso de concebir un hijo。 Conocida también por sus remedios naturales y sus sabios consejos， debe andar con cuidado para evitar las habladurías que podrían arruinar su reputación。 Cuando su marido descubre su paradero y aparece con una joven， Radha， a la que presenta como la hermana pequeña de Lakshmi， el velo de discreción que ha tejido cuidadosamente se ve amenazado。
Reviews
Emily （Frappes & Fiction）
，
Hmm。。。。 this book looked promising but I wasn't a huge fan。 Starting with what I liked: I enjoyed the historical setting of 1950s India as it is not represented very often in books。 That's why I initially was drawn to this book in the first place。 However， the plot was slow and very predictable。 It fell victim to the same kind of soap-opera-like plot so often found in these types of hist fic books， and， well， it seemed only to skim the surface of some of the more interesting/serious plot points。 Hmm。。。。 this book looked promising but I wasn't a huge fan。 Starting with what I liked: I enjoyed the historical setting of 1950s India as it is not represented very often in books。 That's why I initially was drawn to this book in the first place。 However， the plot was slow and very predictable。 It fell victim to the same kind of soap-opera-like plot so often found in these types of hist fic books， and， well， it seemed only to skim the surface of some of the more interesting/serious plot points。 For example- （view spoiler）[ it's revealed around 20% of the way through that Lakshmi has been helping women get underground abortions， and Lakshmi talks a lot about why this is a good thing for her clients and why having children would be disastrous for their situations。 However， whether you're pro-life or pro-choice， I don't think abortion is something that should be taken as lightly as Lakshmi takes it。 Later in the book， there's a whole conflict with Radha getting pregnant and wanting to keep the baby， and then some nuance is introduced， which I thought was interesting-- however， it was never fully explored。 Also， there was a lot of discussion around how Ravi took advantage of Radha and lead her on and how he's at fault for the whole thing， but Lakshmi barely acknowledge the fact that Samir did the same thing to her and she's been enabling him and others like him to do it to other women for years by providing them with contraceptives and abortion teas？ The message was very confusing。 I think there was supposed to be some sort of lesson with her hypocrisy but it was obfuscated with the cheesiness of the ending-- everything got wrapped up way too quickly。 Of course Kanta's miscarriage happened right when Radha had her baby。 Wow， my 13-year-old sister has an illegitimate child， whomever shall we give it to？ Oh， maybe our friend who spends all her time with us and has been desperate to have kids for years？ Also Hari did a full character 180 and it made no sense （hide spoiler）] I also could never tell how old the characters were。 There is no way Malik was eight。 What？ Unfortunately， I found this book boring， unrealistic， and overall not really for me。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
Lakshmi flyr från sitt äktenskap som är fyllt av våld och hemskheter， tills hon kommer till Jaipur。 Hon gör ett namn av sig själv genom att vara hennakonstnären， och målar de mest inflytelserika och rika personerna i dem kvarteren。 Men en dag kommer en kvinna som säger att hon är hennes lillasyster， och allt vänds upp och ner。 Det jag älskar med att läsa är förmågan att resa runt i världen， historien och i olika kulturer på ett så lätt sätt。 I Hennakonstnären får vi bekanta oss med Indien， dess Lakshmi flyr från sitt äktenskap som är fyllt av våld och hemskheter， tills hon kommer till Jaipur。 Hon gör ett namn av sig själv genom att vara hennakonstnären， och målar de mest inflytelserika och rika personerna i dem kvarteren。 Men en dag kommer en kvinna som säger att hon är hennes lillasyster， och allt vänds upp och ner。 Det jag älskar med att läsa är förmågan att resa runt i världen， historien och i olika kulturer på ett så lätt sätt。 I Hennakonstnären får vi bekanta oss med Indien， dess kastsystem och hierarki， men också dess charm och färggranna värld。 Atmosfären och känslan i boken är fantastisk， och jag kunde se allting spelas upp som en film framför mig - och någon gång hoppas jag att denna blir film， då jag tror att den hade gjort succé på filmdukarna。 Karaktärerna som man får följa genom berättelsen känns levande och realistiska， och även om det kanske var lite väl många karaktärer för en så pass kort bok， så var persongalleriet till stor hjälp。 Däremot är det något som skaver med skrivsättet som gör så att den inte når full pott för mig。 Det kändes emellanåt som att den var rätt。。。barnsligt skriven。 Jag vet inte om det är att översättaren inte riktigt fick med känslan， eller om boken är skriven så på engelska också。 