Welcome to Litsy!

After India's independence from Britain Lakshmi works as a henna artist to build her own independent life while both she and society struggle to mesh the old and new ways.

I loved Lakshmi and Malik, and resented the hell out of Radha even though she was the catalyst for a needed change.

55/62

#BookedInTime #IndiaIndependence @Cuilin @dabbe

#MountTBR #ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

#WhereAreYouMonday

Hanging out in Jaipur with The Henna Artist 📖

Starting this today for #BookedInTime #IndiaIndependence
It actually takes place in the first years after Independence but it was on my shelf and BookedInTime was calling to me so . . . . 😊

So thankful to Julie @RebelReader for putting this on her #ALSpine list, as it gave me the push I needed to finally read it! Loved this story about Lakshmi and her family, both blood and found. I‘ve always been fascinated by the art of henna and appreciated the glossary (and recipes!) at the end.
#readyourkindle #doublespin #auldlangspine

#NewTearNewBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#Artist

Very good!

It's officially winter break! Wooooo. I'm starting the tagged book today.

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but it was really enjoyable! I‘m really looking forward to the next one, to see where the story goes next for these characters.

Success was ephemeral-and fluid-as
I'd found out the hard way. It came. It went. It changed you from the outside, but not from the inside. Inside, I was still the same girl who dreamed of a destiny greater than she was allowed.
Did I really need the house to prove I had skill, talent, ambition, intelligence?

#29
Very good...enjoyed listening to this one while packing

Wonderful

This was an easy historical fiction read - overall I enjoyed the story of Lakshmi a woman who ran from her husband and recreates herself as a henna artist in post colonial Jaipur. It was a quick read and it felt a bit rushed but a low pick.

Lakshmi is on verge of achieving her dream of owning her own home when the husband she fled years ago arrives with the sister she didn‘t know existed. Caring for her sister causes great changes to her life, the repercussions of which may undermine years of careful work. Lots of mixed reviews for this one but I really enjoyed it and felt for Lakshmi as she tried so hard to do the best she could for everyone.
#anypartofatrilogy #booked2023

Bookclub night tonight! This month we read The Henna Artist and I am not completely sure. It was entertaining but I was not invested in the slightest bit in these characters.

One of my favorites from 2022 😍 #12booksofChristmas

3/5 ⭐️ Kinda disappointed with this one. I had a really hard time focusing on it and found the characters to be frustrating.
#FoodandLit

I liked it, but I think it tried a bit too hard to show all the ways women might have struggled in that time and society. Actually I think one essential situation might be missing: the happy woman with or without children or a happily married couple. This felt a bit forced and unrealistic, but the story is good and it wasn't easy to put down!

I bought the sequel so definitely a pick ;)
3,5/🌟

#foodandlit

Hi #FoodandLit Buddy Readers!

What do you think of the book so far? I'm about a 1/3 through and I feel medium. I don't dislike it but I'm not sure if I exactly like it either. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I know a few of you have finished it already, so did you have any favorite characters? Hated characters?

It's funny, there were two plot twists happening at once and I found one to be absolutely predictable, the other one left me totally surprised.
Looking forward to the next part of the book!🤓🤯

#foodandlit #india

It‘s b/n pick & so-so. I like this cos of Strong female characters & story depicts the parallel medicinal approach of both Ayurveda & western medicine. But it could ve included other interesting historical events connected to the plot. There were few prejudices in d conversations which I didn‘t like. Good story but it felt less historical to me 3⭐️In d story MC is good at creating mandalas. This pic was taken in a temple last week. #foodandlit

This was a great book! It had so many layers. The main character is balancing taking care of herself, taking care of her sister who has newly appeared in her life, and taking care of the needs of her clients. This is one of those books that is comfortable asking more questions than giving more answers. I am interested to read the sequel!

Cooking my favourite Paneer Pasanda and Naan for #FoodandLit India!
Should really make that more often 😅

Repost for @Catsandbooks

The #FoodandLit Buddy Read for India in November is The Henna Artist! 🇮🇳

This is a casual read-at-your-own-pace buddy read. Anyone is welcome to join! Please let me know if you would like to be tagged in the check-in posts.

The #FoodandLit Buddy Read for India in November is The Henna Artist! 🇮🇳

This is a casual read-at-your-own-pace buddy read. Anyone is welcome to join! Please let me know if you would like to be tagged in the check-in posts.

