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Motorbikes and Camels
Diverse characters. Diverse tales. Sometimes intertwining. There is Salma, facing a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in dogma; Hussam - a billionaire's son who tries but fails to conceal his gay relationship; Mohammed, a bigamist, grasping tightly to antiquated patriarchal ideals at the expense of his love life; Mike, who adopts cultural appropriation to provide him with a stable foundation when his world collapses; and the remaining characters, one per chapter, revealing the impact of collective thought matrices on the individual and vice versa. Motorbikes and Camels is a timely book that begs the question, offered to the reader by author Al-Yagout, via one of the protagonists, Zayna: Am I who I am because of my culture?
- GenresMiddle East
280 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2018
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68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 4, 2018
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
“Covering up women means men aren’t willing to work on inner purification. That’s laziness. We can’t have that woman, so cover her up. It’s like when they close restaurants here in Ramadan. We can’t eat, so close down all the restaurants. Or we can’t drink alcohol, so don’t allow bars.”
🌟 I didn’t know what to expect from this book to be honest. I like the synopsis, I like that it is in an Arabian community but didn’t know what to expect beyond that!
🌟 The book is written from multiple POV & the format is creative –I like- but it was hard to get it at first. Well, it wasn’t really hard but I thought it is a casual multiple POV book but the catch is that once a POV is finished we don’t go back to it, so it goes from person 1 to 2 to 3… etc
🌟 The first chapter started good but then everything was happening so quickly, like extremely quickly and though I like fast pacing, it was too fast, I couldn’t relate to the characters and get everything. I was hasty to judge it because as mentioned I didn’t know the format, chapter 1 is like a quick glimpse into many characters’ lives and then you get to enjoy the story from each Person’s POV!
🌟 I was impressed by the writing style which both mixed a good English writing with the Arab society essence which is kind of hard to balance! I saw some Arabic authors with bad English writing and many grammatical/ punctuation and pronunciations errors. But you can tell that the Author here mastered the language and that it was well edited.
🌟 I feel that I am obliged to mention that these deals with heavy topics and focuses on diverse and minor groups in the Arab world. Like Gay men who are forced to marry women, people who have affairs out of marriage, some taboos in the community, the abusive husband, those who makes the religion bad by using verses and Quran out of context and according to their own merits. These are all things that exist and we try to cover them as a conservative community, I think light should be shed upon these problems rather than hiding them till there is an explosion! I want people to understand that not all what Muslims do equal Islam and that we are human and do wrong things so blame us and not our religion!
🌟 There wasn’t like one plot that we follow through the whole book but rather than multiple short stories that are intertwined and are connected as is usual in the Eastern world. I also do believe in the notion that our deeds do hunt us even after a while.
🌟 Summary: Basically a book with good representation of the minor groups in the Arab world, with many Arabic thoughts and quotes. If you are trying to learn more about this community then this book is for you! The writing was good and it was fast paced, I only wish that we had one larger story than the shorter ones as I wanted to know more about those characters.
“Covering up women means men aren’t willing to work on inner purification. That’s laziness. We can’t have that woman, so cover her up. It’s like when they close restaurants here in Ramadan. We can’t eat, so close down all the restaurants. Or we can’t drink alcohol, so don’t allow bars.”
🌟 I didn’t know what to expect from this book to be honest. I like the synopsis, I like that it is in an Arabian community but didn’t know what to expect beyond that!
🌟 The book is written from multiple POV & the format is creative –I like- but it was hard to get it at first. Well, it wasn’t really hard but I thought it is a casual multiple POV book but the catch is that once a POV is finished we don’t go back to it, so it goes from person 1 to 2 to 3… etc
🌟 The first chapter started good but then everything was happening so quickly, like extremely quickly and though I like fast pacing, it was too fast, I couldn’t relate to the characters and get everything. I was hasty to judge it because as mentioned I didn’t know the format, chapter 1 is like a quick glimpse into many characters’ lives and then you get to enjoy the story from each Person’s POV!
🌟 I was impressed by the writing style which both mixed a good English writing with the Arab society essence which is kind of hard to balance! I saw some Arabic authors with bad English writing and many grammatical/ punctuation and pronunciations errors. But you can tell that the Author here mastered the language and that it was well edited.
🌟 I feel that I am obliged to mention that these deals with heavy topics and focuses on diverse and minor groups in the Arab world. Like Gay men who are forced to marry women, people who have affairs out of marriage, some taboos in the community, the abusive husband, those who makes the religion bad by using verses and Quran out of context and according to their own merits. These are all things that exist and we try to cover them as a conservative community, I think light should be shed upon these problems rather than hiding them till there is an explosion! I want people to understand that not all what Muslims do equal Islam and that we are human and do wrong things so blame us and not our religion!
🌟 There wasn’t like one plot that we follow through the whole book but rather than multiple short stories that are intertwined and are connected as is usual in the Eastern world. I also do believe in the notion that our deeds do hunt us even after a while.
🌟 Summary: Basically a book with good representation of the minor groups in the Arab world, with many Arabic thoughts and quotes. If you are trying to learn more about this community then this book is for you! The writing was good and it was fast paced, I only wish that we had one larger story than the shorter ones as I wanted to know more about those characters.
October 21, 2018
The novel follows the lives of a series of interconnected characters as they each try to get what they need while often wondering what that even is. While we never learn exactly what country the story takes place in, it clearly takes place in the Middle East (the author, Nejoud Al-Yagout, is from Kuwait so I’m assuming that’s the novel’s venue). It’s an intriguing glimpse into a world that few westerners get to experience, let alone understand. With so much negativity directed towards this region of the world, the people, the cultures, and the Muslim faith, it was fascinating to read about characters who are just trying to live their lives. We need more stories like this in the world.
At the heart of the story are Salma and Aisha. All of the other characters are somehow connected to them, and their actions are often the catalyst for what happens in those connected lives. The story begins with Salma still in high school. She’s well behaved and quiet. She avoids the temptations around her to take drugs, drink alcohol or take off with boys. Her only vice is watching romance movies while hiding in a closet. What she doesn’t do is wear a hijab or any other kind of traditional veiling. The choice to wear the hijab or not is a central theme in the book. There’s a clash between old and new ideas, between the freedom to choose or adherence to tradition, and how such choices are perceived.
When Salma goes off to university, her life changes drastically. She meets and falls in love for the first time with a man named Bader. When it doesn’t lead to the marriage she was hoping for, she agrees to marry Khaled, but doesn’t get over Bader. She also becomes friends with Aisha, who chose to wear the hijab but also is a very public feminist. There’s more to Aisha than what Salma realizes, and her choices leave a wake of devastation behind her. All the characters find themselves longing and searching for the elusive things they think they want or should have. It’s the denial of such that sparks a crisis and a questioning of assumptions. The most basic being what we all ask ourselves no matter where we’re from: who am I and what do I want?
Its hard to believe that this is the author’s first novel. Her writing is so clear, her characters so compelling, and her ability to seamlessly interweave multiple storylines together is nothing short of masterful. It was one of those books that I was sad to come to the end of. Highly recommended.
