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A review by hannazoeo
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
60% into this book, I realized it was going to be a dnf. I was enjoying parts of the story and Lakshmi as a character, aside from it being a sort of "exotic" portrayal of India written for Westerners. But then I couldn't get over the glossed-over child sexual abuse, and when the author tries to make Lakshmi's abusive ex-husband a sympathetic character. We learn that he "only" beat her because he knew about her induced miscarriages - while being in an abusive marriage she never wanted. A redemptive arc is okay... but not done in this shallow way.
I understand that India, and especially women in that country, has had an extraordinarily difficult time with its history of child marriages and sexual abuse. But I've felt that these things can be written about with a feeling of desensitization or reasoning I can't understand. This isn't really a criticism of the author(s) and their experiences, but just a feeling that made this book not right for me.
I understand that India, and especially women in that country, has had an extraordinarily difficult time with its history of child marriages and sexual abuse. But I've felt that these things can be written about with a feeling of desensitization or reasoning I can't understand. This isn't really a criticism of the author(s) and their experiences, but just a feeling that made this book not right for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Abortion, and Pregnancy