Honor: A Powerful Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick About the Heartbreaking Challenges of Love

Moving, beautifully written. Made me angry that women could still be treated like this.Think it will provide a stimulating discussion in Book Club

It is not often I read a book in a day but that is exactly what happened with Honor.This is not an easy read. The subject matter is at times horrifying and some of the violence is very graphic but without it I think the book would have been lacking. Being confronted with the rampant misogyny and the way in which the men are excused for their behaviour makes for chilling reading.It does paint India in a particularly favourable light but it does point out that India is not alone in these problems just how they play out to such an extreme in some parts of the country and how that contrasts with the lives of the wealthy and educated for whom much more liberal views are the norm. India is like many countries a tale of wealth and education beside one of poverty and ignorance. In that regard I particularly liked Mohan's journey from a man proud of his country who saw it through privileged eyes to one who was forced to confront it's dark side and how that changed him as a person.This is a powerful and at times difficult read but one that will definitely stay with me.CW: Religious intolerance, religious motivated violence, torture, murder, sexual assault of a minor, emotional and physical family abuse, trauma, graphic scene of physical violence.

So many twists and turns with a great ending.Amazing to read about a different culture and the ins and outs of every bit of it.

Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book. Smita is an Indian born American journalist roped in at the last minute to cover a story outside of Mumbai her colleague, though Smita has vowed never to return to an India that forced her and her family to leave when she was a young teen. And much to her chagrin she’s drawn into the powerful politics of gender and race that scramble all her journalistic objectivity when she encounters the heart breaking story of Meena, a Hindu woman whose brothers burned alive her Muslim husband and nearly her. Accompanying Smita is Mohan, a middle class Indian who is friends with the other journalist and volunteers to ferry her around in a rural region unsafe for single women, so that she can interview the various subjects of the news story. The journey they endure is one that covers not only the physical landscape but also the emotional one. Mohan, who is passionate about his India is confronted with horrors he never imagined, while Smita’s prejudices are all confirmed, but at the same time the small graces and intimate unique positives wend their way into her defences and charm her.This powerful book is an elegantly written work that shows a love of India despite and because of all its flaws. Such an examination is shown through the microcosm of the stories of four people, both dealing with the flaws of the country on different levels, but with essentially the same struggle: to come to terms with an India that contains such strong racism and misogyny embedded in its history that to struggle against it seems futile. But essentially the struggle makes these people who they are and their strength is a testament to a complex and complicated country. I have read many of Urmrigar’s books and can say that this offering is the author at her best.

This book started off strong and gripping, addressing serious issues that women face worldwide, particularly within India's unique cultural context and its obsession with preserving honor. However, as the story progressed, it seemed to lose its focus. A very serious issue, which initially drew me in, gradually faded into the background, and the narrative shifted into a more romantic direction without providing the closure the topic deserved. The book's tone felt too casual when discussing abhorrent crimes against women, and the reactions of those affected were portrayed in a flippant manner. Ultimately, it was a letdown—I couldn't put it down at first, but by the end, I was left disappointed.

Heartbreaking. Poignant. Shocking. Sad. Important. Profound. Insightful. This is another standout of 2022 for me. How am I not seeing this more on here?! Honor drew me in from the very start and, by the end, had me tearing up from both joy and heartache.I'm not overly sure what to even say about this book if I'm completely honest. I read it last month and it's still very much with me. The story is no doubt based in truth that can be found more often that it ought to be. Reading this, I felt so much anger and outrage. The way women are talked about, viewed, treated. The way that religion holds such a power that it causes pure hatred, leads to senseless violence, to depraved actions. It was so upsetting. Yet, this is all at the centre of Honor. We meet some amazing characters in this story. Smita, Mohan and, of course, Meena and Abru. Characters that deserve a lot more than the hand they're dealt. The love and compassion felt amongst this group is an amazing thing to read about, leaving the reader with a feeling of hope.This story, however harrowing, is so beautifully written. It honestly had my whole heart throughout. As everything unfolds, it will make you ugly cry. A must read from start to finish.* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *

I gave it 5 stars because of the writing style. It was an eye opener to the horrors and the beauty of India. A book not for the faint of heart but very well-written!

Although this story is horrific and heartbreaking, it’s is so beautifully written and wonderfully structured. I appreciated the dual timeline that eventually merged into parallel encounters..The way Smita’s story was told in the present simultaneously while Meena told her story from the first person perspective was interesting, engaging and well executed..Without giving too much of the story, Smita is an Indian America journalist telling the story of a Hindu woman from a small village in India who falls in love and marries a Muslim man. This union has a brutal ending to a sweet love story because of religious differences. Although extremely sad with significant trauma, there were also moments of beautiful tenderness and innocence..Additionally, this book was very informative. I knew there was enmity between Hindus and Muslims in India, but this story really drove home the violence and destruction this enmity sometimes brings to families, friendships and relationships in general..I highly recommend this read, especially for a book club or buddy read as there are so many points to discuss and work through.

Ich hab es geliebt

A beautiful book about a our prejudices and lack of tolerance as well as love kindness and family.We have so much to learn about each other. Love is an amazing healer.Highly recommended

Loved this book. I found the start to be a bit slow but once it started getting into the main story line, I couldn’t put it down!