Writing a review for a memoir is always a challenge, but Khalida Brohi's writing and story were incredible. Khalida never gave up on anything--from pursuing her goals to falling in love. She is a great role model and I can't wait to visit The Chai Spot someday!

What an enlightening memoir. I did not know anything about the Pakistani way of life before reading this book. Honor killings was something that I’ve never heard of. I am glad that the author has taken a stand, and is instrumental in empowering women and eliminating senseless killing in her country.

I hope a movie gets made on this book.

I don't think one can call a girl of 12, 'growing into a beautiful woman.' That's disgusting. The superstitious beliefs are crazy: a change in name does not heal you! The book is a well-written one. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

Memorable Quotes:
Daughters are a blessing from God, but they are a tough gift to cherish. Everyone wants a piece of them. Always.

Don't cry. Strategize.

Then the teacher turned around. Blood splattered all over his shirt. The terror of the scene he had witnessed less than hour before became real to him. The girl murdered on the road was the teacher's niece, and that morning he had killed her, as well as the man who had been lying in the road, in the name of honor. Then he had walked to school to educate boys, as on any normal day at work.

Sad reality of pakistan, very hard to read, cried at most parts because somethings were just easier to understand as a pakistani. I hope nobody get to live such a hard life and bravo Khalida Brohi for writing such a strong storyy!!

This book was an amazing read. Khalida is an inspirational woman who did not let traditions, rules, and social norms stop her from making the change she wanted to see in her beloved Pakistan. She shows what one person can do when they set their mind to something and create.

If ever there was a place a culture, a time where women were dominated by the men in their family, that place would probably be in Pakistan. Kahlida, as a young girl wanted the things that all the young strive for. She wanted freedom to chose her life’s direction and the man she would marry, to find her own way, to be a person who did not have every hour of every day plotted out for her. She writes of the life she was destined to lead, one where women and girls were covered, one where women were controlled by men, one where a male relative literally had the power of life or death over female relatives whom were felt to dishonor the family. Fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins could and did kill their daughters when they thought these girls shamed them as Khalida learned when a cousin of hers was honor killed. The infringement could be as little as looking at a man up to running away with the man you loved. It was a brutal culture where men ruled in these tribal groups that inhabited Pakistan.

Khalida was her father’s beloved daughter. He was different in his approach to his daughter wanting for her an education, being educated himself, knowing it was her only way out of a life of ignorance and containment. He indulges her, educates her as best he can, always fearful of the culture which made women and girls pawns in the family.

Khalida succeeds though not without many struggles as she and other fight against a culture driven by men and centuries of believing women were the chattels of their fathers, husband, and any male relative. It was a sad but inspiring story as Khalida grows to adulthood, she fights to right the wrongs of the men. Khalida loves her country, she finds it beautiful in so many ways, and it is through working with this culture, this terrain that she brings to many the ability to feel pride and eliminate fear.

Recommended for those who so enjoyed My Name is Malia. This book will reinforce that we in this country are ever so fortunate to live in a culture where women are valued and free.

This book opened my eyes to Pakistani culture. Richly steeped in tradition and honor, A culture also in many families repressive and abusive to women.. It was very refreshing and inspiring to hear the path taken by Khalida, and the support and love from her family that is still at work today trying to improve the lives of Pakistani women.

Khalida Brohi, this was a book that was needed in a time where honor killings still happen. So many quotes from this book that I would love to share with you all. I loved this one & I finished it within a day! It really saddens me that the lack of education has kept such a blindfold on the eyes of people even in this day & time.

Here’s the most important quote I want to share with you: Honor is not murder. And dishonor is not a girl who goes to school. It is not a girl who plays outside. It is not a girl who refuses to marry at a young age. It is not a girl who speaks, laughs, and takes the opportunities that come in front of her. Instead, honor is identity. Honor is dignity. Honor is serving those we love with integrity and hard work; it is respecting each other, welcoming the stranger, and speaking and being proud of your own language. It is providing for your family, striving for the best in life, and praying for the best for people; it is being a nation that people praise and respect.

The author wrote a memoir that makes the reader feel all kinds of emotions at different points, but it always displays her courage and ability to stand up for what is right.

🌻Thank you to Net galley for my advance copy of 'I Should Have Honor' by @khalida.brohi which releases On September 4th, 2018. .
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🌻This memoir highlights Khalida Brohi's determination and efforts to save women from the tribal traditions in rural Pakistan. .
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🌻Khalida's mother was married when she was only 9 to her husband who was 13 years old. She had Khalida (her second child) when she was just 14 years old in a small village in Baluchistan. .
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🌻Khalida herself was promised as a bride to an much older man, even before she was born, but her father defied traditional customs and stood up for her. Khalida received an education and grew up witnessing child marriages, and questioning tribal traditions. .
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🌻Things changed for Khalida when she found out her cousin had been killed by her own uncle in an 'honor killing' for bringing dishonor to their tribe. Her fault? Falling in love with a man. .
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🌻This memoir journeys Khalida's quest for educating young women and providing support while constantly trying to change the mindset of families who believe in traditional tribal customs. She shares her failures, success, and hardships which have taken her from a small village in Pakistan to as far as Australia and the US. .
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🌻She is now a founding member of @sugharfoundation , and also the co-founder of @thechaispot . .
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🌻Read her memoir 'I should have honor' releasing Sept 4, 2018. .