At the heart of the story are Salma and Aisha. All of the other characters are somehow connected to them, and their actions are often the catalyst for what happens in those connected lives. The story begins with Salma still in high school. She’s well behaved and quiet. She avoids the temptations around her to take drugs, drink alcohol or take off with boys. Her only vice is watching romance movies while hiding in a closet. What she doesn’t do is wear a hijab or any other kind of traditional veiling. The choice to wear the hijab or not is a central theme in the book. There’s a clash between old and new ideas, between the freedom to choose or adherence to tradition, and how such choices are perceived.
When Salma goes off to university, her life changes drastically. She meets and falls in love for the first time with a man named Bader. When it doesn’t lead to the marriage she was hoping for, she agrees to marry Khaled, but doesn’t get over Bader. She also becomes friends with Aisha, who chose to wear the hijab but also is a very public feminist. There’s more to Aisha than what Salma realizes, and her choices leave a wake of devastation behind her. All the characters find themselves longing and searching for the elusive things they think they want or should have. It’s the denial of such that sparks a crisis and a questioning of assumptions. The most basic being what we all ask ourselves no matter where we’re from: who am I and what do I want?
Its hard to believe that this is the author’s first novel. Her writing is so clear, her characters so compelling, and her ability to seamlessly interweave multiple storylines together is nothing short of masterful. It was one of those books that I was sad to come to the end of. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2018
It's clear right in the very first chapter of Nejoud Al-Yagout's new novel-in-stories Motorbikes and Camels, when we listen in to a group of teenage Muslim girls talk about how to best take ecstasy and have premarital sex without getting caught, that the author is not that interested in presenting a shining example of the piousness of Islam; instead, this is a look at the practical realities of modern flawed humans when it comes to this ancient and sometimes antiquated religion, a thoroughly 21st-century story from this celebrated Kuwaiti poet and feminist pioneer.
A series of interlinked short stories, where we hop from one young person to the next within a group of acquaintances at a Muslim university, the novel is a soap-operaish yet deeply character-based look at the contemporary relationship problems inherent in a society that still largely practices arranged marriages; one person we follow is a closeted homosexual, one a secret alcoholic, one from an enlightened family but who suffers from everyone else's disdain for them, a series of warm bodies passing each other in the night while trying to figure out their place in their newly adult world. Their tales are always engaging and believable, and I suspect will be especially enjoyable to other young Muslims who find themselves in these same situations.
Granted, the book has its problems, mostly related to this poetry veteran still finding her mature voice as a writer of prose; the dialogue can sometimes get stilted, the pacing is often uneven (in the first story, we watch a girl lose her virginity, get married, get divorced, go through a spiritual reawakening, then eventually become a New Age vegan, all in the space of a few thousand words), and I wish that Al-Yagout had established its Middle Eastern setting earlier in the manuscript than she does. (This story comes across very differently if imagining it taking place within a diasporic community in a secular Western country; for example, we don't even find out that alcohol is illegal in whatever place they are until almost a quarter of the way through the book, which gives a whole different flavor to the early scenes where 19-year-olds swig whiskey before having sloppy, drunk sex.)
Still, though, I was highly entertained by Motorbikes and Camels, as well as legitimately moved in several sections, an earnest and relatively daring look at Muslims who are always in their hearts trying to do the right thing, but who so often get sidetracked by hormones, controlled substances, politics, and the other diversions of our modern times. It comes generally recommended, and especially to other young Muslims looking for something highly relatable.
A series of interlinked short stories, where we hop from one young person to the next within a group of acquaintances at a Muslim university, the novel is a soap-operaish yet deeply character-based look at the contemporary relationship problems inherent in a society that still largely practices arranged marriages; one person we follow is a closeted homosexual, one a secret alcoholic, one from an enlightened family but who suffers from everyone else's disdain for them, a series of warm bodies passing each other in the night while trying to figure out their place in their newly adult world. Their tales are always engaging and believable, and I suspect will be especially enjoyable to other young Muslims who find themselves in these same situations.
Granted, the book has its problems, mostly related to this poetry veteran still finding her mature voice as a writer of prose; the dialogue can sometimes get stilted, the pacing is often uneven (in the first story, we watch a girl lose her virginity, get married, get divorced, go through a spiritual reawakening, then eventually become a New Age vegan, all in the space of a few thousand words), and I wish that Al-Yagout had established its Middle Eastern setting earlier in the manuscript than she does. (This story comes across very differently if imagining it taking place within a diasporic community in a secular Western country; for example, we don't even find out that alcohol is illegal in whatever place they are until almost a quarter of the way through the book, which gives a whole different flavor to the early scenes where 19-year-olds swig whiskey before having sloppy, drunk sex.)
Still, though, I was highly entertained by Motorbikes and Camels, as well as legitimately moved in several sections, an earnest and relatively daring look at Muslims who are always in their hearts trying to do the right thing, but who so often get sidetracked by hormones, controlled substances, politics, and the other diversions of our modern times. It comes generally recommended, and especially to other young Muslims looking for something highly relatable.
October 20, 2018
A Commentary on Traditional and Progressive Ideals in the Muslim Community.
As time progresses, so to do ideals and traditions. In this story, the reader is given a slice of life experience in the Muslim community, where traditional ideals are challenged by progressive ones. There are three basic groups in this novel: those who adhere to traditional Muslim ideals, those who stray away from it, and those who wish to reform conservative Muslim traditions to get rid of harmful or misinterpreted teachings and practices.
Each chapter tells the story of a character’s life, ideals, and intentions. These characters are as follow: Salma, Khaled, Saadia, Bader, Maha, Aisha, Hussam, Mohammed, Lina, Zayna, Mike, Meshary, and Amy. They deal with the struggle of finding or losing love, finding their identity, and taking an in-depth look into the status quo of their culture.
On a personal note, most of the characters leave much to be desired because of their antics and intentions towards each other. Some of the characters make amends and change their behavior, while others don’t. They have a twisted sense of justice or authority which causes more harm than good. Jealous and unfaithful lovers plot revenge against their significant other, characters use their faith to justify their horrible behaviors, and conflicting moral standards are used. My question here is, why didn’t the characters learn about forgiveness, mercy, and understanding?
A redeeming factor comes in the discussions characters have about their beliefs, and how society had shaped their way of thinking and behavior. These are relatable topics that exist in every culture. There were a lot of philosophies that were explored throughout the book, including the epilogue with the Hindu guru.
I will say that this book could be used as supplemental reading material in academic courses such as Philosophy, Religion, Anthropology, Social Sciences, and World Literature.
As time progresses, so to do ideals and traditions. In this story, the reader is given a slice of life experience in the Muslim community, where traditional ideals are challenged by progressive ones. There are three basic groups in this novel: those who adhere to traditional Muslim ideals, those who stray away from it, and those who wish to reform conservative Muslim traditions to get rid of harmful or misinterpreted teachings and practices.
