Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

31 reviews

nikrib's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Classism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Bullying, and Child death

briannad4's review

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Blood, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death of parent

brecklyn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

I liked reading the henna artist. It was a unique perspective which made the story engaging and interesting. The characters were interesting and complex. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Abortion, Classism, Death of parent, Sexual content, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

lisettemarie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Infertility, Abortion, and Emotional abuse

mother_of_theo's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

betag1013's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abortion, Death, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Infertility, Pregnancy, Medical content, Physical abuse, Grief, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

hannazoeo's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

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

sabs98's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is beautifully written telling of a woman’s journey to establish her independence as she navigates the complex implications of events that force her to change course and redefines what freedom means to her. Author Joshi writes with remarkable prose, expressing intricately and concisely all that needs to be said about the complex hardships and injustices her characters face. She also describes herbal medicine and knowledge of plants medicinal properties with measured expertise. The characters feel real because of their flawed nature, the mistakes they make, and the way they reflect on or indirectly acknowledge those mistakes. I am beyond excited to dive into book 2 of this series!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Abandonment, Blood, Infertility, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Death of parent