4.0 (1 rating)
Honour
'My mother died twice. I promised myself I would not let her story be forgotten . . .' Pembe and Adem Toprak leave Turkey for London. There they make new lives for their family. Yet the traditions and beliefs of their home come with them - carried in the blood of their children, Iskender and Esma. Trapped by past mistakes, the Toprak children find their lives torn apart and transformed by a brutal and chilling crime. Set in Turkey and London in the 1970s, Honour explores pain and loss, loyalty and betrayal, the clash of tradition and modernity, as well as the love and heartbreak that can tear any family apart. Praise for Elif Shafak-'Vivid storytelling, a gripping novel . . . scenes blaze with the force of parable.' Sunday Telegraph'A stunning novel. Exotic, evocative and utterly gripping.' The Times 'Moving, subtle and ultimately hopeful, Honour is further proof that Shafak is the most exciting Turkish novelist to reach western readers in years.' Irish Times'Extraordinarily skilfully crafted . . . with Shakespearean twists and turns, omens and enigmas, prophecies and destinies.' Independent
Published: April 24, 2013
Pages: 342
ISBN: 9780670921164
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Available in: Paperback
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4.0
1 rating
Rachel S.
Apr 6, 2026
Honour is not a book I probably would have chosen myself to read if I saw it on the shelves but I am so glad I did read it. It was totally different from the usual genres I read so didn’t really know what to expect.
There are many characters from the same family in the book and you get to know who they are.
The books starts with Iskender being released from prison and his sister Esma waiting for him but the next chapter goes back to when their mother was born and how her mother behaved when she had twin girls. She needed to have a son.
The chapters of the book were confusing to start with as they kept jumping from one person to another and went back and forward in the years but this is completely relevant to the story.
It was an interesting read as I have not experienced Kurd/Turkish culture and I know little about Muslims, their traditions and beliefs.
The book was well written and I enjoyed reading it.
There are many characters from the same family in the book and you get to know who they are.
The books starts with Iskender being released from prison and his sister Esma waiting for him but the next chapter goes back to when their mother was born and how her mother behaved when she had twin girls. She needed to have a son.
The chapters of the book were confusing to start with as they kept jumping from one person to another and went back and forward in the years but this is completely relevant to the story.
It was an interesting read as I have not experienced Kurd/Turkish culture and I know little about Muslims, their traditions and beliefs.
The book was well written and I enjoyed reading it.