{"product_id":"henna-artist-by-alka-joshi","title":"Henna Artist by Alka Joshi","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"94\" data-end=\"131\"\u003eBook Summary – \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"133\" data-end=\"610\"\u003eSet in the vibrant yet transitional era of 1950s Jaipur, \u003cem data-start=\"190\" data-end=\"208\"\u003eThe Henna Artist\u003c\/em\u003e follows \u003cstrong data-start=\"217\" data-end=\"236\"\u003eLakshmi Shastri\u003c\/strong\u003e, a resourceful young woman who escapes an abusive marriage and carves out an impressive life for herself in the “Pink City.” Known for her intricate mehndi designs, Lakshmi becomes a trusted confidante to Jaipur’s elite women—balancing her artistry with discreet herbal remedies and contraceptive solutions for their clandestine needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"1077\"\u003eHer orderly, self-made world is upended when her estranged husband arrives, revealing the existence of \u003cstrong data-start=\"715\" data-end=\"724\"\u003eRadha\u003c\/strong\u003e, a bold 13‑year‑old claiming to be Lakshmi’s sister—but hinting at more complex ties. As Lakshmi grapples with family secrets, societal gossip, and the fragility of her reputation, she finds emotional and professional support, ultimately embracing unexpected hope and rebirth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1079\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003eThe novel weaves themes like traditional versus modern roles, women's autonomy, family, and survival, set against a richly textured cultural and historical backdrop\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1284\" data-end=\"1416\"\u003eReaders especially admire Joshi's ability to evoke the sights, scents, and dynamics of post-Independence India. One reviewer shared:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-start=\"1418\" data-end=\"1675\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1420\" data-end=\"1675\"\u003e“Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern… She perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her.” \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ms-1 inline-flex max-w-full items-center relative top-[-0.094rem] animate-[show_150ms_ease-in]\" data-testid=\"webpage-citation-pill\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"1682\" data-end=\"1715\"\u003eAbout the Author – \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1717\" data-end=\"1975\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1717\" data-end=\"1731\"\u003eAlka Joshi\u003c\/strong\u003e is an Indian–American novelist born in Jodhpur, India, who moved to the United States at age nine. She earned her BA from Stanford University and an MFA from the California College of the Arts \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1977\" data-end=\"2356\"\u003eInspired by her mother’s unrealized aspirations, Joshi began writing \u003cem data-start=\"2046\" data-end=\"2064\"\u003eThe Henna Artist\u003c\/em\u003e in 2010. The novel was published in 2020 and quickly became a New York Times Bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and has been translated into over 20 languages. It is presently being adapted into a TV series—set to star Freida Pinto \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ms-1 inline-flex max-w-full items-center relative top-[-0.094rem] animate-[show_150ms_ease-in]\" data-testid=\"webpage-citation-pill\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.in\/Henna-Artist-Novel-Alka-Joshi-ebook\/dp\/B07R5YVHL9?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.in\/Henna-Artist-Novel-Alka-Joshi-ebook\/dp\/B07R5YVHL9?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" class=\"flex h-4.5 overflow-hidden rounded-xl px-2 text-[9px] font-medium text-token-text-secondary! bg-[#F4F4F4]! dark:bg-[#303030]! transition-colors duration-150 ease-in-out\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative start-0 bottom-0 flex h-full w-full items-center\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"flex h-4 w-full items-center justify-between overflow-hidden\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"max-w-full grow truncate overflow-hidden text-center\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2552\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2376\"\u003eThe Henna Artist\u003c\/em\u003e is the first installment in The Jaipur Trilogy, followed by \u003cem data-start=\"2441\" data-end=\"2470\"\u003eThe Secret Keeper of Jaipur\u003c\/em\u003e (2021) and \u003cem data-start=\"2482\" data-end=\"2506\"\u003eThe Perfumist of Paris\u003c\/em\u003e (2023) \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ms-1 inline-flex max-w-full items-center relative top-[-0.094rem] animate-[show_150ms_ease-in]\" data-testid=\"webpage-citation-pill\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alka_Joshi?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alka_Joshi?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" class=\"flex h-4.5 overflow-hidden rounded-xl px-2 text-[9px] font-medium text-token-text-secondary! bg-[#F4F4F4]! dark:bg-[#303030]! transition-colors duration-150 ease-in-out\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative start-0 bottom-0 flex h-full w-full items-center\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"flex h-4 w-full items-center justify-between overflow-hidden\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"max-w-full grow truncate overflow-hidden text-center\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2554\" data-end=\"2796\"\u003eJoshi currently resides on California’s Monterey Peninsula, drawing on her multicultural background to craft stories that bridge Indian heritage with universal themes of resilience and self-determination\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Clapping Pages","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":45259225923770,"sku":"35INBDB7L-Used","price":19.0,"currency_code":"AED","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/5576\/0826\/files\/ha_ab734128-c408-47d7-aa33-a28f36a95ef5.jpg?v=1761152440","url":"https:\/\/clappingpages.com\/products\/henna-artist-by-alka-joshi","provider":"Clapping Pages","version":"1.0","type":"link"}