BLOG TOUR: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

I'm very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. As soon as I saw the cover, I knew it was a story that I would get swept away by. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Alka Joshi for giving me the change to read and experience The Henna Artist.

Title: The Henna Artist

Author: Alka Joshi

Published by: Mira

Released: March 3, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: Lakshmi Shastri has spent years carving out a life for herself as a henna artist after fleeing her abusive husband and backward rural village for the Rajasthan capital. Well-versed in apothecary and the miraculous properties of herbs, her services (the effects of which are far more than just aesthetic) are highly sought after by upper-caste women, and Lakshmi’s success brings her within inches from her, and her country’s, ultimate goal: total independence. That is, until the past she has so desperately tried to run from comes knocking at her door... (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: The Henna Artist let me travel to 1950's India without ever having to leave my house. It was great! I loved the sense of atmosphere and setting this book brought to life. I really enjoyed reading about Lakshmi's work and her journey. I admit to not knowing very much about Henna, so I really enjoyed getting a little peak into that world and artistry.

The story really brought the conflict too, with Lakshmi's abusive husband finding her and giving her an unexpected surprise, a new twist to consider. I was invested watching it all play out. Just when Lakshmi is so close to freedom, her past comes back to her, and choices must be made.

Alka Joshi can tell a great story. Her writing really captivated me. She illustrated 1950's India so beautifully and vividly. She's good.

I'm really glad I got to take a trip with The Henna Artist. It introduced me to a place and time period that I knew nothing about. With great writing and an absorbing story, The Henna Artist is good reading.

There comes a point in every daughter's life when she begins seeing her mother as a person separate from her family, someone who has an identity outside of motherhood. That was the moment I began re-imagining my mother's life, and that re-imagining became THE HENNA ARTIST. I was born in Rajasthan, India, and moved with my family to the U.S. when I was nine. Even after graduating from Stanford University, and working in advertising and marketing, I never considered becoming an author. But living with my mother changed all that. In 2011, I got my MFA in Creative Writing from the California College of Arts in San Francisco, California. It took 10 years, a lot of research, and many trips to India to complete my debut novel, and I'm thrilled to share my writing and publishing process on YouTube:http://bit.ly/alkajoshi
I live on the Monterey Peninsula with my husband and two misbehaving pups, so let me know if you're going to be in the neighborhood.

Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Alka Joshi for letting me be a part of this fun tour and giving me the chance to experience this captivating read.