Each chapter tells the story of a character’s life, ideals, and intentions. These characters are as follow: Salma, Khaled, Saadia, Bader, Maha, Aisha, Hussam, Mohammed, Lina, Zayna, Mike, Meshary, and Amy. They deal with the struggle of finding or losing love, finding their identity, and taking an in-depth look into the status quo of their culture.
On a personal note, most of the characters leave much to be desired because of their antics and intentions towards each other. Some of the characters make amends and change their behavior, while others don’t. They have a twisted sense of justice or authority which causes more harm than good. Jealous and unfaithful lovers plot revenge against their significant other, characters use their faith to justify their horrible behaviors, and conflicting moral standards are used. My question here is, why didn’t the characters learn about forgiveness, mercy, and understanding?
A redeeming factor comes in the discussions characters have about their beliefs, and how society had shaped their way of thinking and behavior. These are relatable topics that exist in every culture. There were a lot of philosophies that were explored throughout the book, including the epilogue with the Hindu guru.
I will say that this book could be used as supplemental reading material in academic courses such as Philosophy, Religion, Anthropology, Social Sciences, and World Literature.
October 25, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels is a unique book for anyone who isn’t from a Middle Eastern background. This book explores the different lives of thirteen different people and their interwoven lives. From a woman’s struggles to find love in a society that doesn’t look kindly upon someone who is from poor upbrings and “cheap” struggling to let go of an old love to a billionaire’s son who tries to hide his same sex relationships. Each chapter puts you into a different character’s perspective allowing us to see how their society can oftentimes bind them. With the characters we explore a world of issues that they struggle with from finding and losing love, finding their identity in the world while also taking an in depth look into the status quo of their society. The characters can feel a little flat at times leaving much to be desired as the chapters are fairly short, not giving you time to get to know them well outside of the one issue that is being discussed.
I got the most in depth look into their world during their moments of reflection on their beliefs. It’s in these moments as an outsider to this culture that I can really begin to understand the internal struggles of these characters even more. As someone who is only getting a glimpse of Middle Eastern culture through this book, some of their struggles don’t make sense outside of context. With that aside, this is a good read and explored the lives of modern Muslim families, women’s sexuality while also the pain of being chained down by traditions and society. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to explore a world outside of their own or as supplemental reading to a class such as philosophy, world religions or social sciences.
I got the most in depth look into their world during their moments of reflection on their beliefs. It’s in these moments as an outsider to this culture that I can really begin to understand the internal struggles of these characters even more. As someone who is only getting a glimpse of Middle Eastern culture through this book, some of their struggles don’t make sense outside of context. With that aside, this is a good read and explored the lives of modern Muslim families, women’s sexuality while also the pain of being chained down by traditions and society. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to explore a world outside of their own or as supplemental reading to a class such as philosophy, world religions or social sciences.
January 18, 2019
Motor bikes and Camels by Nejoud Al-Yagout sounds interesting in the title alone. And the title does not stray from what the text brings. This book was definitely interesting to say the least. I did not know what to expect from reading this story, but I quickly found myself delving into this book deeper and deeper. First of all, I must say that the characters are amazing. I have never read a story where the characters feel so real, raw, and genuine before. I truly feel connected to these characters. And I think the author did a wonderful job piecing together and developing each character in a unique way with their own unique story with many complex details. This story touches on spiritual and cultural aspects while telling the story of Salma, Hussam, Mohammed, and Mike. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to any person interested in culture, especially of the Middle East and complex characters.
January 16, 2019
Motorbikes and Camels is an engaging read that seeks to balance the traditions, rituals, and culture of Kuwait as they collide with modern movements. Much of the focus of this book is on relationships and marriage. It touches on everything from homosexuality to parental relationships to sexual exploits to divorce. It was educational and motivational without being preachy, which was nice. Each chapter represents a different character's story, but all of them are woven together by various connections. Though different, many of the stories carried the same threads of love, sex, marriage, financial stability, and family/societal expectations that they were dealing with. The only thing I would have liked to see was a functional relationship in the mix, which I think would have really enhanced the ideas.
January 9, 2019
I didn’t really know what to expect when I first started reading “Motorbikes and Camels”. However, even from the very first page I found myself utterly enthralled with this incredible read. This is a telling tale of the lives of several very different individuals who all reside in the Middle East and find themselves faced with very pressing issues, particularly the life of a billionaire’s son who is struggling to keep his homosexual lifestyle under the radar of his father. If you are seeking a genuinely good read that is a far cry from your average story, this is going to be a great one for you.
April 21, 2019
I was a bit skeptical about whether I would like the book or not. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a page turner and I finished it in 3 sittings. It brings to surface serious social issues that are swept under the carpet in everyday life. It has a couple of mistakes but overall it was a good, lose track of time of, read.
October 3, 2018
‘You are a diamond, pure and lustrous, her mother warned her once. Don’t play in coal.’
Kuwaiti author/poet Nejoud Al-Yagout makes her literary debut with this fine book of stories MOTORBIKES AND CAMELS. Her articles and poems have been featured in Tikkun, Best Self Magazine, Women's Spiritual Poetry, The Master Shift, Thought Catalog, Arab Times, The Divan, Kuwait Times, Al Rai, Get Out Blog and Global Chatter Magazine. The founder of Co-Exist Kuwait, an initiative to bridge cultural, racial, ideological, social and financial divides in her country, she has also lived in Italy, UK, Pakistan, China and the UAE—her emphasis being that all are souls of the universe.
The provided synopsis quickly suggests the content – ‘Diverse characters. Diverse tales. Sometimes intertwining. There is Salma, facing a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in dogma; Hussam - a billionaire’s son who tries but fails to conceal his gay relationship; Mohammed, a bigamist, grasping tightly to antiquated patriarchal ideals at the expense of his love life; Mike, who adopts cultural appropriation to provide him with a stable foundation when his world collapses; and the remaining characters, one per chapter, revealing the impact of collective thought matrices on the individual and vice versa. Motorbikes and Camels is a timely book that begs the question, offered to the reader by author Al-Yagout, via one of the protagonists, Zayna: Am I who I am because of my culture?’
But fine and succinct as that synopsis it doesn’t begin to share the magical way Nejoud interweaves her stories among disparate characters and in doing so poses questions and philosophical discussions about the unity of life. An example form her Epilogue – ‘“And what about homosexuality? Why is it such an issue on the spiritual path?” Isaac spoke loudly. “Bachcha, we have made it into an issue by defining a person by his or her sexual inclinations. We are not physical bodies. We are souls. The sexual energy in us is here to manifest as creativity and self-realization. When in doubt about anything, ask the divine if any action or union is aligned to
love. I can guarantee if you ask God and are a sincere devotee, circumstances will pull you away from any action or individual that will thwart your ascension whether you are gay, straight, or whatever. Let us collectively stop defining people according to labels in the meantime.” “I think most people are afraid of homosexuality because of scripture.” “Love doesn’t punish. It is unconditional, welcoming, all-inclusive. Invite people to love. We are here to rise above the collective.”
Entertaining and stimulating, this is the work of a talented and wise new voice on the literary scene. She is one to watch.
