The Man Booker International Prize Winner

Hello Gentle Reader

The winner of this year’s Man Booker International Prize is the Omani writer: Jokha Alharthi, with her novel: “Celestial Bodies.”

“Celestial Bodies,” traces the independence and modernization of Oman, through the personal and domestic lives of three sisters. Despite its overtones of being a typical domestic novel, “Celestial Bodies,” has been described as a touching and powerful narrative that completely defies all conventional narrative tropes and perspectives with regards to discussing slavery, gender, politics, and independence. The judges called the novel a stellar surprise, which both pulls and packs a punch.

In winning the award, Jokha Alharthi becomes the first Arabic language author to receive the Man Booker International Prize. Throughout the prizes complete duration, there have only been six Arabic language authors nominated for the award. With regards to her novel, readers should know that the novel is not a road-map to the Arabic world—be it political or cultural. It is first and foremost a narrative imbued with the artistic measurement of the author and the world in which she wishes to display. The novel carries no answers or textbook connotations of how to navigate the world. The topics of love, loss, pain, hope—are all universal topics though, made unique by the narrative and the story.

Jokha Alharthi’s is in my mind a bit of a surprise. The winner for this year’s award appeared to be Annie Ernaux, who received a great deal of publicity and discussion amongst readers, writers, and journalists. Ernaux’s masterpiece: “The Years,” has been described as a timeless and plural narrative mixing a fragmented association of memory, events, advertisements, with a keen sociological perspective. “The Years,” eschews the typical and conventional notions of the memoirists personal and private recollection, displayed with introspective accuracy. Instead it moves to an objective perspective echoing with plural ‘we’s,’ and anchored with a sly ‘she.’ With “The Years,” finally published Annie Ernaux the fierce and objective sociological chronicler of French letters had found her foothold in the English language. Yet, despite this she did not receive the Man Booker International Prize.

This year’s Man Booker International Prize shortlist was noted for being dominated by women as well as independent publishers. It had been called one of the strongest shortlists in recent memory.

Congratulations to Jokha Alharthi! You’re a surprising win, but I am sure a well-deserved one. I look forward to reading “Celestial Bodies,” in due time.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary