What readers think of Honor, plus links to write your own review.

I really enjoyed this book while it saddened me at the same time. An American Indian journalist reluctantly returns to the country she and her family fled when she was a young teenager to cover a story of another young woman who is being persecuted because of who she fell in love with and married. The book is very well written and engaging. The two main themes of the book are women's rights and persecution because of religious differences. The author alternates between the viewpoint of Meena and Smita giving you insight into how both women have suffered and still suffer because of the rules and laws that still dictate the lives of women in this country (and many others) unfairly today.

I highly recommend this book. I sympathized with the main characters and was appalled at the fanatical religious thinking.

At first I was reluctant to read this book thinking I was familiar with honor killings from the many newspaper and magazine articles that I have read. Thrity allows us to experience all the emotions and feelings of Meena Mustafer beyond a newspaper report in this book. She takes us into the families and every day lives of all those that are affected. All of the characters are well developed and we see them as people not statistics. An underlying theme is the relationship of Smita and Mohan. Asif, Smita's father, adds insights. This is an ideal book for book club readers for lively discussions. I enjoyed this page turner from beginning to the end and will look forward to reading any future book by Thrity Umrigar.

Once again Ms. Umrigar uses the relationship of two women to draw attention to India's cultural attitudes and treatment of women. The book goes much further than India, and the reader will recognize similarities in other countries of the human condition in its many facets.

Honor is a captivating read, an intriguing window into a culture as well as a really good story. Book clubs will find endless areas of discussion. Highly recommend.

I found Honor to be a wonderful novel, compelling and honest. The country of India was laid out before me in all its messiness, contradictions and beauty...from cosmopolitan, chaotic, smelly, colorful Mumbai to rural villages that believe in ancient, hierarchical, cruel traditions, awash in corruption. Yes, parts of this novel are extraordinarily sad and tragic, but always moving and honest. The word "honor" is important as it is of great significance to all the characters in the decisions they make throughout life...although many seem to use it as a justification for committing heinous acts. Trying to make sense of all the good and the bad is complicated, but plowing ahead and doing ones best is a path that needs to be taken.

I loved this book from from the first page, but it took my breath away. It is not an easy book to read. It is depressing, emotionally draining and unfortunately too descriptive in many places. This book is not for everyone. If you want a book that is difficult to read on an intellectual level and goes directly to your heart then you must read this book. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you Thrity Umrigar for writing this book.

Thrity Umrigar is an author whose work I've admired for a while and her latest book, Honor, once again proves her talent.

Smita Argawal, an Indian-American journalist is called to Mumbai in support of her colleague who has broken a hip. When Smita and her family left India, she vowed to never go back but feels she has a duty to her friend. She is asked to take on the story of Meena and Abdul which her colleague has been working on.

Meena and Abdul are a young couple, she a Hindu, he a Muslim who have fallen in love and gotten married. Meena's brothers feel that Meena has insulted their honor with her choice and set fire to them in their home. Abdul dies, Meena lives and decides to sue her brothers in court.

As Smita gets deeper into the story she is outraged by the misogyny of the Indian men she meets and their treatment of women. Helping her in the investigation is a young Indian man, Mohan, who does not fully realize the privilege he has as a male in this society. As the story develops and Smita shares her own story, the two learn that the truth of India lies somewhere in between the two stories.

This is a captivating book. There is love, heartbreak, sadness and finally hope in the future of India at the end.

I devoured this book and loved it! Umrigar presents several differing views of India and its social issues. American journalist Smita, back after 20 years, is often disgusted by and scornful of what she sees. Mohan, a professional man, loves Mumbai despite its complexities. Meena, a poor Hindu woman struggles under her brothers' rule yet challenges what is proper for a woman. This book would generate good discussion in a book group and would appeal to readers interested in cultural and religious issues as they play out in rural society. The ending might seem too neat for some, but I found it satisfying.