Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

85 reviews

dianapiskor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I didn't love this book. It wasn't that it was a bad story. On the contrary, I think it handled the ideas of Islamophobia, honor killings, and misogyny with a critical eye that was also honest without being too preachy, which has happened in other books that I've read. I think the multiple perspectives were interesting and I think the author does a great job in creating a narrative that focuses on these topics.

However, this book was very slow and terribly depressing. Part of this was the subject matter and the character growth happening with the main character: Smita. But I think part of it was the writing and structure of the story itself. The first part of the book was terribly long where nothing was really happening. And additionally, the writing where Smita just constantly reflects, has a realization, ignores that realization, and then realizes it again was too much for me and took up most of the book. I think the author has beautiful prose, but it became frustrating as it was narrated through the eyes of the main character. And due to the story itself, there is never a time where the reader can decompress from the amount of trauma and difficulty the characters face throughout the book.

Overall, this is an important story, one that definitely made me think. I just think the author's writing style for this particular book was not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

ka_cam's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I listened to this on audiobook. I often struggle to finish audiobooks but I enjoyed this one- the reader did a great job of distinguishing characters and expressing complex emotions through tone and pauses. The book was pretty difficult subject matter (check content warnings) which I felt the author handled well while exposing Smita’s own biases and complicated reactions to gender based violence, religious violence, and state violence. I thought it odd that a gender based news international reporter wouldn’t tie this experience in more to her experiences reporting on GBV in other situations- the vague ‘bad things happen in the west/the us has police brutality’ references ended up feeling underdeveloped.  I was expecting her at some point to mention reporting she had done on issues like missing and murdered indigenous women, DV, etc and how she’s experiencing this situation differently (or similarly) but we never got that. Some of her backstory felt rushed or underdeveloped as well. All in all a solid read but I finished it feeling that the audience was underestimated and some characters underdeveloped. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content and Alcohol

kare620bear's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual assault

bonniejpg's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

aaniere's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

oh my GOOOOD. this book broke my heart. I can’t remember the last time I was gasping out loud in the way this book made me. it was heartbreaking only to give you the sweetest hope at the end. arbu’s name meaning honor sent me over the edge. a hard read at times but amazing, nonetheless 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder

tvnguyen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was definitely a difficult read, but also a page-turner! I have a lot to unpack with this story, but I will keep it short. Following Smita as she navigates her homeland after leaving it behind years ago is something I can relate to as someone who is based in the States and comes back to Vietnam every now and then. Also learning more about Smita as she dives deeper into Meena's case is also heartbreaking and tense. The story is well-written and easy to follow. There are moments when I am feeling frustrated because I am a woman and I hate crimes/violence committed against women.

I love that the ending ties nicely to the overarching conflict between Muslims and Hindus, but I felt like Meena's death was left unresolved. It might be intended this way to portray that there hasn't been a solution to overcome the issue in reality, but her death was very tough to read through. I personally did not care for Smita and Mohan's relationship, but they are a Muslim-Hindu couple that fulfills what Meena and Abdul strived to be and it was nice that Abru has a proper family. The title was also explained further in Umrigar's essay "Reclaiming Honor," and it definitely gave more recognition to Meena's death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Islamophobia

ccard0223's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Islamophobia, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

zoenelson's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Violence, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

shesheshelby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I learned so much about Indian culture in this book! It was focused on women’s rights and dealing with trauma through a journalist’s trip to India. I would have considered 5 stars if the main character didn’t bother me so much!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

evawondergem's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder