In the Land of No Right Angles

by: Daphne Beal

Published by: Anchor Books (August 12 release)

Reviewed by Maria Hoeffer

In this highly engaging novel, Daphne Beal exposes the personal side of Nepal through Alex, a naïve and enchanting young college student. It’s as if the reader is immersed in Alex’s own travel diary, experiencing the confusion, joys and heartaches of life abroad.

As we follow Alex through her Nepalese adventures, it is evident that Beal has a rich understanding of the bewildering world of study abroad as well as an in-depth knowledge of Nepal and India. The layers of details immerse you in a new world, instilling the sense that you could travel to Kathmandu yourself and navigate easily through the sumptuously described streets. Beal reveals Alex’s journey to discover herself and the way she is shaped unconsciously by American culture. Through Alex, you are able to reflect on your own assumptions about relationships, time and values in unconventional ways.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the novel is the friendship that develops between Alex and Maya, a Nepalese girl from a small mountain village. Their complex cross-cultural relationship binds them together tightly yet keeps them at a certain emotional distance. This unique relationship causes Alex to venture into the world of the prostitution slave trade of India. Beal daftly exposes this issue without heavy-handedness or judgment. The relationship between Maya and Alex allows the reader to examine their own motives and friendships, learning as much about themselves as they do about the characters.

Daphne Beal clearly has a deep understanding of the American study-abroad experience in Nepal. In this rich novel, Beal transports the reader into mystifying and intensely rewarding experiences that transcend, yet are framed by, culture.

Armchair Interviews says: This novel is a must read for anyone considering study abroad as well as the reader who seeks to examine themselves from a unique outside perspective.