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The Migrant Report
The penalty for stealing is losing your hand. No wonder Ali can leave his wallet overnight in his office. Yet crime hovers on the fringes of society, under the veneer of utopia.
Police captain Ali's hopes of joining the elite government forces are dashed when his childhood deformity is discovered. His demotion brings him face to face with the corruption of labor agencies and also Maryam, an aspiring journalism student, who is unlike any local girl he has ever met.
Ali and his unlikely sidekick must work together to find the reason so many laborers are dying. Against the glittery backdrop of the oil rich Arabian Gulf, Ali pursues a corrupt agency that will stop at nothing to keep their profits rising. As the body count rises, so does the pressure to settle the source. Can Ali settle the score before the agency strikes again?
Police captain Ali's hopes of joining the elite government forces are dashed when his childhood deformity is discovered. His demotion brings him face to face with the corruption of labor agencies and also Maryam, an aspiring journalism student, who is unlike any local girl he has ever met.
Ali and his unlikely sidekick must work together to find the reason so many laborers are dying. Against the glittery backdrop of the oil rich Arabian Gulf, Ali pursues a corrupt agency that will stop at nothing to keep their profits rising. As the body count rises, so does the pressure to settle the source. Can Ali settle the score before the agency strikes again?
264 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2015
18 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
32 books330 followersMohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American novelist, educator, and scholar who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Her coming of age novel, An Unlikely Goddess, won the SheWrites New Novelist competition in 2011.
Her recent books have focused on various aspects of life in Qatar. From Dunes to Dior, named as a Best Indie book in 2013, is a collection of essays related to her experiences as a living in the Arabian Gulf. Love Comes Later was the winner of the Best Indie Book Award for Romance in 2013 and is a literary romance set in Qatar and London.
The Domestics is an inside look into compound life, the day-to-day dynamics between housemaids and their employers. Learn more about her work on her website at www.mohadoha.com or follow her latest on Twitter: @moha_doha.
Her recent books have focused on various aspects of life in Qatar. From Dunes to Dior, named as a Best Indie book in 2013, is a collection of essays related to her experiences as a living in the Arabian Gulf. Love Comes Later was the winner of the Best Indie Book Award for Romance in 2013 and is a literary romance set in Qatar and London.
The Domestics is an inside look into compound life, the day-to-day dynamics between housemaids and their employers. Learn more about her work on her website at www.mohadoha.com or follow her latest on Twitter: @moha_doha.
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December 14, 2015Today I’d like to tell you about a book that I think the world really needs to read. Sure, you could read it for the beautiful, flowing prose and vivid descriptions, for the memorable and lifelike characters, for the exciting plot–but there’s so much more to The Migrant Report than that.
The Migrant Report by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar tells its tale in a beautiful tapestry of interwoven stories from characters living in a tiny, affluent Middle Eastern country that many of us probably never think about in the course of our day-to-day lives. The story unfolds by giving a series of snapshots of various key players whose lives are touched by the sinister greed of “The Agency.”
There were characters I could easily relate to like Cindy, the immigrant Western woman living a cushy life as a professor’s wife; or Maryam, the university student trying so hard to prove her worth beyond that of the power and wealth she inherited from her family. Then there’s Manu and Ali, characters’ whose lives I can’t even begin to fathom outside of the context of the story–a poor Nepali immigrant arriving in the emirate for a low-level job with the Agency in hopes of improving the lives of his family back home, and a cop whose physical deformity is judged harshly and unduly impacts his career.
We meet these characters and others, all of whom are simply trying to prove themselves, to be better than they were yesterday, to not be held back by society’s expectations of them. Whether that’s due to their immigrant status, their gender, nationality, or education–they all have something in common beyond the events of the story.
What struck me most while reading is how different–yet, at the same time, how familiar–each of their lives seemed to me, a middle class American woman also trying to prove myself in my own unique ways. The setting is different, the customs are different, but the basic humanness is the same. Yes, some of these characters are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are immigrants seeking a better life than the one they left behind. But in the end they are just people doing the best they can while the powerful Agency, concerned only of its bottom line, squeezes whatever it can from each of them–in some cases their lives.
Beautiful, thrilling, and above all relatable, The Migrant Report is a must-read for anyone who needs to be reminded that in the end–Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Atheist–we are all ultimately just people doing the best that we can.
The Migrant Report by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar tells its tale in a beautiful tapestry of interwoven stories from characters living in a tiny, affluent Middle Eastern country that many of us probably never think about in the course of our day-to-day lives. The story unfolds by giving a series of snapshots of various key players whose lives are touched by the sinister greed of “The Agency.”
There were characters I could easily relate to like Cindy, the immigrant Western woman living a cushy life as a professor’s wife; or Maryam, the university student trying so hard to prove her worth beyond that of the power and wealth she inherited from her family. Then there’s Manu and Ali, characters’ whose lives I can’t even begin to fathom outside of the context of the story–a poor Nepali immigrant arriving in the emirate for a low-level job with the Agency in hopes of improving the lives of his family back home, and a cop whose physical deformity is judged harshly and unduly impacts his career.
We meet these characters and others, all of whom are simply trying to prove themselves, to be better than they were yesterday, to not be held back by society’s expectations of them. Whether that’s due to their immigrant status, their gender, nationality, or education–they all have something in common beyond the events of the story.
What struck me most while reading is how different–yet, at the same time, how familiar–each of their lives seemed to me, a middle class American woman also trying to prove myself in my own unique ways. The setting is different, the customs are different, but the basic humanness is the same. Yes, some of these characters are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are immigrants seeking a better life than the one they left behind. But in the end they are just people doing the best they can while the powerful Agency, concerned only of its bottom line, squeezes whatever it can from each of them–in some cases their lives.
Beautiful, thrilling, and above all relatable, The Migrant Report is a must-read for anyone who needs to be reminded that in the end–Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Atheist–we are all ultimately just people doing the best that we can.
January 10, 2016
A great story and emersion into a culture I’ve only heard about on television news. I found it a very enlightening look into the culture's family dynamic, work relations, and battle between the sexes. I enjoyed not only the suspense of the crime story but the added learning value. I liked it. It’s good book.
March 17, 2017
Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar has a remarkable talent for evoking places and atmospheres for an audience who will often be unfamiliar with the settings of her books. The day-to-day lives of her characters, their worries, their families, their jobs all are brought vividly before the reader making the unfamiliar relatable and comprehensible. This wonderful novel is no exception. In it she concentrates on the plight of migrant workers to the Gulf States, how they are often abused and cheated, disregarded except as a way to make money for their employers, and for whom little respect is shown for their health, safety or welfare. The book focuses on various characters, among them Manu, a migrant worker from Nepal, Ali, a local policeman, and Maryam, a local girl who wants to become a journalist in spite of her family’s desire to get her married. These three are the key figures in exposing the migrants’ lot, but along the way we meet various other characters who all contribute to making this a vibrant, multi-layered and nuanced exploration of life in the Gulf. Whilst reading it I felt fully immersed in the country and its culture and lifestyle, and I found it illuminating, moving, with a strong story, realistic characters and a well-paced (indeed exciting at times) narrative arc, and with issues sensitively and insightfully handled. A great read.
November 25, 2015
Police Captain Ali has to give up his dreams of joining the Internal Security Force due to a physical defect. Initially stuck with ridiculous assignments such as arresting chefs for making penis-shaped cakes for a private function, he gets sucked into the investigation of mysterious deaths amongst foreign construction workers.
Maryam needs to write a report - something unique to life in the Arabian Gulf - so that Professor Paul will give her a passing grade. Failing would mean that she would get kicked out of university - and her mother would finally be able to marry her off. When her brother, Nasser, suggests that she write about migrant workers and their lives, she jumps at the idea. Finding one to interview for her report is no easy feat, however. As an unmarried female, she doesn't have the freedom to interview any of the male migrant workers - even if she could find one who was willing to talk to her.
Manu is excited to leave Nepal and join his sister Sanjana in the Middle East. But things quickly turn sour when his expected office job turns into menial labour on a construction site, his salary is slashed, and he has no way to contact Sanjana.
The Migrant Report is an honest peek into life in the Gulf - where profits are more important than the lives of cheap labour, and family honour is more important than truth or education. But the world is slowly changing and Ali, Maryam and Manu find themselves treading in dangerous waters. The three of them, with the help of their family and friends, need to figure out how to walk the dangerous balance between meeting society's expectations and cultural values whilst pressing to expose the corruption behind the scenes without ending up dead. Race, religion and skin colour all make up an important part of one's identity - both in the way one views oneself, and in the way one is treated by others in society - and Moha demonstrates this very well in The Migrant Report.
I enjoyed reading Moha's latest novel. It's an ambitious one - one that contrasts the differences between being an expatriate and an immigrant, though both are foreign workers in a foreign country. It highlights the privileges of being white and illustrates the restrictions of being a Muslim girl.
I think it is an important story that needed to be told.
*I received a free copy of this book via Novel Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
Maryam needs to write a report - something unique to life in the Arabian Gulf - so that Professor Paul will give her a passing grade. Failing would mean that she would get kicked out of university - and her mother would finally be able to marry her off. When her brother, Nasser, suggests that she write about migrant workers and their lives, she jumps at the idea. Finding one to interview for her report is no easy feat, however. As an unmarried female, she doesn't have the freedom to interview any of the male migrant workers - even if she could find one who was willing to talk to her.
Manu is excited to leave Nepal and join his sister Sanjana in the Middle East. But things quickly turn sour when his expected office job turns into menial labour on a construction site, his salary is slashed, and he has no way to contact Sanjana.
The Migrant Report is an honest peek into life in the Gulf - where profits are more important than the lives of cheap labour, and family honour is more important than truth or education. But the world is slowly changing and Ali, Maryam and Manu find themselves treading in dangerous waters. The three of them, with the help of their family and friends, need to figure out how to walk the dangerous balance between meeting society's expectations and cultural values whilst pressing to expose the corruption behind the scenes without ending up dead. Race, religion and skin colour all make up an important part of one's identity - both in the way one views oneself, and in the way one is treated by others in society - and Moha demonstrates this very well in The Migrant Report.
I enjoyed reading Moha's latest novel. It's an ambitious one - one that contrasts the differences between being an expatriate and an immigrant, though both are foreign workers in a foreign country. It highlights the privileges of being white and illustrates the restrictions of being a Muslim girl.
I think it is an important story that needed to be told.
*I received a free copy of this book via Novel Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2019
Enjoyable read.
There are many characters in this novel, and by the end, all their stories weave together as one. The trouble, at least in the beginning, was to keep the characters straight.
I´m including this novel as one taken place in Qatar which I had seen other readers do; however, the country isn´t stated explicitly in the novel. It´s one of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Countries) which includes Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Saudia Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. Since the author lives in Qatar, this is the likely locale for the plot. GCC isn´t explained in the book; I had to look it up. I also had to look up khaleeji which is a reference to the people associated with the GCC. There was a glossary which is helpful with other Arabic or Hindi words.
Sarjana is a Nepalese who is working for an American family consisting of Paul who is professor at a local university, Cindy who is his wife, and Daniel their teenage son. Sarjana has worked with Laxmi Pandi and her husband who bring Nepalese to this Arab country and provide working visas and contracts for them. Manu, Sarjana´s brother, is one of them. He is supposed to be an office worker. However, when he arrives in the desert country, he is taken to one of the workers camp and becomes a construction worker. The workers camp is pure hell and they are treated as slaves with no rights. Maryam is a local who is a student of Professor Paul and a friend of Daniel. She wants to write an exposé of living conditions at the camps. While visiting one evening, she finds that one man has died. The police who was called to the scene is Ali, a distant relation of Maryam.
Manu is missing. Where is he? Sarjana cannot find Laxmi to find out what has happened to him or where he is located. Cindy has been distributing blankets, clothing, and Bibles at the camps when the police arrive to arrest her and her group for proselytizing. Sarjana is included with this group but she had previously confiscated Daniel´s stash of hashish (or did it belong to his friend)? Cindy calls for her son to get her out of jail and he happens to be with Maryam. What a mess at the police station that Ali has to sort out. To add to this, Maryam´s family is trying to marry her off to a nice Arabic family.
Good story with minor plots along the way.
There are many characters in this novel, and by the end, all their stories weave together as one. The trouble, at least in the beginning, was to keep the characters straight.
I´m including this novel as one taken place in Qatar which I had seen other readers do; however, the country isn´t stated explicitly in the novel. It´s one of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Countries) which includes Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Saudia Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. Since the author lives in Qatar, this is the likely locale for the plot. GCC isn´t explained in the book; I had to look it up. I also had to look up khaleeji which is a reference to the people associated with the GCC. There was a glossary which is helpful with other Arabic or Hindi words.
Sarjana is a Nepalese who is working for an American family consisting of Paul who is professor at a local university, Cindy who is his wife, and Daniel their teenage son. Sarjana has worked with Laxmi Pandi and her husband who bring Nepalese to this Arab country and provide working visas and contracts for them. Manu, Sarjana´s brother, is one of them. He is supposed to be an office worker. However, when he arrives in the desert country, he is taken to one of the workers camp and becomes a construction worker. The workers camp is pure hell and they are treated as slaves with no rights. Maryam is a local who is a student of Professor Paul and a friend of Daniel. She wants to write an exposé of living conditions at the camps. While visiting one evening, she finds that one man has died. The police who was called to the scene is Ali, a distant relation of Maryam.
Manu is missing. Where is he? Sarjana cannot find Laxmi to find out what has happened to him or where he is located. Cindy has been distributing blankets, clothing, and Bibles at the camps when the police arrive to arrest her and her group for proselytizing. Sarjana is included with this group but she had previously confiscated Daniel´s stash of hashish (or did it belong to his friend)? Cindy calls for her son to get her out of jail and he happens to be with Maryam. What a mess at the police station that Ali has to sort out. To add to this, Maryam´s family is trying to marry her off to a nice Arabic family.
Good story with minor plots along the way.
January 18, 2016
Note : This review was posted in my blog a while ago Book and Ink
Human rights violation is the Middle East is probably something that I not uncommon. There have been many reports of the same on the newspapers, but that had been it all. Not many people have ventured out to fictionalize them. Having worked for Middle East companies, this book kindled my curiosity.
The book follows the story of three different classes of people who end up tied together in a way by fate. Ali, the policeman, whose dreams of joining the elite forces is quashed when his secret his revealed. Maryam, an aspiring journalist has her wings clipped thanks to practices against women. Set against the backdrop of an oil abundant country whose migrant laborers are being mistreated by the employment agency, the story traces the unorthodox combination of Ali and Maryam in solving human rights violation crimes against the wage laborers who simply seem to drop dead.
The story seemed so realistic that I was in awe with the writer at one point of time. Moreover, to pick up such a sensitive issue and pulling out a fiction from it, the writer needs to lauded for her courage. The story hasn’t certainly been written for the faint hearted. The writing sort of stabs your heart with a sharp knife and then continues to twist it and turns it. Of course, it really isn’t as violent and emotional as certain other books, yet the writing and the story together managed to pack a punch. The characterization was pretty minimal and basic enough for the story. However, all the characters emoted perfectly well considering the premises that they had been featured in.
MY SAY: Quite an emotional read.
RATING:
PLOT: 7/10
CHARACTERISATION: 6/10
NARRATION: 7/10
BOREDOM QUOTIENT : 1 /10 (Lower the better)
OVERALL RATING: 7/10
Human rights violation is the Middle East is probably something that I not uncommon. There have been many reports of the same on the newspapers, but that had been it all. Not many people have ventured out to fictionalize them. Having worked for Middle East companies, this book kindled my curiosity.
The book follows the story of three different classes of people who end up tied together in a way by fate. Ali, the policeman, whose dreams of joining the elite forces is quashed when his secret his revealed. Maryam, an aspiring journalist has her wings clipped thanks to practices against women. Set against the backdrop of an oil abundant country whose migrant laborers are being mistreated by the employment agency, the story traces the unorthodox combination of Ali and Maryam in solving human rights violation crimes against the wage laborers who simply seem to drop dead.
The story seemed so realistic that I was in awe with the writer at one point of time. Moreover, to pick up such a sensitive issue and pulling out a fiction from it, the writer needs to lauded for her courage. The story hasn’t certainly been written for the faint hearted. The writing sort of stabs your heart with a sharp knife and then continues to twist it and turns it. Of course, it really isn’t as violent and emotional as certain other books, yet the writing and the story together managed to pack a punch. The characterization was pretty minimal and basic enough for the story. However, all the characters emoted perfectly well considering the premises that they had been featured in.
MY SAY: Quite an emotional read.
RATING:
PLOT: 7/10
CHARACTERISATION: 6/10
NARRATION: 7/10
BOREDOM QUOTIENT : 1 /10 (Lower the better)
OVERALL RATING: 7/10
December 21, 2015
I didn't know this book was so real, rather so cruel about migrants working in the gulf, and the author must be commanded for her courage. The characters seem real, it has been allover the news around the globe, and yet not much seemed changed since then. It highlights the dire situation of migrant workers working in oil-rich Gulf nations, the inhumane situation they are put into by the greedy contractors and the details of their ongoing exploitation will make you cringe with anger. It follows the story of innocent people from poor Nepal, enticed to work in the gulf nations with well paid jobs by cunning exploiters, and left in a limbo of life and death. Even worse, what saddened me the most was the fact that, if the book was to believe, even the officials from the embassy were involved on this ongoing heinous ploy and instead of helping their people in trouble, they took advantage of their own people. Humans greed has no limits, it is one of such books that highlights it to the core and all the people from Nepal should read this book before applying for a job in the Gulf nations.
August 30, 2017
This book was entered in The 2016 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Migrant Report
Author: Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 20
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 20 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
20 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
20 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘What a well-written story. The setting was particularly interesting. The ending could be stronger but, other than that, very entertaining.’ Female reader, aged 53
‘The Qatar setting was fabulously described as were the labor camps there. Interesting plot and written with plenty of pace. A good thriller.’ Male reader, aged 51
‘This is not just a thriller; it is a political comment on the life of the poorer elements in Qatar culture. An eye-opener.’ Male reader, aged 59
‘Bravely written. The author should be very proud.’ Female reader, aged 63
‘Exposes the corrupt world of working in construction in a country like Qatar. The story is good but it is the chracterisation which excels. Powerfully written; this is not just a novel, it’s a social commentary.’ Female reader, aged 44
‘A well-written mystery thriller set in a fascinating setting. A FINALIST and highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Migrant Report
Author: Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 20
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 20 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
20 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
20 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘What a well-written story. The setting was particularly interesting. The ending could be stronger but, other than that, very entertaining.’ Female reader, aged 53
‘The Qatar setting was fabulously described as were the labor camps there. Interesting plot and written with plenty of pace. A good thriller.’ Male reader, aged 51
‘This is not just a thriller; it is a political comment on the life of the poorer elements in Qatar culture. An eye-opener.’ Male reader, aged 59
‘Bravely written. The author should be very proud.’ Female reader, aged 63
‘Exposes the corrupt world of working in construction in a country like Qatar. The story is good but it is the chracterisation which excels. Powerfully written; this is not just a novel, it’s a social commentary.’ Female reader, aged 44
‘A well-written mystery thriller set in a fascinating setting. A FINALIST and highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
August 18, 2019
As someone who currently lives in Doha, Qatar, the setting, characters and storyline were easy to imagine. The author does a great job of weaving separate stories from each main character and interweaving them throughout the book. There are some harsh realities depicted in this book that I’m told are true to life, in terms of the labour force in this country and how laborers are treated. There is also a lot of truth to the social norms put upon the various members in this society. I was hooked by the heart-wrenching situation the laborer, Manu, was put in, and the over all plot line was well put together. The editing of this book could have been a bit stronger, and I found some typos distracting from time to time. On the whole I really enjoyed the read, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
August 10, 2024
Great book!
Maryam doesn't want to be married off. She wants to go to the university and be a journalist. But she feels like her parents are waiting for her to fail so they can find her a groom and bring pride to the family.
As a investigator, Ali wants to do his job and hopefully get a promotion. When he is demoted for something he has no control over, his future seems dim.
Cindy and Paul want to raise their son to be a good citizen, but his choice in friends isn't always to their liking.
As the characters lives come together, each person has to find their way the best they can.
The author does a great job of showing the different aspects of life in the Arab countries.
Maryam doesn't want to be married off. She wants to go to the university and be a journalist. But she feels like her parents are waiting for her to fail so they can find her a groom and bring pride to the family.
As a investigator, Ali wants to do his job and hopefully get a promotion. When he is demoted for something he has no control over, his future seems dim.
Cindy and Paul want to raise their son to be a good citizen, but his choice in friends isn't always to their liking.
As the characters lives come together, each person has to find their way the best they can.
The author does a great job of showing the different aspects of life in the Arab countries.
June 5, 2017
Socialrealistisk semikrimi fra Qatar om den skrupelløse udnyttelse af immigranter under livsfarlige arbejdsforhold, om køn, tradition og religion, om forholdet mellem lokale og expats i Qatar. Romanen er båret af sympatiske intentioner og er ikke uinteressant for sit tidsbillede af Qatar, men det kan ikke redde den.
