Love Comes Later [Kindle Edition]

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar (Author)

Book Description

Shortlisted for the New Talent Award by the Festival of Romance, this contemporary tale about the conflict between love and honor, duty and passion, will keep you turning pages until the very end.

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...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

Product Details

• File Size: 535 KB
• Print Length: 262 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008I4JJES
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,286 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic July 11, 2012

By Diana Manos

Format:Kindle Edition

Love Comes Later is about love, choices, culture, bigotry, family, tradition, religion, honesty, forgiveness and friendship, to name just a few. The story allows a Westerner to actually see and feel what it is like to be a Muslim, with strong family ties, living in Qatar. It portrays the universality of prejudice, masked by different faces in other parts of the world, and offers an eye-opening opportunity to walk in someone else's shoes. It is a very moving literary novel that I think will end up being a true classic. It has all the elements worthy of a novel that goes beyond mere entertainment, and leans toward education and enlightenment. For this reason, Love Comes Later will linger in my mind for a long time. The writing is beautiful, but not overwhelming. The story builds in suspense and I was unable to put it down. I think anyone who reads this will be truly surprised to find that they have found a treasure.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read...story with character and depth! July 28, 2012

By Michelle C. Jordan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recieved a complimentary copy of this book from the author on Goodreads to read and review. This does not in any way effect my review.

Love Comes Later is the story of love, loss, culture, duty and family; the main character Abdulla is a product of his environment where the major components of his life, such as the decisions regarding marriage and children are being taken away from him, and becoming the agenda of the Elders and his community. But after the tragic loss of his wife and unborn child, Abdulla does not wish to follow the dictates of those clamoring around him. He initially no longer wants to remarry, to no longer be a pawn; but others interfere and once again, major parts of Abdulla's life is not his own; but as the story progresses, where Abdulla once believed love would no longer be a viable option for him, in an unexpected place, it finds him again...
I truly enjoyed this book. Love Comes Later is a well written, thought provoking read. I enjoyed the glimpse into Abdulla's culture, and Ms. Rajakumar is an exceptional storyteller; Love Comes Later is not an empty, frivolous tale; but one with depth and character

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Constraints of Conservative Traditions in a Modern World October 9, 2012

By Angela_Amman

Format:Kindle Edition

Reading Love Comes Later from Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar makes me acutely aware of the intricacies of Arab culture, in this case the culture of Qatar, a small and incredibly wealthy country in the Arab Gulf.

Love Comes Later tackles difficult subjects: multicultural romance between Muslim Arabs and Hindu Indians, arranged or orchestrated marriages, dowries, the stark gender differences in Qatar's culture, finding love amongst a culture that regards marriage as a transaction driven by tradition, finances, and nationalism.

The novel follows the stories of Abdulla and Hind, cousins engaged to be married, both less than willingly. Abdullah is a young widower opposed to a second marriage and Hind is searching for something outside of the limited boundaries of her arranged marriage. When Hind leaves for one year to finish a graduate program in London, her new friendship with Sangita and Ravi, Indians raised primarily in the United States, it becomes difficult for Abdulla and Hind to return to the life expected of them in Qatar. Complicating matters is the seriousness of a Qatari engagement -- effectively Abdulla and Hind are legally married when the engagement contract is signed by their families.

The strength in Rajakumar's writing is seen in the sections of the novel set in Qatar. She treats the handling of Arab traditions with care while providing an objective look into the paradox that can be found between the wealthy, technologically-rich Qatar and the conservative traditions and laws that still govern the nation. A small sub-plot involving memories of Abdulla and Hind's grandfather of a woman he once loved highlights the struggle to reconcile traditional and modern thought....

Arab culture can be harshly judged as misogynistic, pointing to the restrictions on Arab women from their modest outer garments to their lack of freedom and choice about their futures. Rajakumar effectively shows the restrictions in the culture are not limited to the women. Men may have more options than the women, from the right to divorce to the ability to marry a non-Qatari, but they are also held to particular traditions and familial hierarchies that afford less choice than one might expect.

Love Comes Later is both a romance and a window into a culture driven by labels -- from Gucci and BlackBerry to fiancée and whore. Rajakumar's scope is wide, reaching from Qatar to London and India, and at times the characters feel rushed, their motivation and their actions slightly out of step. Yet overall, the story works; the reader is unfolding and understanding the characters almost as they are coming to realize what they want for themselves -- and if those things are possible within the confines of their lives. Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unforgettable Novel July 29, 2012

By ElizaWriter

Format:Kindle Edition

'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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and easy to read July 31, 2012

By Carolin

Format:Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed reading Love Comes Later. It paints an insightful picture of a culture that is widely misunderstood and stereotyped, not only outside of Qatar but even by many of the expatriate residents here. Having had many Qatari clients in the five years I have lived and worked here, I can say that the story really reflects a lot of the challenges that they face every day. I also loved the subtle humour and the different perspectives offered. I read the whole book within three days, despite a busy schedule, as I spent every free minute reading it. Definitely worth a read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Love: Breaks Us, Binds Us or Both? July 11, 2012

By ProfessorLala

Format:Kindle Edition

Part love story and part social commentary, Love Comes Later is the compelling tale of Abdullah and Hind, Qatari cousins whose families have arranged their marriage, but who strain against the conventions of their culture in their own ways. As their stories unfold, readers are given a glimpse into Qatari life, which is simultaneously hyper-modern and steeped in traditions centuries in the making. Love Comes Later touches on a host of difficult questions, the biggest -- can duty and happiness co-exist?

More 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.