From the publisher:
How far would you go to change your life?
Sharell is 30 years old and living a privileged life in Melbourne’s wealthy suburbs. She has it all: the childhood-sweetheart husband, the high-powered job and plenty of cash to splash.
And it’s not destined to last. In a dramatic turn of events, Sharell’s marriage breaks down and her perfect life falls apart. Sharell opts for a complete change of scene, travelling to India to do volunteer work.
But reinventing herself is not as easy as it sounds, especially in the chaos and confrontation of India. Just as she is beginning to wonder whether she’ll ever find her way, she meets a man. And so begins Sharell’s transformation.
Set in the Himalayan hills of Manali, the beaches of Kerala and the madness of Mumbai, Sharell’s is the real story of what falling in love with an Indian, and India itself, really entails.
Sharell was born and brought up in country Victoria, Australia. After gaining a Bachelor of Business she moved to Melbourne, where she worked for ten years in the accounting and finance sector of the Victorian government. Then, India called. Sharell now writes about India travel for a New York Times company. In addition, she maintains a popular blog on her life in India called Diary of a White Indian Housewife. Sharell lives in Mumbai, India, with her husband.
-
4 comments 
About The Book
December 15, 2011
Posted by Henna
Dec 25, 2011
A book review by Lois Kapila has apeared in the English daily ‘The Sunday Statesman’ on 25th December 2011. The book makes a very interesting and engaging read. However, for the benefit of the readers it should be pointed out the Biblical allusion and significance of the Henna that the title of the book celebrates. It is not only used as a skin and hair dye, or for that matter, only as hand and foot decoration in bridal mehndi. In the Bible in the Song of Solomon henna is stated to have been perpetuated by God as a symbol of forgiveness and absolution (ceremonial purification) in the desert, and is putatively used as an emblem of love and human sexuality, excitement of amorous feeling and rejuvenation of broken hearts. Hence the special significance for henna in Sharell Cook’s celebrated book ‘Henna for the Broken-Hearted.(Pan Macmillan)
Dec 26, 2011
Thank you so much for sharing this! It is something that I wasn’t aware of, but is very meaningful as pointed out.
Feb 28, 2012
I loved the book. I have never been to India because of a chronic health problem which makes travel prohibitive. I was in a relationship with a man from Bombay (he always called it that) and experienced many of the frustrations Sharell did. At the time I didn’t know enough of Indian culture to fully understand the reasons behind his behaviour and he was equally challenged and unable to adjust to a very different way of life in Australia. In the end he returned to India when his visa expired having decided against applying for permanent residency. There are many Indian people people living locally and this book does provide an insight into the enormous cultural differences they must overcome to settle here. I would recommend it to anybody living or working with Indian born people reisdent in Australia.
Mar 07, 2012
Hi Annie, I’m so glad the book was insightful for you and that you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading, and I really appreciate your kind feedback. So sorry to hear that your relationship didn’t work out. Cultural differences can be really tough unfortunately, especially when two cultures are so opposite from each other.