Lake Oswego Reads has done it again. With their selection of Honor by Thrity Umrigar, organizers have given us a timely book that uses fiction to get us to think about our current reality.

Here are some reasons why you should read Honor.

It was a Reese’s Book Club pick.

It has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon with 11,240 readers.

Goodreads gives it a 4.4 based on reviews from 54,690 readers and nominated it for Best Fiction of 2022.

And the author herself, perhaps poses the most compelling reason. Through the device of the story of two courageous women trying to navigate how to be true to their homelands and themselves at the same time, Umrigar explains that, “The novel poses the question of whether it is possible to love a country when you’re ashamed of its politics and practices. What form and shape does that love take? Millions of us all around the world are currently grappling with that question.”

Definitely food for thought which will be cooked up by the programming the LO Reads has scheduled throughout the month of April. Here are a few highlights:

LAKE OSWEGO READS ART SHOW. Hear artists explain the inspiration they gained after reading Honor to produce their works on display at the Lakewood Center for the Arts. Light refreshments will be served and all pieces available for purchase. Monday, April 1 with a reception at 6:00 p.m. and presentations beginning at 6:45 p.m. Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street.  

LEARN TO DRAW MANDALAS. Experience the meditative and creative benefits of learning to draw mandalas from scratch in this easy step-by-step art lesson for beginners. Saturday, April 56 at 2:00 p.m. Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street.

ETHICS AND OBJECTIVISM IN JOURNALISM. Join Lake Oswego Review Editor, Patrick Malee, and Veteran Oregon newspaper publisher and president of Pamplin Media Group, J. Brian Monihan as they explore journalism ethics and the importance of remaining objective in reporting. Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. Lake Oswego Public Library, 807 Fourth Street.

THE PERSISTENCE OF POWER STRUCTURES.  Hear PSU professor Dr. Jack Miller discuss the role played by gender, caste and religious identities in supporting unequal and oppressive institutions and practices around the world. Thursday, April 11 at 5:30 p.m. Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street.

DISCUSSION WITH DELICACIES. Enjoy Indian cuisine created by The Springs and then engage in a discussion of Honor with the resident book club. The event is free to the public, but reservations for non-Springs residents are required. Friday, April 19 at 12:00 noon. The Springs at Lake Oswego, 3900 Kruse Way Place.

HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL VOCAL CONCERT. This is an independent event not associated with the Lake Oswego library, but ties in perfectly with the book. Experience a Hindustani classical vocal concert by Kaushiki Chakraborty, an Indian classical vocalist and composer, accompanied on violin by Ambi Subrahmaniam, hailed as the “new king of Indian classical violin” by The Times of India. Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Avenue in Portland.

NATURAL BLOCK PRINT DESIGNS. Learn how to transfer design elements from the natural world around us onto paper or fabric in this creative workshop using vegetables and fruits and water-based paint. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. in the Children’s Library, Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street.

CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE. Experience the beauty of classical Indian Bharatha Natyam dance performed by Jayanthi Raman, a practitioner, teacher and choreographer for more than four decades. Sunday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m. Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street.

MODEL OF THE MICRO: SURPRISING SOLUTIONS FOR THE NATURAL WORLD IN CRISIS. Find out what India, now the most populated nation on earth, has to teach the world about developing for a sustainable future by listening to this presentation by award-winning environmental journalist Meera Subramanian. While in India investigating environmental challenges, she discovered stories that renew hope for the nation and possibly the planet for a sustainable future. Monday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. Virtual presentation which you can register in advance for here.

LAKE OSWEGO READS AUTHOR PRESENTATION. Ms. Umrigar will be here in person to discuss her book and answer questions from the community. Free tickets to hear her in person were given away on March 9. If you don’t have a ticket you can watch the event later on the Library’s YouTube channel.   Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Lakeridge High School Auditorium, 1235 Overlook Drive. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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