Genre Fiction
![Thrity Umrigar - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_thrity_umrigar.jpg)
Honor
THE JANUARY 2022 REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
"In the way A Thousand Splendid Suns told of Afghanistan's women, Thrity Umrigar tells a story of India with the intimacy of one who knows the many facets of a land both modern and ancient, awash in contradictions." -Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
In this riveting and immersive novel, bestselling author Thrity Umrigar tells the story of two couples and the sometimes dangerous and heartbreaking challenges of love across a cultural divide.
Indian American journalist Smita has returned to India to cover a story, but reluctantly: long ago she and her family left the country with no intention of ever coming back. As she follows the case of Meena-a Hindu woman attacked by members of her own village and her own family for marrying a Muslim man-Smita comes face to face with a society where tradition carries more weight than one's own heart, and a story that threatens to unearth the painful secrets of Smita's own past. While Meena's fate hangs in the balance, Smita tries in every way she can to right the scales. She also finds herself increasingly drawn to Mohan, an Indian man she meets while on assignment. But the dual love stories of Honor are as different as the cultures of Meena and Smita themselves: Smita realizes she has the freedom to enter into a casual affair, knowing she can decide later how much it means to her.
In this tender and evocative novel about love, hope, familial devotion, betrayal, and sacrifice, Thrity Umrigar shows us two courageous women trying to navigate how to be true to their homelands and themselves at the same time.
"In the way A Thousand Splendid Suns told of Afghanistan's women, Thrity Umrigar tells a story of India with the intimacy of one who knows the many facets of a land both modern and ancient, awash in contradictions." -Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
In this riveting and immersive novel, bestselling author Thrity Umrigar tells the story of two couples and the sometimes dangerous and heartbreaking challenges of love across a cultural divide.
Indian American journalist Smita has returned to India to cover a story, but reluctantly: long ago she and her family left the country with no intention of ever coming back. As she follows the case of Meena-a Hindu woman attacked by members of her own village and her own family for marrying a Muslim man-Smita comes face to face with a society where tradition carries more weight than one's own heart, and a story that threatens to unearth the painful secrets of Smita's own past. While Meena's fate hangs in the balance, Smita tries in every way she can to right the scales. She also finds herself increasingly drawn to Mohan, an Indian man she meets while on assignment. But the dual love stories of Honor are as different as the cultures of Meena and Smita themselves: Smita realizes she has the freedom to enter into a casual affair, knowing she can decide later how much it means to her.
In this tender and evocative novel about love, hope, familial devotion, betrayal, and sacrifice, Thrity Umrigar shows us two courageous women trying to navigate how to be true to their homelands and themselves at the same time.
Editorial Reviews
"Honor is an utterly engrossing novel about two very different women whose lives converge after an unspeakable act of violence in India. With insight and compassion, Thrity Umrigar writes masterfully about the complexities of hatred and love, estrangement and belonging, oppression and privilege, about holding on and letting go. A powerful, important, unforgettable book."
-Cheryl Strayed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wild
"In the way A Thousand Splendid Suns told of Afghanistan's women, Thrity Umrigar tells a story of India with the intimacy of one who knows the many facets of a land both modern and ancient, awash in contradictions, permeated by a smoldering mix of ageless traditions and new ideas, beauty and brutality, hope and despair, certainty and mystery. A place where love can sometimes involve the peril of defying convention . . . and ultimately risking everything for what matters most."
-Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
"Honor is a novel of profound depths-cultural, personal, romantic, spiritual. It's also a story of tremendous grace, both in the understanding it shows its characters and in the ways they navigate a brutal but stunning life."
-Rebecca Makkai, Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Great Believers
"Honor by Thrity Umrigar is about an Indian-American journalist named Smita who returns to India on assignment. The story she's covering is an emotionally riddled one that utilizes the lives of characters to portray the cultural realities of India, both new and old. Her experiences lift the veil on the complexities of journalism and leave Smita questioning her boundaries as a reporter. Complex and unfiltered, these are the type of characters that stick with you long after you turn the pages . . . Powerful story about family, devotion, and cultural truths all through the eyes of an incredible journalist."
-Reese Witherspoon, the January 2022 Reese's Book Club Pick
"Umrigar aptly tackles honor killings in rural India and paints Meena ...
-Cheryl Strayed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wild
"In the way A Thousand Splendid Suns told of Afghanistan's women, Thrity Umrigar tells a story of India with the intimacy of one who knows the many facets of a land both modern and ancient, awash in contradictions, permeated by a smoldering mix of ageless traditions and new ideas, beauty and brutality, hope and despair, certainty and mystery. A place where love can sometimes involve the peril of defying convention . . . and ultimately risking everything for what matters most."
-Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
"Honor is a novel of profound depths-cultural, personal, romantic, spiritual. It's also a story of tremendous grace, both in the understanding it shows its characters and in the ways they navigate a brutal but stunning life."
-Rebecca Makkai, Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Great Believers
"Honor by Thrity Umrigar is about an Indian-American journalist named Smita who returns to India on assignment. The story she's covering is an emotionally riddled one that utilizes the lives of characters to portray the cultural realities of India, both new and old. Her experiences lift the veil on the complexities of journalism and leave Smita questioning her boundaries as a reporter. Complex and unfiltered, these are the type of characters that stick with you long after you turn the pages . . . Powerful story about family, devotion, and cultural truths all through the eyes of an incredible journalist."
-Reese Witherspoon, the January 2022 Reese's Book Club Pick
"Umrigar aptly tackles honor killings in rural India and paints Meena ...
Readers Top Reviews
TigerLisagsarah S
The main character's dual, and often conflicting, Indian and American identities, as well as her struggle to digest the co-existence of clashing city and rural values, is written with such authentic detail that it could have been about me.
Susan S.TigerLisa
Characters so whole and yet broken populate this story of love and honor and what those two words mean when surrounded by hate. A story is beautifully told about a modern, Indian journalist who returns to her homeland to help a fellow journalist. But there’s the mystery of whatever happened in her childhood years that forced her family to move to America. And there’s the story she is covering of an extremely small village and the forbidden love between a Muslim man and a Hindu woman and the great tragedy that befalls them all. There’s doubt and fear, anger and bribery, missed chances and new beginnings. It’s a novel that will last a long time in memory.
Rebecca RountreeS
This novel had interesting and well developed characters. The plot was unusual with unexpected twists. The setting was different from other novels about India. This novel satisfied my need to immerse myself for a few days.
Varina of House B
It's horrific and enlightening at the same time. I recommend it to anyone that needs inspiration where decision making is concerned. It's full of ways to change perspective.
Ellen BrazerVarin
This was a wonderful book. Written beautifully and with a theme that had great meaning. I learned, loved and admired the characters and the author.
