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A review by nicoleisalwaysreading
Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
2.5
So special to finally get my own copy of Celestial Bodies after much searching in bookstores and online. This is the first book translated from Arabic to win the Man Booker International Prize AND Jokha Alharthi is the first Omani woman to have a novel translated into English.
It took a few failed attempts to really get into this one, and the library repeatedly taking my e-book loan away did not help matters. Jokha Alharthi's writing is largely genealogical, examining the myriad of relationships between three interwoven families. When she gets philosophical, examining the family's place in the larger Omani society, the lingering effects of slavery, apathy, and expectations, or the bond between lovers or sisters, her writing soars with beautiful lyricism. Breathtaking, really.
It was just hard for me to follow the different lines, despite heavily relying on a family tree provided in the beginning. None of the characters felt sufficiently developed, despite multiple installments of their "perspective," with each chapter oscillating between the many characters. The book scans different timelines with little explanation, and there was no cumulative effect, meaning the stories did not seem to build into something easily deciphered. I wanted more, or maybe less? Less characters, more of a deep dive with development for each. I felt like I did not know much more about any of them than when I began, although I did connect with certain characters and their stories
It took a few failed attempts to really get into this one, and the library repeatedly taking my e-book loan away did not help matters. Jokha Alharthi's writing is largely genealogical, examining the myriad of relationships between three interwoven families. When she gets philosophical, examining the family's place in the larger Omani society, the lingering effects of slavery, apathy, and expectations, or the bond between lovers or sisters, her writing soars with beautiful lyricism. Breathtaking, really.
It was just hard for me to follow the different lines, despite heavily relying on a family tree provided in the beginning. None of the characters felt sufficiently developed, despite multiple installments of their "perspective," with each chapter oscillating between the many characters. The book scans different timelines with little explanation, and there was no cumulative effect, meaning the stories did not seem to build into something easily deciphered. I wanted more, or maybe less? Less characters, more of a deep dive with development for each. I felt like I did not know much more about any of them than when I began, although I did connect with certain characters and their stories
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicide