Henna House: A Novel

Henna House: A Novel

An evocative and stirring novel about a young woman living in the fascinating and rarely portrayed community of Yemenite Jews of the mid-twentieth century, from the acclaimed author of The Family Orchard.

In the tradition of Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, Henna House is the enthralling story of a woman, her family, their community, and the rituals that bind them.

Nomi Eveâ€™s vivid saga begins in Yemen in 1920, when Adela Damariâ€™s parents desperately seek a future husband for their young daughter. After passage of the Orphanâ€™s Decree, any unbetrothed Jewish child left orphaned will be instantly adopted by the local Muslim community. With her parentsâ€™ health failing, and no spousal prospects in sight, Adelaâ€™s situation looks dire until her uncle arrives from a faraway city, bringing with him a cousin and aunt who introduce Adela to the powerful rituals of henna tattooing. Suddenly, Adelaâ€™s eyes are opened to the world, and she begins to understand what it means to love another and oneâ€™s heritage. She is imperiled, however, when her parents die and a prolonged drought threatens their long-established way of life. She and her extended family flee to the city of Aden where Adela encounters old loves, discovers her true calling, and is ultimately betrayed by the people and customs she once held dear.

Henna House is an intimate family portrait and a panorama of history. From the traditions of the Yemenite Jews, to the far-ranging devastation of the Holocaust, to the birth of the State of Israel, Eve offers an unforgettable coming-of-age story and a textured chronicle of a fascinating period in the twentieth century.

Henna House is a rich, spirited, and sensuous tale of love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, and the dyes that adorn the skin and pierce the heart.
Country USA
Brand Scribner Book Company
Manufacturer Scribner
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 29016
ReleaseDate 2014-08-12
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781476740270

Country	USA
Brand	Scribner Book Company
Manufacturer	Scribner
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	29016
ReleaseDate	2014-08-12
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781476740270

You might also like...