Kuwaiti author/poet Nejoud Al-Yagout makes her literary debut with this fine book of stories MOTORBIKES AND CAMELS. Her articles and poems have been featured in Tikkun, Best Self Magazine, Women's Spiritual Poetry, The Master Shift, Thought Catalog, Arab Times, The Divan, Kuwait Times, Al Rai, Get Out Blog and Global Chatter Magazine. The founder of Co-Exist Kuwait, an initiative to bridge cultural, racial, ideological, social and financial divides in her country, she has also lived in Italy, UK, Pakistan, China and the UAE—her emphasis being that all are souls of the universe.
The provided synopsis quickly suggests the content – ‘Diverse characters. Diverse tales. Sometimes intertwining. There is Salma, facing a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in dogma; Hussam - a billionaire’s son who tries but fails to conceal his gay relationship; Mohammed, a bigamist, grasping tightly to antiquated patriarchal ideals at the expense of his love life; Mike, who adopts cultural appropriation to provide him with a stable foundation when his world collapses; and the remaining characters, one per chapter, revealing the impact of collective thought matrices on the individual and vice versa. Motorbikes and Camels is a timely book that begs the question, offered to the reader by author Al-Yagout, via one of the protagonists, Zayna: Am I who I am because of my culture?’
But fine and succinct as that synopsis it doesn’t begin to share the magical way Nejoud interweaves her stories among disparate characters and in doing so poses questions and philosophical discussions about the unity of life. An example form her Epilogue – ‘“And what about homosexuality? Why is it such an issue on the spiritual path?” Isaac spoke loudly. “Bachcha, we have made it into an issue by defining a person by his or her sexual inclinations. We are not physical bodies. We are souls. The sexual energy in us is here to manifest as creativity and self-realization. When in doubt about anything, ask the divine if any action or union is aligned to
love. I can guarantee if you ask God and are a sincere devotee, circumstances will pull you away from any action or individual that will thwart your ascension whether you are gay, straight, or whatever. Let us collectively stop defining people according to labels in the meantime.” “I think most people are afraid of homosexuality because of scripture.” “Love doesn’t punish. It is unconditional, welcoming, all-inclusive. Invite people to love. We are here to rise above the collective.”
Entertaining and stimulating, this is the work of a talented and wise new voice on the literary scene. She is one to watch.
October 10, 2018
Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite
I had the great pleasure and privilege of reading and reviewing Nejoud Al-Yagout’s collection of intensely perceptive and inspiring articles: Arise Here, Now. Recognizing at that time a literary marvel of a writer, I was most pleased and eager to read her new fictional work: Motorbikes and Camels. My original assessment stands: Nejoud Al-Yagout is a marvelous and perceptive writer. One of her most artful skills is to write extremely clean, concise sentences that reveal much more than the number of words used to create them. This is writing at its best. Not necessarily poetic in style, but certainly poetic in economy; in choosing a few specific, perfect words to convey an expanded world of meaning; done with such un-self-consciousness as to make the reader wonder how he knows so much from apparently so little said. Using this technique with masterful skill, Ms. Al-Yagout puts you firmly in the mind of one flimsy teenage girl, inside the head of one shallow privileged man, and makes you realize the issues they deal with are neither flimsy nor shallow.
There are additional characters, relationships, and issues featured in Nejoud Al-Yagout’s cultural-revealing gem, Motorbikes and Camels, interwoven and interlinked and voiced by each character’s own perspective in sequential turn, lending the viewpoint of a multi-prismed focus to an ancient society’s struggling transition from old to new, from ancestrally-scripted to modern freedom and indulgence. A complex brew of depth, discrepancy, and deeds, written with disarming simplicity by a skilled writer claiming her rightful place of preeminence in an over-burdened, over-populated field.
I had the great pleasure and privilege of reading and reviewing Nejoud Al-Yagout’s collection of intensely perceptive and inspiring articles: Arise Here, Now. Recognizing at that time a literary marvel of a writer, I was most pleased and eager to read her new fictional work: Motorbikes and Camels. My original assessment stands: Nejoud Al-Yagout is a marvelous and perceptive writer. One of her most artful skills is to write extremely clean, concise sentences that reveal much more than the number of words used to create them. This is writing at its best. Not necessarily poetic in style, but certainly poetic in economy; in choosing a few specific, perfect words to convey an expanded world of meaning; done with such un-self-consciousness as to make the reader wonder how he knows so much from apparently so little said. Using this technique with masterful skill, Ms. Al-Yagout puts you firmly in the mind of one flimsy teenage girl, inside the head of one shallow privileged man, and makes you realize the issues they deal with are neither flimsy nor shallow.
There are additional characters, relationships, and issues featured in Nejoud Al-Yagout’s cultural-revealing gem, Motorbikes and Camels, interwoven and interlinked and voiced by each character’s own perspective in sequential turn, lending the viewpoint of a multi-prismed focus to an ancient society’s struggling transition from old to new, from ancestrally-scripted to modern freedom and indulgence. A complex brew of depth, discrepancy, and deeds, written with disarming simplicity by a skilled writer claiming her rightful place of preeminence in an over-burdened, over-populated field.
December 12, 2018
Author Nejoud Al Yagout in her book "Motorbikes and Camels" depicts the essayist and poet's ability to write and engage you in her novel. Her writing spans many cultures since she lived in many different countries. Founder of C0-Exist Kuwait, a group that bridges socio-cultural, racist and financial divisions within her country.
Her characters though, complex and somehow "weird", are all interconnected while maintaining their individuality. Motorbikes and Camels is an excellent Novel, for a first-time author.
Each of her characters has a journey, throughout the chapter, Salma, from the first to the last chapter, conquered. The others, Maha and Bader's weird love story. The love triangle with the other 3 characters from different perspectives yet connected. Each so unique in their varying character, yet they all were victorious through their struggle even though their parts are somewhat questionable.
The struggle with sexuality, homosexuality within the modern family is real.
this novel is such a beautiful write, the author took her time with each character as not to confuse the reader. She should such finesse and has excellent storytelling skills.
Her characters though, complex and somehow "weird", are all interconnected while maintaining their individuality. Motorbikes and Camels is an excellent Novel, for a first-time author.
Each of her characters has a journey, throughout the chapter, Salma, from the first to the last chapter, conquered. The others, Maha and Bader's weird love story. The love triangle with the other 3 characters from different perspectives yet connected. Each so unique in their varying character, yet they all were victorious through their struggle even though their parts are somewhat questionable.
The struggle with sexuality, homosexuality within the modern family is real.
this novel is such a beautiful write, the author took her time with each character as not to confuse the reader. She should such finesse and has excellent storytelling skills.
December 4, 2018
I'm still in awe of what I just read, this book has it all, this is a book I'll always want to read, what a book! I've read it thrice already and I'm still yearning for more of it . It is one for the top shelf. The author did something marvelous in this book, it's nothing short of astounding -the genius it took to put a book like this together, I'm still in awe of it.
