Honor

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, illness or death, religious discrimination, and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the concept of an “honor killing” as presented in Shafak’s novel? Did your understanding evolve as you learned about the characters’ backgrounds?

2. The novel weaves together multiple narratives across different time periods and settings. Which character’s voice or perspective did you find most compelling?

3. In what ways does Shafak’s exploration of cultural identity in Honor compare to other novels about immigrant experiences, such as Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Each of the Toprak children adapts differently to British society. Have you ever had to straddle different social or cultural circles? Which character’s approach to navigating between two cultures resonated most with your own experiences?

2. Pembe insists on keeping her relationship with Elias platonic despite their deep connection. Have you ever maintained a personal boundary that others might not understand?

3. The novel shows how family expectations can shape children’s lives through the pressures placed on Iskender as the family’s “little sultan.” When have you observed similar dynamics?

4. What feelings surfaced for you as you witnessed how secrets and unspoken truths damaged the Toprak family’s relationships?

5. Jamila chooses independence as a “virgin midwife” rather than conforming to societal expectations. What sacrifices have you made to stay true to yourself?

6. The characters cling to an idealized version of Turkey as a place of refuge they may be able to come back to. What places or times have you romanticized from a distance?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Media coverage in the novel frames Iskender’s crime as a “barbaric” custom associated with Islam. What insights does Shafak offer about how cultural practices are often misrepresented?

2. The novel portrays patriarchal values affecting both women and men in different ways. Can you identify examples from contemporary society where traditional gender expectations continue to cause harm?

3. What parallels do you see between the immigrant experience in 1970s London as portrayed in the novel and current conversations about immigration and assimilation?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What significance do the twins’ original names—“Kader” (which means “destiny”) and “Yeter” (which means “enough”)—hold in relation to their divergent life paths?

2. Shafak structures her narrative by moving between different time periods and perspectives. Why might she have chosen this non-linear approach to tell the Toprak family story?

3. The novel is dedicated “to those who see and those who hear” (v). Who are the characters who truly see and hear beyond cultural expectations?

4. London and rural Turkey are contrasting settings in the novel. In what ways do these physical spaces mirror the characters’ internal conflicts?

5. Esma opens the novel by considering whether she could kill her brother in revenge. How does this initial framing shape your reading of the subsequent events?

6. The twins, Pembe and Jamila, look identical but lead completely different lives. What does their twinship reveal about fate versus choice in the novel?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you could add an additional chapter to the novel, what would happen to the remaining Toprak family members 10 years after Iskender’s release from prison?

2. Imagine a conversation between Pembe and Jamila if they could meet after Jamila’s death. What might they say to each other about their intertwined destinies?

3. Create an alternative scenario where one character makes a different choice that might break the chain of events leading to the tragedy. What would change?

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