Madeline
There is an elegance that comes to mind when I think of Indian Culture. The elegance is full of vibrant colors, intricate details, gold accents, and an airy bright feeling blowing in the wind. The Henna Artist book took this general idea I had stuck in my head and applied it to a story wound in both the beautiful and the ugly parts of Indian culture during the 1950s.
Premise of The Henna Artist Book
The Henna Artist takes place in Jaipur India during the 1950s. Lakshmi is a popular henna artist which both affords her the rich life she always wanted, but also with debts she must make sacrifices in order to pay. These debts become more burdensome when her a sister she never knew she had shows up on her doorstep. She now has a child to care for, but first she must make her into a presentable young lady she can bring with her to her client’s homes. As these clients are wealthy people, a dirty girl in thread bare clothing with zero manors will not suffice.
Although Lakshmi’s official profession is a henna artist, she is also known for her elixirs. She has elixirs to grow hair, to slow down aging, and most importantly, for contraception and abortions. Because of these teas, she is brought into social circles to pamper the wives whiles also providing her special teas to the mistresses. And as she becomes more ingrained in the elite’s social circles , her sister is also engrained. Both blurring the lines between servant and companion.
Indian Culture And Caste System
The Indian culture’s caste system plays an important role in this book. Although Lakshmi was born into a lower caste, her artistic abilities have brought her up in ranks where she is able to rub elbows with nobles and royalty. She is often in situations were she becomes a close confident and is known for giving great advice to her clients. Her closeness to these people blur the lines in a culture where the lines that have survived hundreds of years are laid in stone and nearly impossible to move.
It is not until near the end of the story that Lakshmi is reminded of where her and her sister belong in this caste system. The elite have a power over them that was previously not obvious. And they are forced to make choices of doing what is best or staying in the good graces of the elite.
Final Thoughts
I usually give books a thumbs up if they either have a great storyline or paint a beautiful picture in my head. The Henna Artist did both for me. Add in an understanding of a culture that is unlike what I am familiar with, like The Firekeeper’s Daughter or Breasts and Eggs, and I am sold. It was a great book with some harsh realities.
