Dear readers,
We are hosting an international giveaway, with six chances to win! π
When we started BGB, our secret dream was for publishers to send us Advanced Reader Copies of new books. We are lucky that now, we get them in abundance! We want to share some of the joy of receiving book mail with you. π
Alka Joshi, author of the best-selling "The Henna Artist," released her sequel, "The Secret Keeper of Jaipur,β this week. We absolutely loved it - see our reviews of both novels below. Alka and her team were kind enough to provide us with additional copies to give to our BGB community. Entering takes a few minutes and helps us grow our ambitious, inclusive platform for South Asian writing and media.
Until next time,
Mishika and Sri
β¨ We have six copies of "The Secret Keeper of Jaipur," the sequel to the bestseller βThe Henna Artist.β And for one special winner, we are giving away both books! β¨
Entering is simple. Go to these posts and tag a friend (or several) in the comments. This raffle is open internationally and ends at midnight EST on Wednesday, June 30.
The Henna Artist
Alka Joshi's "The Henna Artist" is a tale of two worlds: the ultra-rich and the increasingly poor. Amidst the backdrop of post-colonial India's Pink City, Jaipur, Joshi provides a brief glimpse into the impact of European colonialism on the caste system. However, rather than focusing on expansive historical commentary, Joshi conjures up a story that engages readers via underrepresented themes: the healing power of art, implications of unplanned pregnancies (including out of wedlock), miscarriages, urgency for sexual and reproductive health rights of adolescents, and stigmas associated with divorce and its influence in keeping Indian women in violent marriages, especially in rural India. "The Henna Artist" is, unexpectedly, a letter to liberate women, including the protagonist, Lakshmi.
The text on the interior of Joshi's book jacket - "The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel" - combined with the attractive and inviting cover undersells the pain that Lakshmi and the characters within the many layers and subplots of the book experience. Lakshmi lands on our running list of unconventional South Asian protagonists in fiction for the strength she exhibits in situations that would so easily break one's spirit. My only qualm with her was her self-neglect, an unjust criticism given the foreignness of the word "self-care" for women fighting for financial and physical security. I admire Lakshmi, and I hurt for her too.
As I turn to Joshi's sequel, "The Secret Keeper of Jaipur," I'm conscious that not all of my questions will be answered: Why did Joshi pursue "henna," the western word for mehndi? Why were the characters obsessed with Bronte when there was Indian literature, and good Indian literature, accessible to them? The white gaze is omnipresent. Yet, every now and then, even when trying to escape it, it seeps into literature, including the literature we love.
Order your copy of "The Henna Artist."
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur
Is the original always better than the sequel? We don't think so. Alka Joshi extends great depth in her gorgeous sequel to "The Henna Artist."
Whereas its predecessor captures the Pink City's rich sensory ambiance, "The Secret Keeper of Jaipur" is induced with mystery and thrill. Malik is apprenticed at the Jaipur Palace, staffed on developing a state-of-the-art public movie house. When the cinema's balcony tragically collapses on opening night, Malik's trajectory is intercepted by a series of old and tangled relationships. Joshi commits to showcasing her range as a writer by introducing new characters, reinstating old ones, and safeguarding their futures by tampering with them in the safe confines of Jaipur's uber elite. Like her protagonists, Joshi navigates messy middles with ease. She creates subplots that complement "The Henna Artist," but do not require readers to be versed in her first novel to follow along. In many ways, I see Joshi as an extension of Lakshmi's character, the protagonist of "The Henna Artist." She brings relief to Malik's character and readers in calamity.
While we briefly commented on the white gaze in Joshi's "The Henna Artist", the sequel did not present such concerns. My one stagnant critique for the refreshed narrative would be the use of a translation guide. Though convenient, the text is replete with context clues. Proving, yet again, that the beauty of language cannot always be appreciated in a brief subsection of the book.
π§ Listen to a one-minute preview of the book.
Sound interesting? Order your copy of "The Secret Keeper of Jaipur" to start reading soon.
P.S. If you would like to receive book mail another way, and are a passionate reader, we invite you to apply to be a guest reviewer for us. Fill out this quick form and we will contact you if we have a book that matches your interests.