Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

20 reviews

tinkithesquirelll's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative 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? No

4.5

4.5 stars.
This was a phenomenal book. I loved the inside on how india operated and the families. This was a beautiful book about hardship , love , guilt, and starting over. I love Lakshmi and respect the hardship she had to endure throughout this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Racism, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Infidelity, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide

eris940's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Abortion

nirejalk's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

Graphic: Child abuse, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Grief

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

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

locajohanna's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

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

sedgewren's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.75

A heartwarming, dynamic story with believably flawed and sympathetic characters that are entwined in India's deep culture and caste hierarchy. The audiobook was narrated and produced beautifully. All the loose ends were neatly tied up, which was satisfying but I found it slightly too neat. Malek and the parakeet were my favourite characters, and I greatly enjoyed the vibrant depictions of Rajasthani traditions and society.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Misogyny, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, and Bullying

sastork'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Classism, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism and Fire/Fire injury