Review: A look at love from a different culture
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 9, 2012
Love Comes Later takes an in depth look at the process of marriage in South Asian cultures, specifically Qatar. For someone born and raised in a North American culture this was an interesting step away from all that I knew and was familiar with regarding marriage, engagement, and love. Obviously I am aware of arranged marriages and that they do still exist in certain cultures but Qatar has a much different process than I had ever encountered.The three main characters Abdulla, Hind, and Sangita have all been raised knowing there are certain expectations to be met regarding marriage. Abdulla has an arranged marriage to Fatima but when she tragically dies in an accident he is once again expected to get married and provide grandchildren (preferably sons since sons are the only ones who are given Qatari citizenship). Abdulla puts off the family for as long as he can but is eventually contracted to marry his cousin Hind.Hind understands her role but she chafes at the idea of marriage and having no freedom. She would like to marry for love. She would also like to travel and work abroad. While she agrees to the contract with Abdulla she sets a condition: she must be allowed to live in England and obtain an advanced degree before settling down into the marriage with him.Sangita is Hind's roommate in England. She was born in India but raised in America so while she has a similar background as Hind when it comes to cultural expectations regarding marriage she has been given a bit more leeway. Her parents still ultimately feel they should do the choosing for her husband while Sangita would like to have her own choice.I found it interesting that in Qatar once a couple signs the contract they are in effect "married" without having a ceremony.  The entire year Abdulla and Hind are separated they are in fact man and wife despite never consummating the marriage or spending more than a few moments together, none of it really alone.While Hind is in England she meets Sangita's brother Ravi and impulsively goes on a trip to India with him. This rebellious act, if discovered by her family could ruin her. A woman never travels without a proper chaperone. While Hind is gone, Abdulla shows up for an unexpected visit and Sangita must try to cover for her best friend. Due to circumstances, Sangita and Abdulla spend more time together and realize there is a romantic spark between them.Sangita takes the biggest risk as she is potentially ruining her relationship with her best friend and perhaps risking losing everything. There is always the possibility that Abdulla won't go through with marrying her, a foreigner and outsider. Or he might not get permission from the ministry that issues licenses to marry foreigners. Or, his family may never approve, ostracizing them both. I really liked the determination and strength of this character. She knew what she wanted and was willing to fight to get exactly what she desired.Neither Abdulla nor Hind wish to be married to each other but neither vocalizes this desire. I didn't have much respect for either character for the way they dealt with their respective families. While I understand it's not always easy to buck tradition and forge your own path, especially in a much regimented male-dominated society such as Qatar I would have appreciated a bit more energy from them. Abdulla does eventually make his choice known and ends his marriage with Hind. Even though Hind is getting exactly what she wants (freedom from her marriage) she still reverts to a spurned woman mentality and behaves as if this is not what she wishes.All three are linked by the cultural expectations forced upon them and all three wish in some way to rebel against this expectation. In the end all they want is happiness. Do they get it? I'll let you read the story yourself to find out.4 out of 5 starsI recieved a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.