Celestial Bodies

Pathetic pages.. its like as in very cheap weeklies.. so poor quality.. I never expected a booker winning novel in such cheap pages.. one reading.. the pages are already like worn out..

Good

Superb novel, portrays the underlying social changes in a nation that underwent an economic boost. Brilliant writing. Deep rooted.

Disappointing bookDoesn’t have a real story, no engaging plot, more like a documentary on lives in Oman

One of the best books i came across . its brevity and brave writing entwined together make it an excellent read.

A book for all of us to read

Nice

Very well written novel. Nice book

A deep dive into the intertwined lives of the people of a small Omani village, spanning a good (non-linear) chunk of the 20th century.A blurb on the back cover calls the writing ‘elliptical’, though in the early going it might be better described as confusing, or ever frustrating. But stick with it; before long it evens out and the intent of the style becomes clear. The unfolding themes, recurring imagery, and slow teasing out of the various stories come together to give this novel a power it would not have had if it had been written in a more traditional or linear fashion. Switching character focus with each chapter, and jumping around in time, the narrative is built to allow later chapters to inform earlier ones, and to slowly reveal the truth of the people who populate this story. Celestial Bodies isn’t an easy read, but it is a good introduction to a place and a culture that are both fascinating and underrepresented in world literature.

Celestial Bodies turned out to be a delightful surprise. With each page, a piece of the puzzle is set in a wonderful tale of three sisters and their tribe during Nahda - the Omani Renaissance. Jokha Alharthi wrote it with so much color that you can feel the characters, the relationships, thoughts, and feelings - wider also the essence of the culture, the changes - the contrasts between the past and the new in hundreds of different subtle shades.I’ll admit that I struggled the first dozen of pages - until I got in the mood for the somewhat particular way of telling a story. Bit by bit, while getting more comfortable and attached to the characters (thanks to the intimate way of telling the story, without ever mincing the matter of the protagonists' thoughts and feelings), mundane and darker mysteries become uncovered as the shadow is lifted little by little.I am certain that the style of the novel isn’t for everyone - it isn't what many readers attribute to it. It isn't a thriller following a hero in an exotic setting. It isn't an anthropological essay about the middle east. It isn't a cynical comedy or a latent ethnocentric report about a seemingly primitive tribe. And for sure it isn't written like a 1001 nights telenovela love story for a western audience.It is something on its own - with suspense, humor, wisdom and drama. It is ethnographic, yet it lacks the bluntness of the social scientist. It is a homage without being romanticizing.If you never heard about Oman or Arab tribal societies, relating to the development and the subtle details will highly likely be less entertaining. Understanding the context will also be way more challenging. The reason is that Jokha Alharthi refrained to fill her novel with explanations of the context and she limits herself to the absolute essential necessary knowledge to understand some peculiar aspects of Oman's modern history. This way, "Celestial bodies" enables you to experience it through the eyes and thoughts of the characters, with only the barest guidance by the narrator.

But SO confusing!!! This is a book to sit down and read cover to cover so you don't lose track of who is who, when. It needs total concentration which, perhaps, I didn't have at the time. Having said that, some of the passages are so beautiful it takes your breath away.

Not bad, but I thought it was much better. I discovered new Omani traditions, and How they changed in 3 generations

Very good book to have an approach to Oman