Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

49 reviews

jennswan's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, Classism, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Vomit

sknappy1's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Hands down, one of the best books I've read in decades. It takes place in the 1950s in Jaipur, and Joshi tackles important women's issues, especially reproductive struggles, including contraception, abortion, infertility, teen pregnancy, and adoption. The main character, Lakshmi, left an abusive marriage and struck out on her own. She has created her own successful henna business, climbing up the ladder by serving the higher-up elite women of Jaipur. On the side, she also creates herbal remedies for women to help them have control over their own lives, such herbal teas to prevent pregnancy, abort an unwanted one, or to increase fertility for those struggling to conceive. Years later, a sister that she didn't even know that she had shows up at her door. Everything changes for her as she takes her sister under her wing and as the two learn to understand one another. So much about social status is discussed in this book as well. There are moments that will break your heart. Lakshmi is a strong and clever main character who fights for her success and independence, as well as for that of the women around her. The Henna Artist is a beautiful, moving, and engaging book that had me hooked from the beginning. Highly recommend. Five stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Abortion, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexism

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Trafficking, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

Minor: Blood, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Loved this book. Family takes many forms, and women can have agency against all odds, but it requires as much desperation and bravery. It also takes smarts, principle, and  enough humility to ask and accept help asking the way. This is what this book is about. Excited to continue the saga in the next book of the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

jrozin's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Racism

kw05's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Transphobia

juliamb's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Classism, Sexual harassment, Child death, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity and Infertility

citruslimon's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

someryarns's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Abortion, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, and Infertility

mygallaget's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Classism, Physical abuse, Sexism, Miscarriage, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Infidelity

Minor Colorism

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this was very heartfelt and also informative. i really enjoyed this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Abandonment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Vomit, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, Body horror, Classism, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship