by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
4.4 stars – 36 Reviews
Or currently FREE for Amazon Prime Members Via the Kindle Lending Library
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:
Hind is granted a temporary reprieve from her impending marriage to Abdulla, her cousin. Little does anyone suspect that the presence of Sangita, her Indian roommate, may shake a carefully constructed future. Torn between loyalties to Hind and a growing attraction to Abdulla, Sangita must choose between friendship and a burgeoning love.
A modern quest for the right to pursue love and happiness, even when it comes in an unconventional package, LOVE COMES LATER explores similarities between the South Asian and Arab cultures while exposing how cultural expectations affect both men and women. Identities are tested and boundaries questioned against the shifting backdrops of Doha, Qatar and London, England.
Reviews
“…the greatest success of Rajakumar’s novel is the emotional journey the reader takes via her rich characters… [her] deliciously tangled plot” offers “insight into life on the Persian Gulf.” —Kirkus Literary Review
“‘Love Comes Later’ is one of those beautiful reads that springs itself on an unsuspecting reader unawares, with its incredible poignancy and depth of feeling and character. It stands alongside works by writers like Jhumpa Lahiri. The narrative sends the reader on an emotional rollercoaster that doesn’t let up throughout the novel. A real find! Am definitely going to start reading through the Rajakumar back-catalogue, because her work is of an incredibly high calibre. I would recommend this novel to any reader who enjoys contemporary adult fiction.” – Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars
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by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
4.7 stars – 15 Reviews
Or currently FREE for Amazon Prime Members Via the Kindle Lending Library
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:
Called everything from the world’s richest to fattest nation, Qatar has been on the breakneck path towards change for several decades. The capital city Doha, is where our family of three has lived since 2005.FROM DUNES TO DIOR is not the stuff of newspaper headlines (they made their money from oil! Thirty years ago everyone was living in tents!) but real life stories about being a South Asian American who lives here (no, I don’t have to cover my hair, and yes, I can drive).
I had no idea that living the life of my dreams (including a husband and precious baby) would coincide with the rapid development of one the smallest and safest countries in the world, an oasis of calm smack dab in the global hotspot of the Middle East.
Reviews
“This book offers a unique and true to life account of living in Qatar. The authors recounts with humor her life as an American/Indian young woman adapting to the complex culture of a modern middle eastern city. You will find yourself laughing out loud at her experiences and feeling like you know her family. A must read for anyone moving to the Middle East or those who want an honest account of life in Qatar.” – Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars
“I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book! It was fantastic and so true to life there. It brought back a lot of memories for me and I especially feel grateful for my time there and for making Qatari friends. It was an opportunity of a lifetime!” – Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars
About The Author
Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a writer who has lived in Qatar since 2005. She has a PhD from the University of Florida with a focus on gender and postcolonial theory. Her dissertation project was published as Haram in the Harem (Peter Lang, 2009) a literary analysis of the works of three Muslim women authors in India, Algeria, and Pakistan. She is the creator and co-editor of five books in the Qatar Narratives series, as well as the Qatari Voices anthology which features essays by Qataris on modern life in Doha (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, 2010). Her research has been published in numerous journals and anthologies.
She was the Associate Editor of Vox, a fashion and lifestyle magazine based in Doha and a winner of the She Writes We Love New Novelists competition. She has been a regular contributor for Variety Arabia, AudioFile Magazine, Explore Qatar, Woman Today, The Woman, Writers and Artists Yearbook, QatarClick, Expat Arrivals, Speak Without Interruption and Qatar Explorer. She hosted two seasons of the Cover to Cover book show on Qatar Foundation Radio.
Currently Mohana is working on a collection of essays related to her experiences as a female South Asian American living in the Arabian Gulf and a novel based in Qatar. She believes words can help us understand ourselves and others. Catch up on her latest via her blog or follow her on Twitter @moha_doha.
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