That Other Me

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Sand Fish, an exhilarating look at Khaleeji (Gulf-Arab) culture that explores the way secrets and betrayal consume three members of a prominent Emirati family The head of the Naseemy family, Majed, is proud to be one of the wealthiest businessmen in Dubai. But he's suddenly plagued by nightmares about the dead brother whose business he stole, and he feels his control erode with the discovery that his niece and daughter are defying his orders. Mariam concentrates on her college education in Cairo, carving a path that will lead her away from her hated uncle's controlling grip. But she falls for a brash fellow student named Adel, who might just prove to be her downfall. Meanwhile the rebellious Dalal, largely abandoned by Majed as the daughter of a second, secret marriage, strives to become a singer. It's a career looked down on in Khaleeji societies, and one she is rightfully certain will humiliate her father. As Majed increasingly tries to exert his authority over Dalal and Mariam, both girls resist, with explosive consequences. Set against the backdrop of the glamorous world of Arab showbiz, That Other Me explores the ties that bind one corroded family... and the tantalizing possibility of freedom.

Maha Gargash, an Emirati born in Dubai to a prominent business family, has studied in Washington, D.C., and London. With her degree in radio/television, she joined Dubai Television to pursue her interest in documentaries. Through directing her television programs, which deal mainly with traditional Arab societies, she became involved in research and scriptwriting. Her first novel, The Sand Fish, was an international bestseller.