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madelinedalton's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Misogyny
kateypage's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
thespinystacks's review against another edition
- 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
I recommend this book thoroughly but do encourage you to check out the content warnings if you’re a sensitive reader .
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
laurxndxx's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
sarah_883's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence and Xenophobia
hkropp77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Police brutality
brewsandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
That said, I do find a little bit of holding me back, and there are two things in particular. First of all, the ending was a bit too "cinematic" for me. It pushed off the most interesting portions of the novel for the happy ending of a few characters, and I felt it almost minimized the importance of the rest. I am not saying that these characters don't deserve a happy ending or that we didn't deserve closure. Moreso I felt like the most important parts of the novel were ignored.
Second, I almost felt that the way Umrigar wrote this falls into something I often see. It is the impassive character watching and learning from the most important characters. Because honestly, the best portions of this novel came from Meena's perspective. She was wonderful, she had complex thoughts about the world she was born into, and what it meant to fall in love with someone outside her religion. I almost wanted the whole book to be majority her story, because I felt she could really do the story justice. It felt at times that seeing it through Smitha's eyes made Meena appear smaller and a bit more one-dimensional. It also fell into something that Umrigar commented on, writing for Western voyeurism. I also wish there had been more commentary from Smitha on what happens in other countries. It's stated a lot, but with what happens in this book, it would be helpful to have that context if we are looking through the eyes of a gender right's journalist. It just felt a bit too easy to always convince Smitha and Mohan of the other's perspective instead of asking us, the reader, to have complex emotions. And I really felt that if we saw more through Meena's eyes, we would have gotten that.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual assault
vera_cologne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault