Sign in with Facebook
W's Reviews > Celestial Bodies
Celestial Bodies
by
by
This is the first novel originally written in Arabic that I've read.Wouldn't have heard of it if it wasn't a Booker Prize winner.
The setting is Oman and I'm always keen to read books set in different countries and cultures.
However,the book was rather underwhelming.Not much of a plot and disparate stories.It is mostly about women's domestic lives in Oman plus a male character Abdallah.There isn't enough drama,excitement or impact.As for humour,it's entirely missing.
The most notable part was about the institution of slavery,which was abolished only in 1970.Slaves could be bought and sold by traders and female slaves could be kept as concubines.
Apart from that,the cultural insights aren't all that informative.I skimmed through the book,so it was a quick read.Not the sort of book that would hold my rapt attention.(That is generally the case with me and Booker winners).
2.5 stars
The setting is Oman and I'm always keen to read books set in different countries and cultures.
However,the book was rather underwhelming.Not much of a plot and disparate stories.It is mostly about women's domestic lives in Oman plus a male character Abdallah.There isn't enough drama,excitement or impact.As for humour,it's entirely missing.
The most notable part was about the institution of slavery,which was abolished only in 1970.Slaves could be bought and sold by traders and female slaves could be kept as concubines.
Apart from that,the cultural insights aren't all that informative.I skimmed through the book,so it was a quick read.Not the sort of book that would hold my rapt attention.(That is generally the case with me and Booker winners).
2.5 stars
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Celestial Bodies.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
February 29, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 29, 2020
– Shelved
June 19, 2020
–
Started Reading
June 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
booker-prize
June 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
fiction
June 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
from-around-the-world
June 19, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
date
newest »
newest »
Yes,Erin the translation wasn't all that great,nor was the book itself.I actually read it with low expectations because Booker winners generally disappoint me.
I liked it,but struggled with the names/relationships.
Uh oh.... I want to read this, but now I have my doubts. If it's boring/a slog to get through, I will just put it down.
I agree with you that the most notable parts were the parts about slavery. Sulayman's granddaughter is a doctor with a BMW, which is great and all . . . but that money came directly from the slave trade. The chapters on Zarifa, describing being groomed by Sulayman were painful to read. I can understand why she's reluctant to leave the big house even after slavery is ended, but it makes me mad when Americans use that kind of behavior to somehow justify slavery, that whole "they can't take care of themselves" and "we did them a favor" makes me queasy
I really wanted to read the book. I don't know much about Oman and the culture, etc. I also love books that have multi-family narrative plots.
I thought maybe the book got lost in translation. Or maybe I was the problem.
The book did get me interested in Oman and the culture and history of the country. Im on the lookout for other books that are written about Oman.