2015-11-04
Three members of an established Emirati family clash as modern desires collide with traditional expectations in the mid-1990s. In her second novel, Gargash (The Sand Fish, 2009) explores the nuances and struggles of a Dubai family confronting a changing world. Majed Naseemy is the aging patriarch of a sprawling family and an eminent member of Emirati society. He's an angry and deeply misogynistic man, and he finds it difficult to embrace both his mild-mannered niece, Mariam, and headstrong illegitimate daughter, Dalal. When the girls begin challenging the roles he expects them to conform to, he struggles to channel his rage and control them. Changing point of view between these three characters, the story opens a window into the complicated world of Emirati culture. The book shines brightest when focused on Mariam and Dalal as they come of age in two different worlds. Although both live in Cairo, Mariam is a student at a local university while Dalal lives with her mother in a run-down neighborhood, from which she pursues a career in music. For Mariam, education is the key to escaping her stifling family, while Dalal is driven by a thirst for fame. Both of them confront their sexuality and their roles as women in Emirati society. At times Majed and Dalal both ring hollow as characters and can be infuriating in their narrow-mindedness. Both are defined by a selfishness that makes them impossible to love. But Mariam is compelling and sympathetic, and her aunt Aisha is a woefully unexplored character until the very end. The examination of changing norms in Middle Eastern culture, and the differences between Dubai and Cairo, is at times extremely engaging, but the author doesn't connect the Naseemy family's story to a larger cultural shift. Although the book has fascinating elements, it is ultimately a lackluster family drama with too narrow a focus.
11/23/2015
After her successful debut novel, The Sand Fish (2009), Emirati writer Gargash returns to Dubai to paint a complex portrait of a family, as its members struggle to maintain their ties with one another and to their traditions, while consequences of enormous wealth prove more threatening than modernity or Western influence. The story unfolds through three perspectives: Majed is an affluent patriarch with grown children, who drinks in private but whose extramarital affairs have been less well hidden. Dalal is his 20-something illegitimate daughter, who has no contact with her father and has been living in Cairo with her mother, hoping to break into the music business as a singer. Their link is Mariam, Majed’s obedient niece, whom he’s putting through dental school (also in Cairo), and who is Dalal’s unlikely best friend. The novel struggles to pick up speed, particularly as a result of its awkward prose. When, for instance, Dalal announces her upcoming appointment with someone in show business and Mariam seems confused, Dalal thinks, “She knows how much I’ve struggled these past 10 months to find a composer who would create a winning song for me.” As Mariam’s family in Dubai debates whether or not it’s too modern for a young girl to be studying abroad, the dialogue remains stilted and the conversation predictable. (Jan.)
Through richly drawn characters who drive their shared destiny, Maha Gargash depicts a world of wealth while revealing the true meaning of value as two young women, through the power of their warm friendship, transcend the dictates of society’s expectations and transform from outsiders into leaders of a new future.” — Jessica Jiji, author of SWEET DATES IN BASRA
“Light in tone, her reflections on culture and social norms will strike a familiar chord with Arab readers and will intrigue, even surprise, western readers.” — The National
“A compelling tapestry of familial strife and stresses…Gargash layers on the restrictions of Arab society, masterfully capturing the constricting expectations each person faces…the way they behave in response is one of the most revealing aspects of their characters. A nuanced look at Arab life and society.” — Booklist
“Gargash…paint[s] a complex portrait of a family, as its members struggle to maintain their ties with one another and to their traditions, while consequences of enormous wealth prove more threatening than modernity or Western influence.” — Publishers Weekly
“Opens a window into the complicated world of Emirati culture. The book shines brightest when focused on Mariam and Dalal as they come of age in two different worlds…The examination of changing norms in Middle Eastern culture, and the differences between Dubai and Cairo, is at times extremely engaging…fascinating.” — Kirkus
“Simply beautiful…The imagery in THAT OTHER ME is brilliant, constant and fresh…an enjoyable, mind-provoking and flowing read. I’ll definitely be interested in reading more of Maha Gargash’s work in the future.” — Nadaness in Motion blog
A compelling tapestry of familial strife and stresses…Gargash layers on the restrictions of Arab society, masterfully capturing the constricting expectations each person faces…the way they behave in response is one of the most revealing aspects of their characters. A nuanced look at Arab life and society.
Simply beautiful…The imagery in THAT OTHER ME is brilliant, constant and fresh…an enjoyable, mind-provoking and flowing read. I’ll definitely be interested in reading more of Maha Gargash’s work in the future.
Through richly drawn characters who drive their shared destiny, Maha Gargash depicts a world of wealth while revealing the true meaning of value as two young women, through the power of their warm friendship, transcend the dictates of society’s expectations and transform from outsiders into leaders of a new future.
Light in tone, her reflections on culture and social norms will strike a familiar chord with Arab readers and will intrigue, even surprise, western readers.
A compelling tapestry of familial strife and stresses…Gargash layers on the restrictions of Arab society, masterfully capturing the constricting expectations each person faces…the way they behave in response is one of the most revealing aspects of their characters. A nuanced look at Arab life and society.
