A review by jessv
Honor by Thrity Umrigar

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

2.0

I was surprised by my reaction to this book given the average star rating being very high. This book feels like white saviour poverty porn, despite the author and the protagonist having grown up in India (before moving to the USA) and despite the protagonist wondering at one point if she herself is perpetuating poverty porn by covering Meena's story for an American newspaper. Many of the Indian characters in this story are given very little dignity or agency. The protagonist is so disparaging about the country as a whole - which I understand comes from a traumatic incident she experienced as a child - but ultimately it feels like this book is a disservice to the very real and important issues that occur in India. It's possible to describe horrible crimes against women or religious conflict without dialogue like "what is wrong with this backwards country?" I think it wouldve been more effective from the perspective of someone living there (eg Meena's chapters). The only positive was an easy-to-read writing style and a fast-paced story that I finished quickly.
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