4⭐️ I read this for my library #bookclub for October and I quite enjoyed it. I liked that the main character was a fairly strong character and was very aware of the limitations that not only being female but also separated from her husband put on her. #2022 #bookreview #bookstagram #historicalfiction #india #fiction #reesesbookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I learned so much about henna from this book. I will admit I didn‘t really understand what henna was but this book taught me that artists have different styles and paint different images to help with certain needs and occasions. I would definitely recommend this for historical fiction lovers.

“Her feet step lightly on the hard earth, calloused souls insensible to the tiny pebbles and caked mud along the riverbank.”

#firstlinefridays
#currentlyreading

@ShyBookOwl

repost for @Catsandbooks, @Texreader, @Butterfinger,

The final 3 books of #FoodandLit Buddy Reads for 2022!

This is a casual read-at-your-own-pace buddy read. Anyone is welcome to join! Please let me know if you would like to be tagged in the check-in posts.

How are we entering the last quarter of the year?!?!
Have you liked having buddy reads this year? Do you want #FoodandLit buddy reads to continue in 2023?

A good story however predicable. A book between pick and soso (more toward soso)😉

Wow. This one pulled me in and I loved the narration! The Indian culture in 1950s is so interesting, and I loved learning about the symbolism behind the henna designs. So weird how timely some of the topics are. I can‘t believe we have gone back that far in modern society. However, learning about it in this setting was eye-opening. I loved most of the characters and will definitely continue on with the next book or two in the series. #India

#blameitonlitsy This was a great read.

Another excellent read! I really didn‘t like her selfish, sneaky, even mean, little sister, though she grew on me at the end. Lakshmi watches her life be destroyed for the 2nd time through happenings beyond her control. Yet she stays strong trying to figure out what is next even as she grieves her bad circumstances.

Finished this one on #Audio today. #AudioCommute
It was very good!

So beautiful… seriously loved this book! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🥹 All the stars!

What a beautiful story about a women who built up her life only to have to do it all over again. This is a story of life, family, perseverance, and growth. Lakshmi was an interesting protagonist and I enjoyed her growth throughout the story.

❤️

I found this book fascinating! My lovely ESL student is a henna artist, and we often discuss her art. She started a small henna business. Reading this book gave me an understanding of the cultural significance and intricacies of the Art. The main character,Lakshmi,is a strong woman who struggles to be independent and care for her younger sister. Life in 1950‘s Jaipur comes alive in this book! #booked2022 #includesarecipe

4 out of 5

New audiobook while playing trains with Matty! 😋 Happy Tuesday!

I am an ESL tutor for a lovely Indian woman who also is a henna artist! As part of our lessons, we read and discuss books. In the past, I have chosen middle grade chapter books. When I saw this book, I asked her if she wanted the challenge to leap to an adult book. The answer was a resounding yes! She is loving it!

This was my #BookSpin for February. I am glad I finally read it after having it on my shelf forever. I thought it was interesting and I care enough about the characters to read the sequel. The sister character got on my nerves so much, until I remembered that she was only 13.

I really liked this story.I enjoyed learning about the Indian culture. It is so very different than the way I was brought up. The history of Henna Intrigued me.Reading about the caste system was also very interesting.Although I didn‘t agree with everything that the protagonist did, I grew to like her character. I found the glossary of terms at the end of the book to be very useful, and I referred to it a lot! All in all, this was a very good book.

An incredibly clever read! I loved it from start to finish.

#AestheticallyMatched @Clwojick

I got completely swept up in this story and read it in one day. All of the characters are vividly drawn, and while all of them have faults that are constantly on display, you feel their inherent goodness so keenly that it‘s easy to forgive them almost anything. The main story is set in 1956 and offers a startlingly intimate portrayal of India just post independence.

Great

here i go with my next read #audiophile #weekendreading #readinggoal @Andrew65

Another brilliant read during #Jumpstart2022 and a great pairing for #AestheticallyMatched. 💖

An interesting book 😊 Read for the #PopSugarReadingChallenge2021 3.75/5

Did my annual random item/book recommendation book pairing, this time with a drink and vibe by request. I decided to do my book wrap for the year a little early since the upcoming weeks look so busy 😅

https://rachelmansmckenny.substack.com/p/the-one-with-all-the-books