Celestial Bodies

Written by Jokha Alharthi

Narrated by Laurence Bouvard

Set in the village of al-Awafi in Oman, we encounter three sisters: Mayya, who marries Abdallah after a heartbreak; Asma, who marries from a sense of duty; and Khawla, who rejects all offers while waiting for her beloved, who has emigrated to Canada. These three women and their families witness Oman evolve from a traditional, slave-owning society slowly redefining itself after the colonial era, to the crossroads of its complex present.

Elegantly structured and taut, Celestial Bodies is a coiled spring of a novel, telling of Oman's coming-of-age through the prism of one family's losses and loves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Translator: Marilyn Booth
• Release date: Oct 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781515948483

Jokha Alharthi

JOKHA ALHARTHI is the first Omani woman to have a novel translated into English. Her previous novel, Celestial Bodies, was the first book translated from the Arabic to win the International Booker Prize (formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize). Alharthi is the author of three previous collections of short fiction, three children’s books, and three novels in Arabic. Narinjah (The Bitter Orange Tree) received the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Art, and Literature. She completed a Ph.D. in Classical Arabic poetry in Edinburgh and teaches at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat.

Reviews for Celestial Bodies

[bell7_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Three daughters, Mayya, Asha, and Khawla, who grew up in a small town in Oman, get married and have children. In short chapters, switching among the women, their family members, and some of the villagers in third person while almost every other is Abdallah, Mayya's husband, in first person, we're given the story of their lives and history.This was a complicated novel, made even more so by the format of the story. The timelines are one that begins with Mayya's marriage to Abdallah (all told in third person); the second is sometime in the future, Abdallah as a first-person narrator recounting his memories (which become strange and don't always appear reliable to me) of the same events. In addition, sometimes in the third-person storyline the memories of a character would tell us something about the past or the omniscient narrator would jump forward twenty years to tell us what happened later to a character. The translator's note praises the format, but I'm not convinced it served the story well. There are many characters and their relationships with each other, and the history of the slave trade, are important, and I found myself referencing the family tree often and wishing for a longer list of all the characters and their relationships, because I had trouble following it. I kept reading because it was, despite the complicated structure, really easy to read. The prose was straightforward, the chapters short, and I was at least mildly interested in learning what happened to the sisters in particular. I would have liked them to be fleshed out a little more, even, especially Khawla, whose story we get in glimpses and then suddenly get about a ten-year update in one chapter. The ending left me confused and unsettled. So on balance, while I'm not sorry I read it, I am hesitant to recommend it.

[mpho3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having no familiarity with Oman’s history, I enjoyed learning about how traditions, and issues of class and gender informed these characters lives. Alharthi is especially revealing when depicting how these characters make decisions and live their lives when their individual values conflict with societally assigned ones, and how the latter have changed over generations. While I liked Celestial Bodies, I do feel it is a work betrayed by its structure, and I would love to play with that. I would love to have read it this way: combining all the chapters for one character, retaining their titles but organized chronologically. For example, there are 22 short chapters called "Abdallah" interspersed throughout the book's 58 chapters. Abdullah is arguably, if not functionally the main character--at least by dint of the fact that he has the most chapters. His chapters are also the only ones in first person, making it unclear who is telling the other stories.

[dreesie-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars? I may adjust this as I think about it over the next month or 2.This book tells the stories of 3 sisters in al-Awabi, Oman. But in order to tell their stories, it must also tell those of their parents, their spouses and their parents, and the slaves that were freed when slavery was ended. The families are all interconnected. There is a family tree at the front (which I appreciated!), but not all of the relationships are fully explained, and while there are friends on the tree, other friends are not. I should have kept a character list!I liked the storytelling in that it is non-linear and comes from multiple viewpoints--you reader has to connect the stories together to get the full picture.In the end though, I am still confused about Najiya/Qamar, about which families were settled Bedouins and which just worked with the Bedouins, about what hold Salima's family seemed to have over Abdullah's, and who Ahmad's family had been slaves of. This could have been fuller and richer if it had been longer.

[booklove2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Winner of the Man Booker International Prize, this book offers a wide view of a cast of characters from a village in Oman in the Middle East.   The book switches characters quite quickly (thankfully labeling the chapters with character names), which is great if you're trying to show enough of a village. All of the characters were interesting, so I wouldn't have minded more from each of them, especially the group of sisters Mayya, Asma, and Khawla.  But then I think of Mayya's children and they could have been featured more, and the generations before could have been featured more, and the mysterious other characters within the village.  Somehow Mayya's husband was the most featured character within the book, even getting a separate font choice for his sections, but somehow his sections ended up the most scattered.  So the characters are lovely - I just wanted more of these characters. I would have also loved more of that Raised Fist spirit that is pictured on the cover from the women in the book.  Overall, an interesting piece from a culture not really represented in fiction but sometimes a bit confusing for a reader that might be too outside this culture.   I'm glad it exists.

[needmoreshelves · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is definitely more of a character study than a novel with a propelling plot, so this will be a hard sell for many readers. I found the brief glimpses into the life of a family and village in Oman to be fascinating, though there were so many characters that it became hard to keep track at times. Probably a 3.5/5 for me.

[spiralsheep · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

158/2020. This novel is structured as a series of non-linear vignettes, which slowly reveal glimpses of the inner and outer lives of an extensive cast of characters revolving around three generations of one extended family originating from a village in Oman. It's a process that will be familiar to anyone who has lived in a small community: you know everything about everyone else, but that information is only learned in fragments which each person pieces together slightly differently to form their own perspective. Like life, the overall story tends towards tragedy, from small disappointments to the great tragedy of death. The novel is permeated with ways of thinking and doing that are rooted in Omani village culture and Ibadi Islam and, for an outsider like me, it appears to be a fair representation. The translation seems good and I only noticed one error when what should have been a "moth" in English (like a moth to a flame) was translated as a "butterfly".In conclusion, skilfully written as a whole, although without any short passages I especially want to quote, and interesting to read but also ultimately tragic in tone.

[opinionated_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really wish publishers would stop messing about with the titles of books in translation. The Arabic title of this is literally translated as "Ladies of The Moon" which makes a lot more sense - given the importance of a relationship between one of the main characters and a Bedouin girl he refers to as his "moon", his shining light, his muse. Celestial Bodies carries none of the same overtones, and means hardly anything in English.That rant over with, this really is very good. But don't expect a neat, plot driven narrative. And regardless of the blurb, this is not really about the three sisters Mayya, Asma and Khawla that its claimed to be. What it is is a multi generational tale, told from multiple points of view, of the approach of modernity to rural Oman. This is the story of the pull of the city from the village, the pull of other countries from one's own and what that means for identity, the pull of modern values over traditional ones and, most poignantly, what freedom from slavery actually means in a rigid, patriarchal society. And being set, mainly, in the village of al-Awafi, it is also about rumour, gossip, innuendo and the breath of scandal. Mayya, Asma and Khawla represent changes to the fabric of village life; Mayya dutifully marries, but her act of rebellion is to name her daughter "London" , to the confusion of all. London has all the opportunities of a modern education and outlook. But does it make her happier? Asma agrees to marriage and moves to Muscat, where here life becomes surprisingly traditional despite the modern environment. Khawla waits patiently for the return from Canada of her feckless teenage love. When he finally returns she does not get the life she expects.But there are multiple other voices and stories being told here, skipping decades and generations every few pages. Some are more compelling than others; the former slave Zarifa and her family is probably the most compelling. This fragmented structure initially can be confusing , and the reader finds himself frequently consulting the helpful family tree at the beginning of the book. The problem with this is that the family tree reveals relationships that the narrative has yet to reveal. Ah well. Also, don't expect every narrative thread to be resolved; some relatively important ones are not, at least not definitively. And on a much less important note, I still don't why Salim was being chased through the streets of Muscat by a dude in a Porsche. But all in all I found it a very interesting narrative well worth the investment of time. As anyone who has visited Oman will know, its a fascinating country and this book is recommended as a way to start to understand some of the stories of its people