Men det var mycket att man fick svart på vitt hur karaktären kände och mådde， vilket jag nästan aldrig uppskattar i en bok。 Jag vill att författaren visar mig med gester， handlingar och dylikt hur karaktären känner。 Däremot älskade jag tillägget av indiska ord lite överallt i berättelsen， och att de var inlagt ett lexikon i slutet av boken。 Trots att språket inte riktigt matchade med mitt tycke， så tycker jag ändå väldigt mycket om den här boken och jag är otroligt glad att vi får läsa från andra världsdelar än Europa och USA/UK där författarna är från de andra världsdelarna， i svensk utgivning。 Jag hoppas på mer sådant！Tack för recensionexemplar， HarperCollins Nordic。 。。。more
Майя Ставитская
，
A late， but very successful literary debut， "The Henna Artist" Joshi wrote after fifty， the book immediately became a bestseller and the choice of the Reese Witherspoon book club。 It reads remarkably easily， the level of emotional involvement is the highest。 I recommend it。Тяжкое бремя сестринстваЕсть только деньги-и-нищета， иметь-и-не-иметь; правое-и-левое; есть только я-против-всего-мира！Салман Рушди "Дети полуночи"Если вы опасаетесь， что речь пойдет о богемной среде， конфликте между собой в и A late， but very successful literary debut， "The Henna Artist" Joshi wrote after fifty， the book immediately became a bestseller and the choice of the Reese Witherspoon book club。 It reads remarkably easily， the level of emotional involvement is the highest。 I recommend it。Тяжкое бремя сестринстваЕсть только деньги-и-нищета， иметь-и-не-иметь; правое-и-левое; есть только я-против-всего-мира！Салман Рушди "Дети полуночи"Если вы опасаетесь， что речь пойдет о богемной среде， конфликте между собой в искусстве и искусством в себе， поисках предназначения и служению высокому - всех тех вещах， о которых так любят рассуждать писатели и которых так не любят читатели - вы будете приятно удивлены。 Алка Джоши написала простую， понятную и уютную книгу о делах житейских。 Про "терпение и труд все перетрут"， "хочешь жить - умей вертеться" и "всяк сверчок знай свой шесток"。 И про то， что дети - цветы на могиле своих родителей， а в отсутствие детей с их ролью отлично справляются другие родственники。Время и место действия: 1955 год， восемь лет после обретения Индией независимости， Джайпур， штат Раджстан。 Талантливая умница Лакшми по праву рождения принадлежит к касте брахманов， самой чтимой в индийской кастовой системе。 Но происходит из семьи не просто обедневшей， а впавшей в совершенную нищету。 Ее отец принимал в свое время участие в борьбе за независимость， был поражен в правах и сослан учительствовать в деревенскую школу， где вскоре начал пить， пустил под откос собственную жизнь и жизнь семьи。 Пятнадцатилетнюю Лакшми отдали замуж за страхолюдного мужика。 много старше нее。Помыкавшись года два с бездельником， пьяницей и драчуном мужем， Лакшми сбежала в город。 Травница-свекровь научила ее секрету прерывания нежелательной беременности при помощи настоев и отваров， каковую способность девушка конвертировала в рупии， предлагая услуги девицам из борделей。 Там-то ее и заметил блистательный джайпурец Самир Сингх， предложил перебраться в город побольше и пользовать господ посолиднее。Став ее первым постоянным клиентом。 Многочисленные любовные похождения этого бизнесмена требовали время от времени такого рода вмешательства， да у него и друзья подобные。 Таким образом， основной заработок Лакшми от продажи абортивных средств， а официально она художница-мехенди （искусство росписи тела узорами из хны， которые еще иногда называют временными татуировками） - разрисовывает руки и ноги клиенток из высшего джайпурского общества。 Достичь этого было непросто， но Лакшми истинный мастер своего дела， а к тому же она умна， обходительна， деликатна。И дело идет на лад。 Вот уже дом почти достроила。 Красивый， с мозаичной плиткой на полу， с ванной и белым унитазом - все как у людей。 Да к тому же пробует себя в роли свахи: вхожесть в лучшие дома и комбинаторный ум позволяют， а за удачно слаженный брак отпрысков двух хороших семей можно получить не сорок рупий， как за роспись рук-ног， и не полторы сотни - как за мешочек с травами， но десятки тысяч。И тут приходит она， сестренка Радха， рожденная после бегства старшей， тринадцатилетняя сирота。 Лакшми знать не знала о ее существовании на свете， девочка-беда появляется на пороге диким зверьком， грязным， блохастым， перепуганным。 И ничего не остается， кроме как принять на себя бремя заботы о младшей。 Тут-то все и завертится。Поздний， но очень удачный литературный дебют， "Художницу из джайпура" Джоши написала после пятидесяти， книга сразу сделалась бестселлером и стала выбором книжного клуба Риз Уизерспун。 Читается замечательно легко， уровень эмоциональной вовлеченности высочайший。 Рекомендую。 。。。more
Elise
，
