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readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
The weakest part of the novel is ironically the subplot that’s used to tie the ending together
I don’t dislike the ending altogether but it was clearly rushed and is such a departure from the quality of the rest of the novel. Especially because the couple clinging to each other after nearly escaping assault of their own persons and the murder of an elderly woman and child make sense and I think could kick start a romance but the sex was too much and felt so insensitive and unrealistic and contrived/cliche. Like they both just saw a woman beaten death and burned and now they’re fucking the same night? :/ crass maybe because I have nothing against a longer book, but I think she should have made book 4 of the book much longer to reach the desired ending better, better pacing and not being afraid to make the relationship tentative and hopeful but more ambiguous. Especially since the use of the promise to a dying woman was used to justify her leaving her country when the actual wish was for her daughter to go to America. Like I understand the analogy being made but it makes it so obvious the parts not burdensome for a woman and asking more of her then the man are waved away as failing a promise but not the parts that the book is clearly self conscious might be sexist (bc how it was argued was loll)
But for all that it was good even if I thought the book was way to harsh on civil rights lawyers especially compared to journalists even if they both do good work.
But also I thought it was so weird
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
muse692's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Islamophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent
ka_cam's review against another edition
- 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
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
shesheshelby's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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
jess_michiko'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? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty
criticalgayze's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
aayaannaa'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
candournat's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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
aguattery's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Torture and Medical content
Minor: Terminal illness, Blood, and Vomit