[pdcread · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In the village of al-Awafi in Oman, there are three sisters who are choosing different paths for their future. Mayya and Asma have taken the decision to marry, one out of duty, one after the man she loved broke her heart. The third sister, Khawla, heads to Canada after her beloved emigrated there. As Oman society goes through the changes from a traditional, slave-owning society, and into its current modern and complex version, Mayya gives birth to a girl. Rather than choose from the traditional names and she is heavily pressurised to do so by her family, she picks the name London.

This new child is the prism that shows Omani society. The Oman that she grows up into is changing but still remains very traditional in its outlook, with control from the patriarch of the family. The story is told from a variety of different perspectives each chapter, which occasionally can overlap and get a little confusing. It is not bad overall and is a fast read. What it does do well on though is an insight into Omani culture and customs and the complexity that that arises from family matters.

[dubaireader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An insight into village life in Oman.I loved this book! But I was, sadly, the only one in my book group who did. While I can see why others were less keen, for me, it was just so atmospheric. I should add that I was listening to the audio by Laurence Bouvard and I think this version truly enhanced the book.It does skip in time (a lot) and this can be pretty confusing. It may have helped that I listened over a few days; I'm sure if I'd taken a break in the middle, I'd have forgotten half of the characters, of which there are many. The book version has a family tree at the beginning, I could really have done with that, but obviously this would not have been compatible with the audio format.The narrative is basically a bird's eye view of the life of a small community in Al Alwafi, Oman. It covers three generations. The grandparents' generation own slaves and think it quite normal. Their offspring's generation is living in amongst the slaves but no longer owns them. They may work for the family, but they are technically free. By the time we get to the most recent generation, about 40 years ago, many of the slaves have moved off to seek their fortunes, in a very similar way to some of the offspring of the villagers.Muscat, the capital of Oman, is growing and causing a 'pull' to many of the younger villagers. It offers little by today's standards, but it's considerably more than what is available back home.Village life is a microcosm, virtually closed to non Arabic speakers, and this book was a wonderful insight into the way people lived and how they saw the world. While travelling in Oman, I have had the occasional opportunity to join with an Omani family for coffee or breakfast, and this book opened up the hidden world behind my fleeting glimpses. Already the concrete dwellings are showing signs of age, but the vacated mud brick houses are washing back into the soil and returning to the dust whence they came.As well as an insight into village life, I learned about a war that took place in Buraimi (now just over the Omani border from Al Ain, in the UAE). And another that took place on Jebel Aktar, a mountain range currently enjoyed by hikers, climbers and holiday makers to Oman.I highly recommend the audio version of this book for the spoken Arabic (which I would have just skimmed) and the way the narrator enhances the characters.Wonderful.

[steve38 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A multigenerational family tale in Oman as the country modernises. Family tensions exaggerated by the modern world impinging on old traditions. Each family member tells their own tale in brief chapters. The family tree at the beginning of the book is essential to follow who is who and how they are related. Interesting but frustrating. The author should have worked harder to put it all into a single, solid story.

[mbmackay · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A craftily written tale of relationships and life in Oman. The story covers several generations of linked individuals up to the recent past. While the book successfully paints a picture of life and living in Oman, I found the structure, with each short chapter told in the voice of the different characters at different times in their lives, a little distracting. The disjointed nature of the narrative made it more difficult to track who was who - names are introduced with no explanation or background. I spent more time than I would have wished doing word searches to check for previous references to individuals.But, on reflection, I think it worked. It certainly worked on the Booker International judges. So, worth reading, but not an instant classic.

[thewanderingjew_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Celestial Bodies, Jokha Alharthi (Author), Marilyn Booth - translator(Author), Laurence Bouvard (Narrator),In a world that is dominated by the needs of men, a world where women are totally subservient and duty bound to serve them, what will happen when modernity interferes with that way of life? This book examines the changes in an Omani family, over about a century of time, as world events, education and enlightenment put their fingerprints on the lives of three generations of men and women.Will cousin still marry cousin, will the marriages be arranged, will women be allowed out of the home, will they be allowed education, will they ever drive or choose their spouse and career? If they obtain more freedom and more rights, will the individuals be prepared to handle them?As they go from some living in tents in the desert, to others living in luxury, how do their needs and lifestyles change? From the men who expect to be catered to in every way to the women who believe it is their duty to cater to them, how will their lives change if customs and traditions are altered and one gender is no longer totally subservient to the another?Although it is confusing at times, with so many characters popping up and a timeline that is often not linear, it is written with a prose that is far and above most books today. Filthy language and overt sex scenes to titillate the reader are nowhere to be found as they are in most of the mass produced fiction of today. Rather, the story stands on its own merit.The novel follows a family from Oman. It takes the reader through the changes in culture, choices, and individual freedoms, especially regarding women’s rights in the Arab world and it travels through world events as these changes occur, illustrating its effects on the family members and servants. It examines the thoughts of several individuals, with insight, as their desires develop and/or change.With additional freedom comes responsibility. Are any of the characters ready to handle it? Do they even understand what is expected of them since women, especially, are unaware of what goes on in the world around them, are largely uneducated and are ruled by superstition. They are dominated by the rules and wishes of the men around them and have very little freedom of choice. Men are reared to have all their desires and needs attended to by women. Supposedly they only have to show their wives respect, provide for their needs and the needs of the children, in order to keep them happy. Women are raised to believe that it is their duty to serve men, disregarding their own needs and desires. They are kept largely ignorant of the ways of the world, the workings of the body, and opportunities available to others. When the flood gates open, will women disregard all rules and throw caution to the wind? Will men simply acquiesce to the needs and rights of women? Does the world really change or does morality? How does freedom change the world and the people?Three sisters with different personalities are followed through their lives, with the preceding and succeeding generation’s fingerprints upon their lives. From wife beating to respecting wives, from subservient women to educated women, from secrets to lies, from change to change, the reader witnesses the growth of a people as it morphs from one entity to another. Rather than the world revolving around the celestial bodies, it begins to revolve around the needs of individual people. As this change takes place there is a rise in decadence and disobedience, so is the change and enlightenment beneficial? The book will make one wonder if it was better before or after the people gained more knowledge, more freedom and obtained greater individual choice. One will wonder what freedom really is.; does it eventually entrap you? The world was filled with the hypocrisy of rules that kept one sex subservient to the other. There were slaves in the society who actually believed it was their duty to be slaves. When those oppressed were granted rights and greater freedoms, how did that work out for them? As the sheltered women demanded more rights, they were not always prepared to handle them. Did some succeed while others failed? Was the result of modernity beneficial to society or the individual? What was seen was not always what was real. Although someone was perceived in one way, it may not have been the true face or personality of that person. It was how they were taught to behave and present themselves to the world.The customs around marriage changed and with the changes there were positive and negative results. When a marriage was arranged, it most often lasted. When the young were free to choose their own mates, the choices often failed and rather than men asking for divorce, women soon did, as well. A car was something that occupied a place of honor and symbolized material wealth and success. It had the power of life and death in some parts of the world where it was difficult to travel. Getting to a doctor was tedious and time consuming. Only the wealthy and educated were aware of what tools were available to them. The wealthy were in charge and often were heartless. Even the furniture in the home which once stood for honor and respect in a family, soon evolved into more modern pieces with no ties to ancestry or antiquity.So, in summary, over about a century of time, as the Omani culture is brought into modernity, the changes bring some positive and some negative effects. Was life better or worse in the end? Depression and divorce were some negative byproducts. What will the reader think was positive and/or negative? It makes for good discussion.This book is narrated beautifully by the reader. All the characters are appropriately portrayed and his interpretation does not get in the way of the novel’s intent.