Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

10 reviews

kelly_e's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Title: Honor
Author: Thrity Umrigar
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: January 4, 2022

T H R E E • W O R D S

Immersive • Profound • Unforgettable

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Indian American journalist Smita has returned to India to cover a story, but reluctantly: long ago she and her family left the country with no intention of ever coming back. As she follows the case of Meena—a Hindu woman attacked by members of her own village and her own family for marrying a Muslim man—Smita comes face to face with a society where tradition carries more weight than one’s own heart, and a story that threatens to unearth the painful secrets of Smita’s own past. While Meena’s fate hangs in the balance, Smita tries in every way she can to right the scales. She also finds herself increasingly drawn to Mohan, an Indian man she meets while on assignment. But the dual love stories of Honor are as different as the cultures of Meena and Smita themselves: Smita realizes she has the freedom to enter into a casual affair, knowing she can decide later how much it means to her.

💭 T H O U G H T S

When Honor was announced as a Reese's pick for January 2022 it immediately caught my attention. After reading the synopsis, I was certain it was one of her picks that I would jive with. As the year went on I heard some really good things about it, but it took me until late 2023 to finally get my hands on a copy.

I was 100% invested, not bring able to put this book down, and reading it in its entirety in one sitting. It is heartbreakingly beautiful and complex. Yet despite all of the pain, it remains a story of enduring love and hope. Through her prose, Thrity brings into focus so many dichotomies (hate and love, oppression and privilege), intertwining comparisons between the western world and rural India. We get a look into two very different women. Meena's story is absolutely devastating, and I wanted to know Smita's family story for escaping India.

Oh but, it was really the last 'book' which dug itself into my mind. The graphic depictions of caste hierarchies, cultural conservatism, misogyny, public shaming, torture that continue to be the reality faced by so many to this day was deeply unsettling to read. It filled me with sadness. It filled me with rage. It filled me with empathy. It made me question humanity. I read a physical copy while listening to the audio, and this created a completely immersive experience.

My one quibble would be how it ended. I think Smita and Mohan's future would've been better left open-ended. Offering an answer reminded me of society's inability to sit with uncomfortableness. And in doing so it took away from the power of what came before.

Every now and then there is a book that touches me in ways I am not anticipating. Honor was one of those books. It shines a light on India's humanitarian crisis. Some of the hard-hitting and disturbing scenes will forever be etched into my memory. It is certainly the type of book you need to be in the right frame of mind for. I am definitely interested in exploring Thrity's backlist and picking up her 2023 release as well.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like realistic fiction
• anyone looking for memorable female protagonists
• bookclubs

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Sometimes, it seemed to Smita that the history of the world was written in female blood."

"As children, we were taught to be afraid of tigers and lions. Nobody taught us what I know today - the most dangerous animal in this world is a man with wounded pride." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Murder, Violence, Torture, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Racism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Cursing

death of partner, mutilation, poverty

karmapen's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Hate crime, Racism, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Murder, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Gore

rizzointhebox's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, and Death

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

jess_michiko's review

emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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? N/A

5.0

A whirlwind of emotions reflections on loving a country with hurtful politics. Truly unforgettable story that brings you compassion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Racism, Sexism, Islamophobia, and Death

Moderate: Medical content and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal cruelty

onmalsshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Classism, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Murder, and Religious bigotry

abbieh95's review

reflective sad

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Racial slurs

thespinystacks's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was a truly beautiful and heartbreaking story. The relationship between Indian people and religion is so incredibly complex, and that is truly shown beautifully throughout this book. It brought me back to the months I spent in the south of India many years ago, and the people I met. It’s a confronting story that is important to tell, how tradition, religion and fear can shape the lives of so many people within a community. 

I recommend this book thoroughly but do encourage you to check out the content warnings if you’re a sensitive reader .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

laurxndxx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Thank you to NetGalley, Thrity Umrigar and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Honour is an excruciating book to read, but only because it opens your eyes to the harsh reality other people are facing in different countries. I think this book should be taught in schools to make others aware of their privilege.


Indian American journalist Sima arrives back in India since the time her family were driven out and moved to America years before. She ends up following the story of Meena, a woman who was burnt, and her husband murdered. All because of his religion and her culture. Reporting on her story Sima becomes aware of how unfair the justice system can be, and unlocks similar memories to her childhood.It’s a heartbreaking story and is a one that will stay with me forever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical trauma, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Stalking, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

mariedhut's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Racial slurs, Death, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Violence