Really enjoyed this audio book！ Kept me very entertained on my commute！ Some of the characters got increasingly annoying， but I loved the glimpse into Indian life。
Adriene
，
Loved it！
Sue
，
Entertaining story set in India in 1955， after the British have left。 The descriptions of Lakshmi's henna preparations， & her other ministrations （some of them quasi-illegal）， to wealthy Indian ladies， are just lovely。 Lakshmi's life is going well， until her younger sister （who til then she didn't know existed） shows up。 Complications ensue， & though the plot gest a little soap opera-y， I still found the book very enjoyable。 Entertaining story set in India in 1955， after the British have left。 The descriptions of Lakshmi's henna preparations， & her other ministrations （some of them quasi-illegal）， to wealthy Indian ladies， are just lovely。 Lakshmi's life is going well， until her younger sister （who til then she didn't know existed） shows up。 Complications ensue， & though the plot gest a little soap opera-y， I still found the book very enjoyable。 。。。more
Brittany
，
I like to think I live in a world of books。 A world where whenever I’m feeling like an adventure， all it takes is the flipping of pages to transport me somewhere magical。 The Henna Artist was no exception。 Following Lakshmi through the streets of Jaipur， I could see the vibrant colours and smell the rich street food。 The author’s description of the intricate and delicate Henna drawings by Lakshmi on her clients was so explicit that I could picture the artwork as if it were on my own body。 Readin I like to think I live in a world of books。 A world where whenever I’m feeling like an adventure， all it takes is the flipping of pages to transport me somewhere magical。 The Henna Artist was no exception。 Following Lakshmi through the streets of Jaipur， I could see the vibrant colours and smell the rich street food。 The author’s description of the intricate and delicate Henna drawings by Lakshmi on her clients was so explicit that I could picture the artwork as if it were on my own body。 Reading about India is special。 One of my all time favourite novels is Shantaram and I found pieces of Gregory David Robert’s masterpiece in Joshi’s。 The story is beautiful - even if somewhat predictable。 The characters are captivating and relatable。 I was particularly fond of Malik but thought the author did a wonderful job with them all。 I’m a sucker for happy endings and this book delivers on all counts in that regard。 Read this for book club but would recommend it to anyone looking for a story to get lost in。 4 stars！ 。。。more
Kristen
，
Overall this book is just a feel-good story that will tug at your heart strings。 I love the strong female characters and this was a great read。
Kim
，
This was a very good audio book。 I enjoyed the setting and the plot。 I got annoyed at the characters at times， but at least I could blame it on the restraints of their culture。 Good educational insight into Indian cultural expectations。 Interesting。
craige
，
I enjoyed the setup but the second half disappointed me。 It felt like the story had become simplistic。 I rushed to finish it just to move on to the next book and I didn’t feel like I was coming away with any real appreciation for the book。
Kristen Buettner
，
excellent！
Anna Wilson
，
Loved being taken away to another world。
Coca
，
meh
Dina Horne
，
I feel badly when I dislike a book that apparently everyone else loves， but here it is again。 I just couldn't get into it。 Lakshmi seemed like a character that the author crammed some modern sensibilities into。 Just kind of trying too hard somehow。 Too unbelievable to just let the story flow。 I feel badly when I dislike a book that apparently everyone else loves， but here it is again。 I just couldn't get into it。 Lakshmi seemed like a character that the author crammed some modern sensibilities into。 Just kind of trying too hard somehow。 Too unbelievable to just let the story flow。 。。。more
Michelle Todd
，
I really enjoyed this novel。 While at times it was hard to follow some of the cultural references and descriptions， the story and characters are described wonderfully。
Carly Betkey
，
I really enjoyed the overall story and departure from the usual characters/historical novels I read。 Having a woman set as the main character in 1950s India is not a protagonist readers might often see。 Lakshmi isn’t a perfect woman， and she makes complicated choices at times—I appreciate that in female protagonists but I know not everyone does。 Yes， the sister is annoying， but she’s annoying with a purpose—she does a lot to drive change in the plot （even when it’s frustrating）。
Brittany
，
