That Other Me By Maha Gargash, Fjord’s Review 2016
“After her successful debut novel The Sandfish (2009) Maha Gargash once again returns to Dubai, but in the in the 1990’s traveling between Dubai and Cairo to explore the dangers of wealth’s seduction.
That Other Me is a tragic tale of how wealth, secrets, and betrayal contribute to the collapse of a prestigious Emirati family. Unable to resist the allure of wealth the current head of the Nassemy family, Majed, stole his dead brother’s company for his own and now he is one of the richest businessmen in Dubai. However, his wealth has led him to being unfaithful to his wife, Aisha. Majed secretly marries another woman, Zohra and hides this fact from his family. As a result of Majed’s betrayal to his brother, his niece, Mariam, is deprived of her rights, loses her father and is sent to study abroad in Cairo. Although dutiful, she hopes that a college education will her allow her to escape her uncle’s controlling grip. Due to Majed’s secrets, his rebellious daughter from the second secret marriage, Dalal, becomes grossly neglected by her father. Therefore she feels she has a lot to prove and she strives to become a singer despite the fact it will humiliate her family…read more