Between Love and Honor

By: Alexandra Lapierre, Jane Lizop - translator

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

In 1839, after decades of conflict, the Russian army and the Muslims of Chechnya are on the verge of a truce. To prove his commitment to peace, warrior chief Imam Shamil offers a hostage: his son, Jamal Eddin. But once the truce is signed, the Russians spirit Jamal Eddin back to Russia, where Czar Nicholas “adopts” the boy.

Immersed in imperial court life, Jamal Eddin matures into the consummate courtier. Still, he maintains his Muslim faith - until he falls in love with a beautiful Russian aristocrat. To marry her, Jamal Eddin must convert to Christianity, a sacrifice he is prepared to make. But his devotion to his bride will be pitted against his duty to his homeland when Jamal Eddin is called to take his rightful place leading the Muslims.

Based on a true story, this sweeping historical novel chronicles the coming-of-age of a young man torn by impossible choices wrought by love and conflicting loyalties.

©2012 Alexandra Lapierre (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Real Stories of Real People

Would you listen to Between Love and Honor again? Why?

Anyone who has interest in Chetnya will find this book a must-read. I have read several recent books on the Chetnyen wars of 1994 and 2004 and the main character's in Alexandra Lapierre's, "Between, Love and Honor" are usually referred to by name.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course, I liked Jamil. His story is heart wrenching yet filled with loyalty and integrity.
It is a true story of life, of people who struggle, of war, of love and in this case injustice.

Which scene was your favorite?

One of the best parts of "Between Love and Honor" is that we were able to have a birds-eye
view of both sides motives, dilemmas, and reasoning for the war they waged on one another.

If you could rename Between Love and Honor, what would you call it?

The title says exactly what the story culminates into - a decision that is made by Jamil to forsake the love of his life to save the lives of captive women and children. It is written by the woman that Jamil forsakes for honor.

Historically Interesting if nothing else.

What did you like best about Between Love and Honor? What did you like least?

This book brought my attention to an area of history that I was unaware of before.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Anticlimactic, but then it was based on reality, so a Hollywood ending wasn't expected.

Enjoyable and Intriguing

What made the experience of listening to Between Love and Honor the most enjoyable?

The narrator's inflection.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Between Love and Honor?

Jamal Eddin witnessing his grandmother's beating and trying to make sense of it.

What does Nick Podehl bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pronounciation of words unfamiliar to me.

If you could take any character from Between Love and Honor out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Imal Shamil, to understand why his holy war was more important than his son.

Any additional comments?

Thought this might be a romance novel, very glad it was not.

Between Love and Honor

The son was more honorable and manly than his father. Sometimes a child can give excellent advice.

it's predictive but well worth the journey

You wonder as you start how can this happen, how can a family give up a child knowing it has happened before and the outcome. Some how you are drawn in by, "maybe not this time".... yet the curiosity gets you and step by step yout are drawn in. Great story, that's how you get drawn in.