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnOsh2pFoGc/?taken-by=anintrovertedblogger

I was intrigued by the cover of this book and the title. But once I started reading this memoir it was captivating yet heartbreaking . Being from the same country as the author and knowing how honor killing is part of culture in some parts of the country. Not experiencing anything like this it was truly an eye opening experience and at times sad at how some people in the same country our living with such orthodox mentality where as for us who are blessed to live in big cities don’t have to deal with these nuances . The author was lucky to have have fought with her circumstances. It’s a sad reality of how women are treated specially in these tribal areas .

3.5 Stars

What initially drew me to this memoir was the cover: it’s stunningly beautiful and I desperately need a physical copy to grace my shelves once it’s published. But the cover is also deceiving. Because inside its pages is not flowery prose or a whimsical tale; it is a story of strength, of heartbreak, of strong will and meek upbringings and yes, of honor too.

Brohi examines her life and those of her parents and others in Pakistan to expose the harsh reality that many there live with: the idea that women are less than. And because of their inferior place they are subject to little freedom, a lack of education and job opportunities (if any), and strict customs. But perhaps most alarming is the way they are to bring honor to their families and the consequence of any indiscretion. Brohi's life was greatly influenced by these honor killings and she rose above at a young age to make a change in her country.

The dichotomy between the way author’s parents raised her and the way their culture dictated she should be raised played a strong role in the shaping of Brohi's character. She saw the sacrifices her parents made in order to give her strength and independence and she took that to create an organization to empower other Pakistani women.

I loved Brohi's observation and lesson learned that you can’t just go in and change people’s whole way of life overnight. It reminded me of a book I read earlier this year where the author discussed how after the fall of the USSR his country was just suppose to become capitalist and democratic. No transition, no educating. Just a new idea forced upon them with no time for acclimation. As Brohi learned, you can’t make people change what’s been in their culture and way of life in a few days, even if those changes are right and/or for a better future.

Brohi offers a look at her life, the daughter of a progressive Pakistani father. Yet, her family is still very traditiional. Her mother was married off at 12 and bore her first child a year later. Her father was educated and emphasized the importance of that to his children. Although a girl, Brohi was sent to school and even learned English. As an adult her crusade was against honor killings, something her extended family had participated in. I Should Have Honor is one woman's attempt to drag her culture into the twenty first century.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book through #netgalley. in exchange for my honest review. I couldn't put this memoir by Khalida Brohi down. Prior to this read, I wasn't familiar with Khalida or her work, but the description of the book intrigued me. Khalida writes honestly and beautifully about the difficulties she faced growing up as a girl in Pakistan, and in her fight against honour killings.
Instead of painting her fight as entirely inspirational, she gives the reader an honest look into the tensions it caused in her family, her own health and her relationships. She doesn't paint her work as always rewarding, but gives a glimpse into the hard times and questions she faced. I enjoyed Khalida's memoir, and look forward to following her work more closely & reading any future writings of hers!

This is a really powerful book. I first heard about Khalida Brohi and the Sughar Foundation after watching Brohi's TED Talk, and I was instantly drawn into her story. She does an excellent job of describing her culture, family history, and hopes for the future. Brohi, her work, and her determination are truly inspiring.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the review copy.

*I Should Have Honor: A Memoir of Hope and Pride in Pakistan* by Khalida Brohi tells us about life in tribal areas of Pakistan. The first part of this book tells us about the author's life and how her father nurtured her education despite it not being the norm for family and tribe. It also tells us about the honor killing of her cousin Khadija and how this event propels the author to hopefully one day change her family, tribe, and ultimately her countries view of what honor is and to help stop honor killings.

Part two of this book shows how the author first started to spread her message and created a youth group to help empower and teach women through education and respect for themselves.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I love how the author is working toward change in her country and ultimately the world. It is an inspiring book in that it shows us how one person can affect change. It also gives us a glimpse into rural and tribal life in Pakistan as well as showing us what needs to change. This book brings greater awareness to the practice of honor killings and hopefully will help affect change in the world. I love that the author is not just trying to change views on honor killings, but on honor itself. My favorite quote is, "I have made it my mission to redefine honor, to bring it back to where it belongs. Honor is not the inheritance of men. Every woman should have honor. You should have honor. I should have honor." I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I Should Have Honor tells the story of how the author fought against honor killings in Pakistan after learning early on what happens to her female friends and cousins who don't follow the centuries-old rules.

Brohi gets invited to conferences around the world to speak about the inhumane practices that women have to endure-married off at early ages, beatings by their husbands, and unable to leave their homes without permission. She also attempts to change the mindsets of the tribal leaders in the villages where she grew up. Her true-to-life stories are difficult to read at times, but give a real portrayal of what it's like to be female in a Muslim and male-dominated world.