A novel consisting of diverse characters and diverse tales, which intertwines. There is Salma, facing a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in dogma; Hussam - a billionaire’s son who tries but fails to conceal his gay relationship; Mohammed, a bigamist, grasping tightly to antiquated patriarchal ideals at the expense of his love life; Mike, who adopts cultural appropriation to provide him with a stable foundation when his world collapses; and the remaining characters, one per chapter, revealing the impact of collective thought matrices on the individual and vice versa.
A novel consisting of diverse characters and diverse tales, which intertwines. There is Salma, facing a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in dogma; Hussam - a billionaire’s son who tries but fails to conceal his gay relationship; Mohammed, a bigamist, grasping tightly to antiquated patriarchal ideals at the expense of his love life; Mike, who adopts cultural appropriation to provide him with a stable foundation when his world collapses; and the remaining characters, one per chapter, revealing the impact of collective thought matrices on the individual and vice versa.
November 2, 2018
Thirteen lives, all interconnected (whether they know it or not), are about to be altered for good. Aisha just found out her incredibly rich husband is gay, while Salma is realizing her husband isn’t the man she thought he was. Meanwhile, Mike and Meshary are both stuck on a girl that left them and broke their hearts, but while one wants her back and is doing everything he can to prove he’s good enough for her, the other claims to have moved on but truly seeks revenge. Everyone wants something they can’t have, but some are willing to go further than others to get it. Each individual must decide how they’ll let their religion, their family, and their background affect their future, and if they have the courage to go after what they truly want in life.
Opinion:
I enjoyed the individual stories, the glimpses into each character’s life, and I loved how they were all connected. Sometimes you had to read the next story to figure out how the previous two fit together. However, sometimes I was left hanging. I would really like a character, but then their story would end, and I never got to see how their problems were resolved. Additionally, sometimes the narrative was incredibly abrupt. Conversations that would normally take hours were finished in a couple of lines. Many of the characters acted as though their actions had no consequences, but I did enjoy that in the next story you’d often see the consequences of the previous character’s actions. I greatly enjoyed being able to see the same event from multiple perspectives, and it really shows that life isn’t black and white; everyone is going through a different struggle, whether they show it or not.
I would recommend this book to mature readers who enjoy drama and thought-provoking novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Opinion:
I enjoyed the individual stories, the glimpses into each character’s life, and I loved how they were all connected. Sometimes you had to read the next story to figure out how the previous two fit together. However, sometimes I was left hanging. I would really like a character, but then their story would end, and I never got to see how their problems were resolved. Additionally, sometimes the narrative was incredibly abrupt. Conversations that would normally take hours were finished in a couple of lines. Many of the characters acted as though their actions had no consequences, but I did enjoy that in the next story you’d often see the consequences of the previous character’s actions. I greatly enjoyed being able to see the same event from multiple perspectives, and it really shows that life isn’t black and white; everyone is going through a different struggle, whether they show it or not.
I would recommend this book to mature readers who enjoy drama and thought-provoking novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 28, 2018There’s something especially intriguing about short stories, and something even more intriguing when this short stories are woven together to create a magic carpet that takes you to an intriguing place of cross cultural fantasy.
The stories of Salma, Hussam, Muhammad, and Mike will intrigue you and call into question our understanding of how people and their mother culture relate to one another.
If you’re a fan of modern day Middle Eastern fiction, like that of Salman Rushdie (The Satanic Verses and Midnight’s Children), or even just narratives that give frank looks at the real life workings of a cultural group (like Eddie Huang’s Fresh off the Boat) you’ll be sure to enjoy Nejoud Al-Yagout’s masterpiece, Motorbikes and Camels...an entertaining work of cultural storytelling that will leave you wondering: do the clothes make the man? Or does the man make the clothes?
Like Shaherezade’s storytelling in the 1001 Arabian Nights, the entwined vignettes of this book, with characters who cross paths and destinies, will keep you reading.
The stories of Salma, Hussam, Muhammad, and Mike will intrigue you and call into question our understanding of how people and their mother culture relate to one another.
If you’re a fan of modern day Middle Eastern fiction, like that of Salman Rushdie (The Satanic Verses and Midnight’s Children), or even just narratives that give frank looks at the real life workings of a cultural group (like Eddie Huang’s Fresh off the Boat) you’ll be sure to enjoy Nejoud Al-Yagout’s masterpiece, Motorbikes and Camels...an entertaining work of cultural storytelling that will leave you wondering: do the clothes make the man? Or does the man make the clothes?
Like Shaherezade’s storytelling in the 1001 Arabian Nights, the entwined vignettes of this book, with characters who cross paths and destinies, will keep you reading.
December 1, 2018
A story in which the phrase "through the eyes of the beholder" could not be more apt, Motorbikes and Camels is a short novel that would be enjoyed by readers with a liking for realistic fiction, romance, and culture.
The novel begins with the story of Salma, a young girl who craves romance in a culture where her mother believes in wearing a hijab and arranged marriage. Salma must tip-toe the fine line between who her family and culture believe she should be and the person she wants to become. Soon Salma's story becomes that of her husband, and then his ex-lover, and then her old friend, and so forth in a connected circle. Each character brings another viewpoint and another immersion into the lives and world created by Nejoud Al-Yagout.
The way Salma's story spiderwebs out into the lives of the other characters is perfectly rendered. You get an insider view into how characters affect or are affected by each other -- often by spinning backward in time a few days, months, or even years to give credence to the choices the characters make. Each chapter ends on a small cliffhanger or question mark that is answered in a following chapter, but not always in the way you would expect. This connected-character story telling is very intriguing and leaves the reader craving to know what is going to happen to each character or how they got to where they are now.
Mature young adults through adults would enjoy reading this novel.
The novel begins with the story of Salma, a young girl who craves romance in a culture where her mother believes in wearing a hijab and arranged marriage. Salma must tip-toe the fine line between who her family and culture believe she should be and the person she wants to become. Soon Salma's story becomes that of her husband, and then his ex-lover, and then her old friend, and so forth in a connected circle. Each character brings another viewpoint and another immersion into the lives and world created by Nejoud Al-Yagout.
The way Salma's story spiderwebs out into the lives of the other characters is perfectly rendered. You get an insider view into how characters affect or are affected by each other -- often by spinning backward in time a few days, months, or even years to give credence to the choices the characters make. Each chapter ends on a small cliffhanger or question mark that is answered in a following chapter, but not always in the way you would expect. This connected-character story telling is very intriguing and leaves the reader craving to know what is going to happen to each character or how they got to where they are now.
Mature young adults through adults would enjoy reading this novel.
November 26, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels by Nejoud Al-Yagout it is a book about reality inside the Muslim community, about how on one hand religion said things have to be and in the other hand how young people try to live their lives to that expectations but fail into just being human and making “mistakes” exactly because they are. The book is structured in different stories where one follows the next in an easy way and where the author lets us feel the problematic life these characters live because of the cultural and religious beliefs. The book is well written, with different rhythms depending on the story you are reading, the characters are well described, same as their problems and is easy to feel their problems and relate to them in that way. It is an interesting sequence of plots reunited by the same search for happiness in different ways.
Good read
Good read
November 8, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels is an inspiring novel by Nejoud Al-Yagout that reflects on the weight of the society upon our individual choices, even if we don’t notice.
