“HONOUR” By “Elif Shafak”

Identical twins, Pembe and Jamila, were added to the Berzo’s family though unwanted in front of the desire for having a son, grew up in the hands of step-mother as their own mother died while fighting with the last pregnancy afterwards. Growing up in the same worm doesn’t guarantee the same fate, so did they. Love touched the growing heart of Jamila who found life in Adem. How fragile was that love which lost its soul upon hearing that she was kidnapped once and nobody knew she was still virgin or not. Adem decided to marry the other twin who loved to travel and wanted to see beyond horizons but left a portion of his heart and happiness with Jamila.

Elif Shafak posses the art of story telling, mingling harsh social realities with deepening emotions floating over the sparkling ocean of spirituality and sprinkling suspense over the top as finishing. The book opens in the darkness of the prison where a young boy is held accountable of murdering her mother in the name of honour. A sister, who hates her brother but he’s a brother after all, is writing the story who wants to tell the tale “How her mother died twice”. The book vividly portrays the patriarchy, women subjugation and broken personalities who have nothing in them but its all the society who’s driving them towards the end.

Life started in Istanbul and ended in London. Together they had 3 kids, each with entirely different genetic makeup. Eldest one, Iskander turned Alex (when reached London) had fire in him. Being ditched several times in childhood when he least expected, made him a boy who felt the need to protect himself all alone and never be weak to fell prey to anyone. The kind of family where father was involved in gambling, losing money of his wife which she earned by working in rich houses, calling her prostitute, beating her and himself abandoning his family for a slut, the eldest son felt the responsibility of saving the family’s honour. He grew faster than his age. Pembe called her “Sultan”, the apple of her eye, saved him from the ghost of her late mother, who wanted a son.Middle one, Esma, was a good reader. Spending her most of the time in books, lacking the girlish qualities of the time. Younas, the youngest, had a small body with large brain.

The plot gets the twist as soon as Pembe met Elias. A man who’s wife took divorced and his life stopped somewhere till he met Pembe. Despite of being married, Pembe never felt for Adem, who kept on regretting the decision of marrying her, what she felt for Elias. She tasted what’s the feel of being loved and protected. They kept on meeting until the day they were caught by Tariq, Adem’s elder brother, who empoisoned Alex with his thoughts about his mother’s illicit relationship. The feeling of being the head of family and the responsibility of protecting the family’s honour being stained caught him and he decided to take the step which he’s gonna regret the rest of his life.

Meanwhile, Jamila, who decided never to get married was serving as a mid wife in the village, felt the urge to visit her twin. Being worried of what Pembe told her about Elias, she wanted to fix things. Alex strictly forbidden her not to leave home and unaware of the arrival of aunt, he mistakenly stabbed her with a dagger and took her life. Newspaper had a big headline next day.

“16 year old boy killed his mother for Honour”

Elif remarkably places cultural prospects with the society. Being Turkish native, Pembe took the native values with her. Even London’s breeze couldn’t spoil the essence. She kept on preaching her daughter to be a modest one yet Alex enjoyed all the privileges for being a man. The same Alex who tried to save the honour of his family from getting stained, had a 16 year old pregnant girlfriend of his and that obviously didn’t ruin the “HONOUR”. Younas, getting least attention from her mother, found the love of his life, a 20 year old young lady living among the squatters who wanted to overthrow the capitalist system. He used to spend much of his time there planing a future for both of them.

Elif brilliantly puts the feels in her words. The book unwind many of the issues at the same time. Improper socialization, patriarchy being transmitted over generations, issues of unclear visions and life prospects, suspicious natures, the urge of sons and the “HONOUR’ obviously that ultimately guards the respect of family. Broken and disturbed families produce off springs who in return cause the upheaval in the stability of the society. She perfectly portrays the clash between the cultures and norms followed by heart breaks that can torn anyone inside while reading.