JCO Book Club

Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Lushly atmospheric and emotionally gripping, The Henna Artist is a captivating exploration of survival, ambition, and the price of freedom in a world defined by beauty and constraint.

Alka Joshi, born in India and raised in the United States, brings a rich cultural awareness and a deeply empathetic imagination to her storytelling. Drawing from her mother’s experiences and the…