Constructed in a beautiful way, the narrative showcases the life of different characters and how they all let themselves limit by what society expects them to do. In the pursuit to be accepted, they forget to be true to themselves and to look for their happiness, in their own terms. The stories are connected in a very nice way, not leaving a feeling of gap or disconnection between them. It ends up being more than just a book about characters: it is more a reflection on our own lives and choices, regardless of where we live in the world, and how much of who we are is constrained by others and our need to meet their expectations. A really thoughtful book.
Constructed in a beautiful way, the narrative showcases the life of different characters and how they all let themselves limit by what society expects them to do. In the pursuit to be accepted, they forget to be true to themselves and to look for their happiness, in their own terms. The stories are connected in a very nice way, not leaving a feeling of gap or disconnection between them. It ends up being more than just a book about characters: it is more a reflection on our own lives and choices, regardless of where we live in the world, and how much of who we are is constrained by others and our need to meet their expectations. A really thoughtful book.
November 19, 2018
This book is incredibly spot on – it’s a collection of stories that are interconnected into one novel, Motorbikes and Camels by Nejoud Al-Yagout. The author takes the hard road by looking at the deepest, flawed parts of the Muslim religion and how its tenets can be confusing for 21st-century young men and women. From dealing with issues like arranged marriages that still exist, even today, to how to handle being different when your religion views things like homosexuality and alcoholism as bad, this book skims the surface of multiple people’s lives while making the reader take a deeper look. The thing is, it could be about more than just the Muslim religion, though – we all are going through troubles that are more than skin deep, so whatever your religion or non-religion, this book is a great way to remind you to take a second look before you judge someone.
November 27, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels from author Nejoud Al-Yagout is a beautiful examination of cultural and how it shapes us as a society and as individuals. This book takes a look at the reality of young Muslims through the perspectives of several different characters. They all have secrets. They all have guilt and shame. They all exist within the bounds of Islam. It’s truly a fascinating look at the intersection of millennial and Muslim culture. It’s also just such a thoughtful and honest portrayal that I think is underrepresented in media today.
November 28, 2018
This novel by Nejoud Al-Yagout tells the tale of a few different people as they try to figure out certain problems in their life. You’ll read of characters like Salma who is trying to dive deeper into her spiritual life, and Hussam, the son of a billionaire who is trying to hide his gay relationship. All of these characters lead separate lives, but eventually they meet together as their problems coincide
If you’re looking for a deep novel, this is perfect for you. Al-Yagout writes with a great style that will have you quickly flipping through the pages to find out what happens next. Better yet, the characters are well-developed and will take you through various problems and circumstances that can help you to expand your mind more on certain topics. At 282 pages, it might be a little bit of a long read for some, but it’s certainly worth investing time into.
If you’re looking for a deep novel, this is perfect for you. Al-Yagout writes with a great style that will have you quickly flipping through the pages to find out what happens next. Better yet, the characters are well-developed and will take you through various problems and circumstances that can help you to expand your mind more on certain topics. At 282 pages, it might be a little bit of a long read for some, but it’s certainly worth investing time into.
November 2, 2018
A thoughtful and interesting connections of stories
This was a very entertaining and interesting story about people and how different cultures influence lifestyle and choices that we make as individuals. Each chapter is a story of someone new that in someway will connect to other characters from other chapters. As you meet each if these people, you discover the different quirks that represent the individual and can see how culture and religion affect the decision making process. I was intrigued with the stories and drawn into the characters lives and influences involved in individual choices. I recommend this one to anyone looking for a good story with real life type connections and relatability. Check this one out, you won't be disappointed.
This was a very entertaining and interesting story about people and how different cultures influence lifestyle and choices that we make as individuals. Each chapter is a story of someone new that in someway will connect to other characters from other chapters. As you meet each if these people, you discover the different quirks that represent the individual and can see how culture and religion affect the decision making process. I was intrigued with the stories and drawn into the characters lives and influences involved in individual choices. I recommend this one to anyone looking for a good story with real life type connections and relatability. Check this one out, you won't be disappointed.
December 11, 2018
This is not just a novel, nor is it a collection of short stories, but something that masters both genres in a way that literally reaches out and grabs the reader by the heart, and the mind. Motorbikes and Camels by author Nejoud Al-Yagout is a new type of book. The author has created remarkable characters, and each one has a story to share that will matter to every reader. But, each story and each character is not separate, they each intertwine with the others in a way that is seamless and thought provoking. What's even more impactful, is that every story is one that is important in today's society.
October 20, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels ISBN: 9781944733995 Luminare Press, an e book by Nejoud Al-Yagout.
Plot: The story opens with Salma, a young girl who like others of her faith, has gained her knowledge of the opposite sex and romance secretly from magazines and/or TV. She believes she is in love with Khaled. However he loves Saadia. The reader then meets Maha who is enchanted with Bader but then meets somewhat older Ahmed and leaves Bader only to find Ahmed is not sure he wishes to marry so she returns to Bader whom she eventually marries. The ‘coming-of-age’ portion of the tale expands and continues on through the years following Selma, her friend Aisha who marries Hussam with whom she has a child only to discover her husband’s true love is a male. Aisha then has another partner, Meshary and the reader continues to be introduced to a number of other ‘disturbed’ individuals including the father Mohammed, a strongly ‘old school’ Muslim whose wife Zayna insists upon a divorce when he , as permitted, takes Lina, a second wife. She then becomes involved with Mike, an expatriate school teacher and the tale continues being told with many of the chapters devoted to the thinking and action of each character, often directly after the chapter explaining the situation that has involved the pair. Parenthetically a format that provides a degree of repetition.
Discussion: In spite of the above description of complex but simplistically superficial appearing interrelationships engaged in most frequently by essentially naive individuals, the author has set forth a fascinating examination of the compelling situations that develop when modern concepts collide with long held strongly followed religious edicts, traditional teachings and societal influences of cast, monetary distinction, and similar factors. The Kuwaiti author has explored the basis, as well as reaction to both bi- and same sex relationships, definitions of certain aspects of the Muslim faith, teachings of the Koran, Sharia Law and existing traditional as well as less traditional interpretations and practices. This reader found a number of descriptions and/or statements especially interesting and an aspect of homosexuality intriguingly only provided in one usually preferred manner. An epilogue further extends the author’s thoughts.
Summary: A thought producing presentation of numerous complex issues arising from modern life’s entanglement with long held, but variously interpreted, aspects of the Muslim Faith and how they might interact in the lives of various individuals.
4* A look at modern life’s interplay with traditional Muslims beliefs.
Plot: The story opens with Salma, a young girl who like others of her faith, has gained her knowledge of the opposite sex and romance secretly from magazines and/or TV. She believes she is in love with Khaled. However he loves Saadia. The reader then meets Maha who is enchanted with Bader but then meets somewhat older Ahmed and leaves Bader only to find Ahmed is not sure he wishes to marry so she returns to Bader whom she eventually marries. The ‘coming-of-age’ portion of the tale expands and continues on through the years following Selma, her friend Aisha who marries Hussam with whom she has a child only to discover her husband’s true love is a male. Aisha then has another partner, Meshary and the reader continues to be introduced to a number of other ‘disturbed’ individuals including the father Mohammed, a strongly ‘old school’ Muslim whose wife Zayna insists upon a divorce when he , as permitted, takes Lina, a second wife. She then becomes involved with Mike, an expatriate school teacher and the tale continues being told with many of the chapters devoted to the thinking and action of each character, often directly after the chapter explaining the situation that has involved the pair. Parenthetically a format that provides a degree of repetition.
Discussion: In spite of the above description of complex but simplistically superficial appearing interrelationships engaged in most frequently by essentially naive individuals, the author has set forth a fascinating examination of the compelling situations that develop when modern concepts collide with long held strongly followed religious edicts, traditional teachings and societal influences of cast, monetary distinction, and similar factors. The Kuwaiti author has explored the basis, as well as reaction to both bi- and same sex relationships, definitions of certain aspects of the Muslim faith, teachings of the Koran, Sharia Law and existing traditional as well as less traditional interpretations and practices. This reader found a number of descriptions and/or statements especially interesting and an aspect of homosexuality intriguingly only provided in one usually preferred manner. An epilogue further extends the author’s thoughts.
Summary: A thought producing presentation of numerous complex issues arising from modern life’s entanglement with long held, but variously interpreted, aspects of the Muslim Faith and how they might interact in the lives of various individuals.
4* A look at modern life’s interplay with traditional Muslims beliefs.
November 2, 2018
Nejoud Al-Yagout’s "Motorbikes and Camels" is probably one of my favourite books that I have read so far this year. It follows the inter-linking lives of several characters as they navigate through the balance of societal expectations, romance, and lust, offering an in-depth look into their individual perspectives and their internal rational for their actions.
Each chapter follows a different character who, somewhere along the chain, is linked to each of the others. They may be an auntie, an ex, or a best friend, but the author weaves their stories in with one another with great skill. Each character has a clear point of view, aligning them consciously or unconsciously with others and yet creating great conflict at the same time. By the final chapters, the inter-mingled web of their lives is laid out and the reader is free to reflect on how characters who never interact directly have influenced one another. It's fascinating and thoroughly thought-provoking at the same time.
The weaving lives of the characters allows the Al-Yagout to explore how society and culture shape our thoughts and actions. Each perspective showed differing interpretations of religious, societal, or cultural expectations and the differing viewpoints allowed for an understanding of all the characters. The in-depth examination of each character, their world, their influences, makes it one of those books that is almost impossible to put down.
The novel is not without its flaws, of course, as it is heavily reliant on dialogue - there is hardly anything but dialogue - and the snapshot nature of the chapter structure means that the story doesn't have the traditional, rounded-out ending. This does, however, work well with the idea of inter-woven lives not realising how they have impacted someone else's story. And, if I was nitpicking, I would ignore the Epilogue entirely as, while it does provide a clear conclusion, it drifts into a more preachy stance that the rest of the novel had managed to navigate well through the use of character perspectives.
Overall though, "Motorbikes and Camels" is an insightful and interesting novel, with very different and carefully crafted characters dealing with many of the same societal pressures. Well-woven and truly fascinating.
Each chapter follows a different character who, somewhere along the chain, is linked to each of the others. They may be an auntie, an ex, or a best friend, but the author weaves their stories in with one another with great skill. Each character has a clear point of view, aligning them consciously or unconsciously with others and yet creating great conflict at the same time. By the final chapters, the inter-mingled web of their lives is laid out and the reader is free to reflect on how characters who never interact directly have influenced one another. It's fascinating and thoroughly thought-provoking at the same time.
The weaving lives of the characters allows the Al-Yagout to explore how society and culture shape our thoughts and actions. Each perspective showed differing interpretations of religious, societal, or cultural expectations and the differing viewpoints allowed for an understanding of all the characters. The in-depth examination of each character, their world, their influences, makes it one of those books that is almost impossible to put down.
The novel is not without its flaws, of course, as it is heavily reliant on dialogue - there is hardly anything but dialogue - and the snapshot nature of the chapter structure means that the story doesn't have the traditional, rounded-out ending. This does, however, work well with the idea of inter-woven lives not realising how they have impacted someone else's story. And, if I was nitpicking, I would ignore the Epilogue entirely as, while it does provide a clear conclusion, it drifts into a more preachy stance that the rest of the novel had managed to navigate well through the use of character perspectives.
Overall though, "Motorbikes and Camels" is an insightful and interesting novel, with very different and carefully crafted characters dealing with many of the same societal pressures. Well-woven and truly fascinating.
October 19, 2018
Complex characters, complex lives woven in wonderful stories all seemingly interconnected yet maintaining their individuality. Motorbikes and Camels is a beautiful novel written by first-time author Nejoud Al-Yagout.
One begins and ends the novel with Salma but it is intertwined with the stories of other interesting characters. There is Aisha, an outspoken feminist who is leading a double life, Maha and Bader’s complicated love story, Khaled, Sadia’s and Dakhel’s love triangle, Hussam’s secret and many other stories. As you turn the pages, you start understanding the different dimensions that make these characters so unique. Each chapter begins with a quote, my favourite being “There’s nothing in writing. It’s all in the heart. Ahimla Gunwalla
As you turn the pages, you realize that each chapter is the journey of life of a character and their perspectives. Their lives are interspersed with so many emotions. You weep when Saadia is in pain, you empathize with Salma and root for Maha and Bader.
Every character’s struggles and triumphs raise important questions for you to ponder. What is spirituality? Can you be detached and yet truly love someone? Is money more important than love?
The novel talk about ‘modern’ families, a woman’s sexuality, the pain of being caged by traditions when your heart belongs to someone else, homosexuality and most importantly, how patriarchy still casts a shadow in the lives of those who seek to break away from it.
I particularly loved Hussam and Salma’s portrayal; they are two characters who seemed to fight the toughest battles. Zayna’s story was heart-breaking. You cheer her on as she exacts her revenge and walks away from her gilded cage.
One would think that so many characters would make the novel a bit confusing. It was initially difficult to keep track but as you continue reading the book, the story becomes clearer. Nejoud is a terrific writer and this is an excellent debut novel. She has tackled a range of issues through her simple yet effective storytelling.
One begins and ends the novel with Salma but it is intertwined with the stories of other interesting characters. There is Aisha, an outspoken feminist who is leading a double life, Maha and Bader’s complicated love story, Khaled, Sadia’s and Dakhel’s love triangle, Hussam’s secret and many other stories. As you turn the pages, you start understanding the different dimensions that make these characters so unique. Each chapter begins with a quote, my favourite being “There’s nothing in writing. It’s all in the heart. Ahimla Gunwalla
As you turn the pages, you realize that each chapter is the journey of life of a character and their perspectives. Their lives are interspersed with so many emotions. You weep when Saadia is in pain, you empathize with Salma and root for Maha and Bader.
