Friday, January 9, 2015

A Sister to Honor by Lucy Ferriss

Published January 6, 2015 by Berkley Trade

Afia Satar is studious, modest, and devout. The young daughter of a landholding family in northern Pakistan, Afia has enrolled in an American college with the dream of returning to her country as a doctor. But when a photo surfaces online of Afia holding hands with an American boy, she is suddenly no longer safe—even from the family that cherishes her.

Rising sports star Shahid Satar has been entrusted by his family to watch over Afia in this strange New England landscape. He has sworn to protect his beloved sister from the dangerous customs of America, from its loose morals and easy virtue. Shahid was the one who convinced their parents to allow her to come to the United States. He never imagined he’d be ordered to cleanse the stain of her shame...

My Thoughts…

A Sister to Honor opened my eyes to the world of Pakistan traditions.   I had not read much on this and was amazed at how different their world was.   I did realize that the traditions were different, but not how totally different they are.   I cannot imagine how Afia sees America.   The world of holding hands, meeting men, dressing differently, playing sports, and more equality between men and women was so foreign to her.  

I could not believe how Afia’s family treated her when a picture of her was seen on the internet holding hands with an American boy.    I love how Shahid stood up for her, tried to protect her, and vouched for her honor.    The rest of her family amazed me, how could they treat their daughter the way they did.   How could they expect her to give up what she has worked so hard for?   Many times I stopped reading, just to think, think about what was going on and how it is different from everything I know.  

I love when a book makes me stop and think.   It makes me appreciate what I have and how my world could have been different had I been born in a different country with a different upbringing.    This is a story I will be thinking about and talking about with my friends.  I definitely recommend this book to everyone.  

Book Links

What other’s are saying…

"A masterful storyteller."
–Wally Lamb, renowned author of I Know This Much Is True

"A courageous and thought-provoking writer."
–Tom Perrotta, bestselling author of Little Children

"[An] achingly beautiful novel about marriage and love...the work of a master American realist,
up there with Richard Yates...Spellbinding."
–Francisco Goldman, award winning author of The Long Night of White Chickens and Say Her Name

―A collision of cultures between star-crossed lovers redefines the
meaning of honor in this modern-day literary thriller.
–A. Manette Ansay, author of Vinegar Hill and Good Things I Wish You

About the Author:
Born in St. Louis, Lucy Ferriss has lived on both coasts, in the middle of the country, and abroad. She is the author of nine books, most recently the novel The Lost Daughter, which was published by Berkley in February 2012. She has two sons and lives in Connecticut, where she is Writer-in-Residence at Trinity College. For more information please visit www.lucyferriss.com.


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