Alka Joshi Livres

Paris, 1974. Radha, âgée de trente-deux ans, vit avec son mari, Pierre, et leurs deux filles. Elle pleure toujours le petit garçon qu'elle a abandonné des années auparavant, mais elle aime être mère et a trouvé sa passion : les senteurs. Lorsqu'un emploi lui est proposé dans la parfumerie du grand-père de son amie, elle découvre son talent pour créer le parfum parfait pour chaque client. Dix ans plus tard, elle collabore avec un maître parfumeur, concevant de nouvelles fragrances et bâtissant sa carrière, tout en espérant que Pierre comprenne son besoin de travailler. Malgré sa frustration, elle ne peut abandonner cette passion. Chargée de son premier grand projet, Radha se rend en Inde, sollicitant l'aide de sa sœur, Lakshmi, et des courtisanes d'Agra, qui utilisent le parfum pour séduire. Alors qu'elle s'approche d'une percée, elle apprend que le fils qu'elle n'a jamais mentionné à Pierre se rend à Paris pour la retrouver, bouleversant son monde et menaçant son mariage. Ce dernier chapitre de la trilogie Jaipur d'Alka Joshi plonge les lecteurs dans le Paris des années 1970, où la carrière de Radha en tant que parfumeuse doit jongler avec les exigences familiales et les secrets de son passé.

Escaping from an arranged and abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone from her 1950s rural village to the vibrant pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the henna artist--and confidante--most in demand to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own. Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow--a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those who surround her as she does. Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman's struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.

A NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF THE HENNA ARTIST, A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK "Captivated me from the first chapter to the last page." --Reese Witherspoon on The Henna Artist In New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi's intriguing new novel, henna artist Lakshmi arranges for her protégé, Malik, to intern at the Jaipur Palace in this tale rich in character, atmosphere, and lavish storytelling. It's the spring of 1969, and Lakshmi, now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, directs the Healing Garden in Shimla. Malik has finished his private school education. At twenty, he has just met a young woman named Nimmi when he leaves to apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace. Their latest project: a state-of-the-art cinema. Malik soon finds that not much has changed as he navigates the Pink City of his childhood. Power and money still move seamlessly among the wealthy class, and favors flow from Jaipur's Royal Palace, but only if certain secrets remain buried. When the cinema's balcony tragically collapses on opening night, blame is placed where it is convenient. But Malik suspects something far darker and sets out to uncover the truth. As a former street child, he always knew to keep his own counsel; it's a lesson that will serve him as he untangles a web of lies.

Set against a backdrop of vibrant cities like Bombay, Prague, Florence, Paris, and London, the narrative explores themes of identity and self-discovery. As the protagonist delves into the mystery surrounding a renowned painter's death, readers are taken on a journey that intertwines art, culture, and personal growth, revealing profound insights into the complexities of life and legacy.

Paris, 1974. Radha liebt es, Mutter von zwei Töchtern zu sein. Doch nachdem ihr ein Job in einer Parfümerie angeboten wird, wird schnell klar, dass Radha neben dem Muttersein noch eine Leidenschaft hat: Düfte. Jetzt, zehn Jahre später, arbeitet sie für einen Meisterparfümeur und baut allmählich ihre Karriere auf, während privat immer mehr Sorgen in das Leben der mittlerweile erfahrenen Parfumeurin treten. Vor allem die Frustration ihres Mannes Pierre darüber, dass sie arbeiten will, ist eine Belastung. Mit ihrem ersten großen Projekt beauftragt reist Radha nach Indien, wo sie die Hilfe ihrer Schwester Lakshmi und der Kurtisanen von Agra in Anspruch nimmt - Frauen, die die Macht der Düfte nutzen, um zu verführen, zu reizen und zu locken. Sie steht kurz vor ihrem Durchbruch, als sie herausfindet, dass der Sohn, von dem sie ihrem Mann nie erzählt hat, auf dem Weg nach Paris ist, um sie zu finden. Ein Geheimnis, das nicht nur ihre sorgfältig geordnete Welt ins Wanken bringt, sondern auch eine gefährdete Ehe zu zerstören droht.