Hele anmeldelsen på K's bognoter: http://bognoter.dk/2017/06/05/mohanal...
Hele anmeldelsen på K's bognoter: http://bognoter.dk/2017/06/05/mohanal...
July 28, 2016
I was given a review copy of the Migrant Report by the author, Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, in exchange for an honest review.
The Migrant Report is a wonderfully rich tale set in the Arabian desert, starring a cast of delightful characters that centers around the struggles of immigrant workers and some of the terrible conditions they endure. The story centers around Manu, a young Nepali man who immigrates to the capital to search for work. His sister, Sanjana, who already works in the capital as a housemaid for a wealthy American family, sets him up with a plane ticket and a sponsor, so that when he arrives he will be given an office job with an excellent salary. That way, the two siblings could send back plenty of money to help feed their younger siblings and their ailing mother. But things begin turning sour right away as Manu's passport is confiscated at the airport by his company rep, and he's forced to sign a contract in a language he can't read. When he arrives in his new home, he discovers his job is that of a labourer building infrastructure. His employers won't pay him, he can't leave the compound, and any complaints are met with punishment. While Sanjana feverishly struggles to hunt him down, it takes more than one person to take down a corrupted system of human trafficking.
I fell in love with this book right from the start. Though the cover seems a little bland and the pitch on the back of the book is a tad confusing, the story itself is incredibly strong and well-done. I fell in love with each character, from Manu and Sanjana, to Ali, the police officer with one testicle, to Maryam, the feminist journalism student trapped in a culture that wants to tame her, to Paul and Cindy, the rich American couple struggling to balance their marriage with Paul's work. Every character was well-crafted and had their own conflicts, flaws, and motivations that all converged and complicated the main conflict. The Migrant Report shows us the beauties and shortcomings of the Arabian Gulf through the eyes of varying people who are entangled up in this horrible-- and unfortunately real-- system. At first I worried that there were too many POV characters, but Rajakumar balances each one with finesse, so the story flows clearly and every voice is necessary to the story as a whole.
Along with characters, this book balanced all the plot threads wonderfully. With so many characters, each with their own personal conflicts, it can often be difficult to keep everything straight, let alone relevant to the story. But each little tidbit-- from Daniel and Sharif smoking hashish, to Cindy handing out blankets and bibles to the workers, to Maryam's parents growing insistence to find her a husband-- contributed to the main conflict with Manu. The tension and pacing were both steady and consistent, but not overwhelming. The book moved at a pleasant pace and the tension was just where it needed to be. This book didn't try to grab you by the throat and strangle you with intensity like some, but I found myself just as hooked to The Migrant Report all the same, simply because I loved the story, characters, and culture.
The only problem I really had was the ending. Though the main conflict with Manu is wrapped up and most of the story is dealt with, it ends on a cliff hanger that literally had me flipping pages to see if there was a chapter missing. It felt like a very abrupt ending, leaving some threads unresolved. And while I can admit cliff hangers are a stylistic choice for a lot of writers, personally I believe in the stance of "every book should stand on its own." I believe this rings especially true with the initial book of a series, and then cliff hangers at the end of later books are not as much of a concern. However, despite this rule the only real reason it bothered me was because I wanted more! There were a lot of questions that I was left with at the end-- how will Maryam's paper turn out? What will become of Sanjana and Manu's relationship? What's going on with Cindy and her flirting around?-- and though this is a great way to lead into a sequel, there were simply so many that it left me feeling as though the story stopped too soon.
There were also some accents put into the dialogue that I found a little off-putting. Again, this is a stylistic choice, as some writers really love making their dialogue as authentic to how people talk as possible. But I found the accents and broken English a little off since throughout the book, most characters were speaking various languages, some of which were their first language. I felt like it was added to show which characters were speaking in unfamiliar languages to them, but it was unclear if that was the case and didn't really add anything. Since most of the time they were speaking their native tongues and having things translated, having that bit of broken English only made it harder to read.
Finally, I would hope that in future books, Rajakumar adds in a bit more description, because I loved the landscape and culture and wanted to immerse even further. I wanted to feel the sun on my face, taste sand on the air, and feel the weight of the Abaya. All the descriptions in the book were wonderful and well-written, so more would make the book just that much richer.
All in all, 4/5 stars. Can I read the sequel, like, now?
The Migrant Report is a wonderfully rich tale set in the Arabian desert, starring a cast of delightful characters that centers around the struggles of immigrant workers and some of the terrible conditions they endure. The story centers around Manu, a young Nepali man who immigrates to the capital to search for work. His sister, Sanjana, who already works in the capital as a housemaid for a wealthy American family, sets him up with a plane ticket and a sponsor, so that when he arrives he will be given an office job with an excellent salary. That way, the two siblings could send back plenty of money to help feed their younger siblings and their ailing mother. But things begin turning sour right away as Manu's passport is confiscated at the airport by his company rep, and he's forced to sign a contract in a language he can't read. When he arrives in his new home, he discovers his job is that of a labourer building infrastructure. His employers won't pay him, he can't leave the compound, and any complaints are met with punishment. While Sanjana feverishly struggles to hunt him down, it takes more than one person to take down a corrupted system of human trafficking.
I fell in love with this book right from the start. Though the cover seems a little bland and the pitch on the back of the book is a tad confusing, the story itself is incredibly strong and well-done. I fell in love with each character, from Manu and Sanjana, to Ali, the police officer with one testicle, to Maryam, the feminist journalism student trapped in a culture that wants to tame her, to Paul and Cindy, the rich American couple struggling to balance their marriage with Paul's work. Every character was well-crafted and had their own conflicts, flaws, and motivations that all converged and complicated the main conflict. The Migrant Report shows us the beauties and shortcomings of the Arabian Gulf through the eyes of varying people who are entangled up in this horrible-- and unfortunately real-- system. At first I worried that there were too many POV characters, but Rajakumar balances each one with finesse, so the story flows clearly and every voice is necessary to the story as a whole.
Along with characters, this book balanced all the plot threads wonderfully. With so many characters, each with their own personal conflicts, it can often be difficult to keep everything straight, let alone relevant to the story. But each little tidbit-- from Daniel and Sharif smoking hashish, to Cindy handing out blankets and bibles to the workers, to Maryam's parents growing insistence to find her a husband-- contributed to the main conflict with Manu. The tension and pacing were both steady and consistent, but not overwhelming. The book moved at a pleasant pace and the tension was just where it needed to be. This book didn't try to grab you by the throat and strangle you with intensity like some, but I found myself just as hooked to The Migrant Report all the same, simply because I loved the story, characters, and culture.
The only problem I really had was the ending. Though the main conflict with Manu is wrapped up and most of the story is dealt with, it ends on a cliff hanger that literally had me flipping pages to see if there was a chapter missing. It felt like a very abrupt ending, leaving some threads unresolved. And while I can admit cliff hangers are a stylistic choice for a lot of writers, personally I believe in the stance of "every book should stand on its own." I believe this rings especially true with the initial book of a series, and then cliff hangers at the end of later books are not as much of a concern. However, despite this rule the only real reason it bothered me was because I wanted more! There were a lot of questions that I was left with at the end-- how will Maryam's paper turn out? What will become of Sanjana and Manu's relationship? What's going on with Cindy and her flirting around?-- and though this is a great way to lead into a sequel, there were simply so many that it left me feeling as though the story stopped too soon.
There were also some accents put into the dialogue that I found a little off-putting. Again, this is a stylistic choice, as some writers really love making their dialogue as authentic to how people talk as possible. But I found the accents and broken English a little off since throughout the book, most characters were speaking various languages, some of which were their first language. I felt like it was added to show which characters were speaking in unfamiliar languages to them, but it was unclear if that was the case and didn't really add anything. Since most of the time they were speaking their native tongues and having things translated, having that bit of broken English only made it harder to read.
Finally, I would hope that in future books, Rajakumar adds in a bit more description, because I loved the landscape and culture and wanted to immerse even further. I wanted to feel the sun on my face, taste sand on the air, and feel the weight of the Abaya. All the descriptions in the book were wonderful and well-written, so more would make the book just that much richer.
All in all, 4/5 stars. Can I read the sequel, like, now?
January 25, 2023
Interesting plot, hard to follow with all these unfamiliar names and characters.
