Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

From Dunes to Dior Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

Winner of the Indie Book of the Day, September 2013. Which country in the Middle East is safe, hip, and quirky? Qatar may not be the answer that comes to mind. Mohana will change that with these vignettes of growing out of her twenties in the emerging desert powerhouse. With wit and love, she takes readers on an armchair journey of ruminations. In a wonderful mix of cultural juxtapositions, we hear about a place where all restaurants are closed during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Yet SUVS clogging fast food drive-throughs like McDonald's are commonly late night spectacles. This unique exploration of cultural differences is due to the author's ethnic heritage and physical proximity to her birthplace, India. We experience the hilarious ups and downs of reactions to her American accent and western dress despite being a non-white expatriate. Learn the realities of what it takes to make a life in Doha.