Every character’s struggles and triumphs raise important questions for you to ponder. What is spirituality? Can you be detached and yet truly love someone? Is money more important than love?
The novel talk about ‘modern’ families, a woman’s sexuality, the pain of being caged by traditions when your heart belongs to someone else, homosexuality and most importantly, how patriarchy still casts a shadow in the lives of those who seek to break away from it.
I particularly loved Hussam and Salma’s portrayal; they are two characters who seemed to fight the toughest battles. Zayna’s story was heart-breaking. You cheer her on as she exacts her revenge and walks away from her gilded cage.
One would think that so many characters would make the novel a bit confusing. It was initially difficult to keep track but as you continue reading the book, the story becomes clearer. Nejoud is a terrific writer and this is an excellent debut novel. She has tackled a range of issues through her simple yet effective storytelling.
October 22, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels is an intertwining of tales that holds your interest from the very beginning. The separate stories link together perfectly. Each character is unique in their own way which adds to the uniqueness in this blending of lives. This novel relates to modern day families, traditions, a woman’s sexuality along with homosexuality, and double standards. The author brings all of these issues together in a unique voice and plot.
The characters are extremely diverse. First of all, there is Salma who is currently in a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in doctrine. Hissam is the son of a billionaire who continues to try to conceal his gay relationship. Then, there is Muhammed who is a bigamist who clings to antiquated ideals, sometimes at the expense of his own love life. Finally, there is Mike who portrays a stable foundation until his world collapses. The characters are revealed in separate chapters which fuse together at the end. This book makes the reader think about the influences that our own cultures have on our way of thinking and acting in society.
The characters in this book, although different from most people we associate with, are very believable and profound in the real world. The book will have you asking real questions as you experience a life very unique from your own. The interwoven stories bring these characters a voice that is poignant yet entertaining. Motorbikes and Camels is a page turner and you are drawn into these unusual characters and think deeply about their cultures and how your own culture makes you who you are. You will not put this book down until each character’s dilemma comes to a climatic turn. Kudos to a great first novel by Nejoud Al-Yagout.
The characters are extremely diverse. First of all, there is Salma who is currently in a spiritual crisis in a country steeped in doctrine. Hissam is the son of a billionaire who continues to try to conceal his gay relationship. Then, there is Muhammed who is a bigamist who clings to antiquated ideals, sometimes at the expense of his own love life. Finally, there is Mike who portrays a stable foundation until his world collapses. The characters are revealed in separate chapters which fuse together at the end. This book makes the reader think about the influences that our own cultures have on our way of thinking and acting in society.
The characters in this book, although different from most people we associate with, are very believable and profound in the real world. The book will have you asking real questions as you experience a life very unique from your own. The interwoven stories bring these characters a voice that is poignant yet entertaining. Motorbikes and Camels is a page turner and you are drawn into these unusual characters and think deeply about their cultures and how your own culture makes you who you are. You will not put this book down until each character’s dilemma comes to a climatic turn. Kudos to a great first novel by Nejoud Al-Yagout.
October 17, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels starts off in a Muslim country in the modern era. I especially like the way that the author is nonjudgmental of the subject, and how she creates a solid atmosphere that is both inviting and interesting. There were many things in here that I expected about Muslim life, but didn't know. The book starts off talking about all of the "bad girls" and how Salma (the protagonist) steers clear of them. It was very entertaining in that, while she's not a "bad girl", she's not a saint either. So there is plenty of learning going on through the story. Salma gets into trouble with her mother because she watches romance DVDs. These were not pornographic, mind you, but it was a Muslim country and that religion tends to be a lot for strict when it comes to chastity, at least for women, that is. Anyway, she argues with her mother and her mother hits her for the first time. I didn't respond the right way when it said that she had never hit her child before. That's because I come from America and we hit our kids real hard over here. At least I got hit. Can't speak for anyone else. Next, it talks about Aisha, Salma's friend. This is the part where I really started to fall in love with the story. Aisha is belly-dancing at a party (yes, belly dancing) when she is noticed by a boy's mother. The arranged marriage soon follows. I like the idea of a belly dance being a sign of a good mate. Even though I can see the folly in it, it's still a very...visceral approach. Later, Salma and Aisha are talking about Bader. Salma says "Sex" real loud. It took me a while to understand why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels by Nejoud Al-Yagout is a contemporary fiction novel centered around family expectations in an Arab country. The story starts out following Salma as she begins university, and details her various relationships until she ends up with Khaled. They enter into marriage with each other because it was what was expected by their families, but they are unhappy together because they both have lingering feelings for other people. The marriage ends in divorce, and the story branches out to focus on other characters, beginning with the people Khaled and Salma had relationships with prior to their marriage. And then the book continues on from there, following other characters.
This book follows a very unique format, with each chapter told from the point of view of a different character (fourteen characters in total, including the epilogue). This gives the reader additional insights to the characters' thoughts and feelings by telling the story from so many varying perspectives, both native and foreign.
Most of the characters are not very likeable, coming across as selfish, thinking only of themselves and material things. Many acted spitefully and were focused on revenge against people they professed to love. A few of them redeemed themselves somewhat, later in the story, and there were a couple characters who were more caring and compassionate.
The ending of the book seemed a bit abrupt, and a lot of loose ends were left dangling, leaving the reader to wonder what might have happened next for many of the characters. Only a few seemed to end up happy or content with their lives.
This book follows a very unique format, with each chapter told from the point of view of a different character (fourteen characters in total, including the epilogue). This gives the reader additional insights to the characters' thoughts and feelings by telling the story from so many varying perspectives, both native and foreign.
Most of the characters are not very likeable, coming across as selfish, thinking only of themselves and material things. Many acted spitefully and were focused on revenge against people they professed to love. A few of them redeemed themselves somewhat, later in the story, and there were a couple characters who were more caring and compassionate.
The ending of the book seemed a bit abrupt, and a lot of loose ends were left dangling, leaving the reader to wonder what might have happened next for many of the characters. Only a few seemed to end up happy or content with their lives.
October 28, 2018
Motorbikes and Camels is unlike any book I’ve ever read before. It takes place in an unnamed Muslim country - I assume perhaps Kuwait, from where the author, Nejoud Al-Yagout hails. I’ve been told that such countries are very religious, traditional, and restrained compared to life here in America. But in this book, the author focuses on the sexual curiosities and exploits of the characters. I thought that such things didn’t go on in that part of the world! It seems as if modern times have affected these places and things there are changing. Different characters have different moral compasses. The book’s themes center on religion, values, personal choices, love - it is interesting how the various character interact and affect each other. Each chapter is narrated by a different character. You may read about one character from the perspective of another, formulating opinions about their actions. In the next chapter, you may read it from the perspective of the second character, and realize that their actions were motivated by things that the first character hadn’t known about. I feel that the author has some interesting thoughts that she wants to explore and share with the world, but I think she needs to work more on developing the characters and her themes. Some of the moments in the book felt a bit shallow and left me wishing she had dug a little deeper. However, I enjoyed the chance to read about a part of the world I’m not familiar with, and delve into the lives of characters whose lives are very different from my own.
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