Introduction

A novel consisting of diverse characters and 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?

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Excerpt

Dhari was not religious at all. He told Hussam he couldn’t be a part of anything that ostracized people. With Dhari’s influence, even Hussam’s views evolved. Hussam tried to share his newfound interpretation regarding the verses, and how they applied to heterosexual men with extreme lust who raped men even though they were not attracted to them. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1) What does the title Motorbikes and Camels entail?

2) One of the protagonists, Zayna asks: Am I who I am because of my culture.

Have you ever wondered who you are beneath the parameters of your culture, religion, gender, family? If so, which influenced you the most and how would you be different if you were born in another parameter?

3) Who are some of the characters who have gone astray because of societal constraints?

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