December 15, 2015
The Migrant Report by Mohanalaksmi Rajakumar is not an easy read. This book stretches your mind and heart and begs you to try and understand actions, beliefs and behaviour foreign to our everyday sheltered lives. This is a tale of people and greed. Trust and friendship and ultimately how humans react in different situations. The Migrant Report tells the tale of migrant workers being shipped into a tiny affluent Middle Eastern Country to earn money to be sent home, whether that be India, Nepali or Pakistan. The mixture of cultures, taboo’s and beliefs creates a current of constant confusion and fear of what is acceptable, did I follow the correct procedure and ultimately “who will be blamed”.
In a county where the penalty for stealing is losing your hand crime is hidden and hanging on to the underside of this utopia with its class towers and dwellings filled with priceless carpets and golden taps. The contrast between the affluent and the working class is as harsh as the desert heat and wind in this world of money and greed. Police Caption Ali’s promotion into the elite government forces is shelved because he is judged “less of a man” due to a childhood deformity. Judgements passed, not only on citizens, but especially woman and the workforce is harsh and delivered by a world dominated by males. Maryam, a university student on the look out for a topic for a report, teams up with Captain Ali to find out why so many of the migrant workers, especially the ones working for her fathers business, are dying and what can be done. Added to the mix is a University Professor and his American wife trying to come to terms with personal loss and settling in this harsh country where woman and labourers are basically prisoners in their homes and surroundings.
In a county where the penalty for stealing is losing your hand crime is hidden and hanging on to the underside of this utopia with its class towers and dwellings filled with priceless carpets and golden taps. The contrast between the affluent and the working class is as harsh as the desert heat and wind in this world of money and greed. Police Caption Ali’s promotion into the elite government forces is shelved because he is judged “less of a man” due to a childhood deformity. Judgements passed, not only on citizens, but especially woman and the workforce is harsh and delivered by a world dominated by males. Maryam, a university student on the look out for a topic for a report, teams up with Captain Ali to find out why so many of the migrant workers, especially the ones working for her fathers business, are dying and what can be done. Added to the mix is a University Professor and his American wife trying to come to terms with personal loss and settling in this harsh country where woman and labourers are basically prisoners in their homes and surroundings.
December 14, 2015
It's me again, I haven't had a lot of time to read, or do practically anything else lately, but at least I managed to get through this wonderful book.
I've been avoiding social media. The distorted views and inflammatory comments on everything from food to war and peace are just too much to look at. So I took a break, made a few status posts so people know I'm alive and did most of my job through Hootsuite by scheduling posts rather than looking at the actual sites.
Why?
Because I see pain in the world, and reactions to it, and I can't fix the world. So I choose not to add to an already (mostly) destructive conversation. I know positive and good conversations exist, but I swear the Facebook algorithm is only bringing up the negative and inflammatory.
Instead, I read The Migrant Report.
I started pre-Paris attacks, and finished post Paris.
It made me feel hopeful. It came from across the ocean, from a different perspective, and it gave me something to latch onto in a dark world.
There are dark bits though, and things that will make you sad, and angry.
Around all of that, though, there are cultural idioms, references to tons of things I had to look up like:
Read the rest here: http://wp.me/p1gkrF-119
I've been avoiding social media. The distorted views and inflammatory comments on everything from food to war and peace are just too much to look at. So I took a break, made a few status posts so people know I'm alive and did most of my job through Hootsuite by scheduling posts rather than looking at the actual sites.
Why?
Because I see pain in the world, and reactions to it, and I can't fix the world. So I choose not to add to an already (mostly) destructive conversation. I know positive and good conversations exist, but I swear the Facebook algorithm is only bringing up the negative and inflammatory.
Instead, I read The Migrant Report.
I started pre-Paris attacks, and finished post Paris.
It made me feel hopeful. It came from across the ocean, from a different perspective, and it gave me something to latch onto in a dark world.
There are dark bits though, and things that will make you sad, and angry.
Around all of that, though, there are cultural idioms, references to tons of things I had to look up like:
Read the rest here: http://wp.me/p1gkrF-119
December 26, 2015
This is the fourth book I've read by this author, and I think it's my favorite so far. The story revolves around a South Asian migrant worker in an Arab Gulf country. Though promised an office job, he is forced onto a construction crew where he lives and works like a slave. His sister, a maid for an ex-pat family, tries to find him, along with a local police officer and a local journalism student - my favorite character - who is attempting to do more with her life than fulfill her family's expectations. The author is a great storyteller but more than the story, I appreciate this view of life I wouldn't see otherwise.
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