Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

8 reviews

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

Moderate: Alcohol and Medical content

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

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

criticalgayze's review

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

This was the first book from my 30 before 30 list, a project I curated by getting 30 book recommendations from friends to read before my 30th birthday coming up this December.

I will start with the lessons I learned from this book that I hope to carry into my 30s:

• Standing up for yourself and your needs is always the right decision
• It is never inconvenient to build and maintain community

Now, for my actual review:

If the book had been just the first 2/3s of the final text, I would maybe have given it somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. Like many Reese picks, it was a little on the nose with its themes and values, but it was intense and emotionally affecting in the way it seemed to want to be. I did feel like it was still largely westernized in its lens, but I thought that was fine, especially as the author has similar cultural connections from my understanding.

The book started to lose me when Smita suddenly realized, seemingly out of nowhere, that she was starting to love India again, despite having had no positive experiences other than her budding relationship with Mohan. When a book struggles that bad with setting up where it wants to go, I know it is going to lose me. But even then, I didn't think I'd fall off as bad as I did.

This book lost me completely after Meena's death.

The book does a little grappling with the traumatic fallout of this event, but it then makes a pretty abrupt tonal shift into romance in a way that almost felt offensive. Besides the presence of Abru, the book departs from the social justice story that had been the spine of its first 2/3s in a way that felt like Meena's trauma was just a way to bring Mohan and Smita together.

I also found it interesting that Smita never resolves the truth of her work with her father, who is dropped fairly quickly after the "revelation" at the start of Book Two.

This, combined with Daisy Jones and Crawdads, confirms for me that I am probably not the reader for Reese's literary fiction picks. We'll just have to agree to disagree there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Blood, Medical trauma, and Medical content

aayaannaa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Classism, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Rape, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Racism

candournat's review

dark emotional relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Torture, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault

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

aguattery's review

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The first half of the book was very slow, I think from too much exposition for my taste. The writing was also a little clunky in spots throughout the book. Also, I think Smita and her friends being liberal is slightly oversold and in your face. 

That being said, the second half was particularly emotional for me. Usually books make me feel things but I don't have a physical reaction. This one actually made meshed a few tears. There were some twists and turns that were very well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Violence

Moderate: Medical content and Torture

Minor: Vomit, Blood, and Terminal illness