3。5 starsThis was an extremely different kind of historical fiction novel for me。 I know little about the place or culture。 I do think listening to it was beautiful and the narrator did a good job。 All the info about Henna， its application， meanings and uses was interesting although I could have used even more about the meanings and how it came to be used in so many celebrations and tradtions。 So was the way the caste system was explained and the importance it still played even in the 1950s。I di 3。5 starsThis was an extremely different kind of historical fiction novel for me。 I know little about the place or culture。 I do think listening to it was beautiful and the narrator did a good job。 All the info about Henna， its application， meanings and uses was interesting although I could have used even more about the meanings and how it came to be used in so many celebrations and tradtions。 So was the way the caste system was explained and the importance it still played even in the 1950s。I did find Lakshmi our MC to be on the distant side which made it harder to warm up to her difficulties and everything she had gone through in life。 Her little sister was an even more difficult character for me with her stubborn and although understandable， somewhat selfish ways。 She really read like a child who had never been taught anything which was her truth。I did love seeing the way everything worked， the importance of relations and how the word of one person could completely change your life。 I appreciated that Lakshmi was a self-made kind of woman and was doing what she could to be successful in life even if it cost her family greatly。 I also liked the usage of herbs and tonics。The descriptions were beautiful。 I just wish I had gotten more immersed in Lakshmi's story。 All and all a decent book and one that was quite a different story 。。。more
Cella Cameron
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I loved this book and learned a great deal about the Indian culture and the struggles of women living in the caste system。 Lakshmi escapes a brutal marriage to live independently in an environment destined for poverty。 She shows amazing strength and fortitude。 We should all focus our inner Lakshmi to get through our crisisies。
Chrissie
，
2022 ATY Challenge - 3 books set in 3 different continents （Asia）
Hmy
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The story of a woman who seeks autonomy in 1950s India。 Interesting historical references and insight into a woman's world。 Many varied relationships， often between women， sometimes positive， sometimes not。 The neat ending gives a rosy future to the protagonists although this is clearly not the case for all the women。 The story of a woman who seeks autonomy in 1950s India。 Interesting historical references and insight into a woman's world。 Many varied relationships， often between women， sometimes positive， sometimes not。 The neat ending gives a rosy future to the protagonists although this is clearly not the case for all the women。 。。。more
Tammy
，
I liked this book a lot。 I thought I would love it but I think for me， there being so many characters and their names weren’t easy to remember， made it a little hard for me to follow at times。 I did listen to this book and the narration was great。 I just have a hard time with the foreign names。 That is totally on me， nothing to do with the story。 If I had my time back， I would have just made a little note of who was who。 Definitely worth listening or reading。
Frances
，
I really enjoyed this book。 I thought the author wrote a compelling story with well drawn female characters。 The author made good choices for the characters to behave。 No easy outs for anyone。 Thrilled that this is the first in a trilogy！
Adrianna
，
3。75
sonalidalal
，
The Henna ArtistThoroughly enjoyed reading this smoothly written book。 Lakshmi ， the main protagonist ， has many facets to her character。 Apart from her， each character is finely nuanced and strongly etched， however tiny a part it has in a story。 Never knew， Henna applying ， so familiar to us Indians， has so many meanings and intricate processing。 The smell， sounds and sights of the era， 1950s， are brought to life so vividly and interestingly。 Chapters at the end， rather after the end came as a The Henna ArtistThoroughly enjoyed reading this smoothly written book。 Lakshmi ， the main protagonist ， has many facets to her character。 Apart from her， each character is finely nuanced and strongly etched， however tiny a part it has in a story。 Never knew， Henna applying ， so familiar to us Indians， has so many meanings and intricate processing。 The smell， sounds and sights of the era， 1950s， are brought to life so vividly and interestingly。 Chapters at the end， rather after the end came as a pleasant surprise ， making me eager to read her next book。 。。。more
Pranavi
，
Loved every page of this book。 Takes you back in history to Jaipur in the 1950s and the story of a woman who excelled in life through talent and ambition！
Bethany Geating
，
Fine book 3。5 stars。 Not like wow that was amazing but a look into a different culture and slice of life of a woman in that culture。
Pamela
，
Let me preface by saying that I read few historical fictions because I usually find them too long and dragging too much， often they lose my interest and I cannot read another story set in WWII。 So when I picked up The Henna Artist， I had few expectations but was still interested in learning more about this period in Jaipur， India through a female MC。 And I'm so glad I did ！！！I absolutely loved this novel and I just couldn't put it down。 Literally。 I spent my morning reading as long as I could be Let me preface by saying that I read few historical fictions because I usually find them too long and dragging too much， often they lose my interest and I cannot read another story set in WWII。 So when I picked up The Henna Artist， I had few expectations but was still interested in learning more about this period in Jaipur， India through a female MC。 And I'm so glad I did ！！！I absolutely loved this novel and I just couldn't put it down。 Literally。 I spent my morning reading as long as I could before I had to log in for work！This book has everything and so many turns and twists， but also so much heart。 I loved following along with Lakshmi this strong and flawed MC that works so hard to succeed in a time that isn't kind to an unmarried woman。 The author doesn't shy away from tough topics， which made this story so high stakes。 I did expect the ending， but honestly， I don't even care in this case。 I'm so excited to read the sequel！ 。。。more
Nuria Cubero
，
La artista de henna🔥🔥🔥Con tan solo diecisiete años， Lakshmi escapa de un marido abusivo y se dirige a la ciudad de Jaipur， donde se convierte en la artista de henna más solicitada。De forma inesperada aparecerá una hermana de la que nada sabe y su vida se pondrá patas arriba。Dicen que es el libro del año 。 Quien decide estas cosas？🏵️🏵️🏵️No he logrado conectar con la historia， y mucho menos con la protagonista en ningún momento。 Es más， me ha resultado egoísta a más no poder， por no decir de la he La artista de henna🔥🔥🔥Con tan solo diecisiete años， Lakshmi escapa de un marido abusivo y se dirige a la ciudad de Jaipur， donde se convierte en la artista de henna más solicitada。De forma inesperada aparecerá una hermana de la que nada sabe y su vida se pondrá patas arriba。Dicen que es el libro del año 。 Quien decide estas cosas？🏵️🏵️🏵️No he logrado conectar con la historia， y mucho menos con la protagonista en ningún momento。 Es más， me ha resultado egoísta a más no poder， por no decir de la hermanita salvaje que pretende convertirse en señorita。La historia en realidad me ha resultado lentísima。 Si la divido en tres partes dos de ellas aburridas porque es en la tercera en la que todo ocurre de golpe。🔥🔥🔥No sé qué me ocurre ultimamente que no conecto demasiado con los libros que decido leer。 。。。more
Kara Paxton
，
4。5 stars rounded up！ Absolutely loved this book。 The characters were well developed， the setting was interesting and dynamic and described so well that I felt like I was there。 It evoked all ranges of emotions， from laughing to crying。 That's what I love in a great book。So maybe I figured out pretty quickly what was going to happen at the end of the book， and usually that annoys me， but it didn't this time。 Or maybe just enough to take off that half star。。。 Still， I appreciated the story and I 4。5 stars rounded up！ Absolutely loved this book。 The characters were well developed， the setting was interesting and dynamic and described so well that I felt like I was there。 It evoked all ranges of emotions， from laughing to crying。 That's what I love in a great book。So maybe I figured out pretty quickly what was going to happen at the end of the book， and usually that annoys me， but it didn't this time。 Or maybe just enough to take off that half star。。。 Still， I appreciated the story and I love hearing from a perspective that I probably never would have discovered without this book。 I appreciate learning about other cultures， especially those that encourage me to do something to help those affected by the terrible parts of those situations。After finishing the final chapter last night， I found myself wanting more。 I'm still in a book slump to be honest。 So， it's a good thing there's another one in the series。 Haha。 This one is great even as a standalone book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction or learning about cultures different from their own。 。。。more
Salcolorado
，
Good story about a very different culture。 Well written。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=La artista de henna
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=La artista de henna&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,La artista de henna&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0