By Hazel Prewitt · started 7d ago · The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
An ambitious henna artist in 1950s Jaipur builds a life from secrets and skill. I've been chewing on this for a fortnight and I'm no closer to a settled opinion.
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 236
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 186
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 226
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Five stars from me.
❤️ 186
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 186
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 236
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 236
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The prose does that trick where it's plain until suddenly it isn't. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 196
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 196
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 186
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Five stars from me.
❤️ 54
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. It's a quiet book with a very loud ending. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 14
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 14
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 24
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 24
Perfect winter read. Or summer. Or any month, apparently. Whoever flagged the recurring water imagery — thank you, I can't unsee it now. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 63
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 24
Perfect winter read. Or summer. Or any month, apparently. The dialogue is doing about four jobs at once. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 54
I had to pause halfway through and just sit with it. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Five stars from me.
❤️ 14
Second read for me, and it's a different book the second time. I loved how little it explains itself. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 53
