Silken Gazelles
Oman

Silken Gazelles

by Jokha Alharthi

Friendship Literary Fiction Family Saga 2024

Summary

Set between a small mountain village and the bustling capital of Muscat, Oman, Silken Gazelles explores the enduring bonds between women, the pain of separation, and the complicated ways childhood relationships shape adult lives.

Ghazaala and Asiya grow up as milk-sisters, sharing a bond considered as close as that between biological siblings. But tragedy tears them apart, and Asiya is forced to leave their village. Her disappearance leaves a lasting wound in Ghazaala’s life, prompting her to search for love and belonging elsewhere.

Years later, Ghazaala falls in love with a violinist and moves to Muscat, where she attempts to balance marriage, motherhood, and her education. At university, she befriends Harir, who begins documenting their deepening friendship in her diary. Unbeknownst to either woman, Asiya’s mysterious past connects their lives in unexpected ways.

Moving between past and present, Jokha Alharthi weaves together the stories of three women navigating love, loss, family expectations, and the pursuit of independence. The novel offers an intimate portrait of Omani society while examining how friendships evolve over time—and how the absence of someone can continue to shape the lives of those left behind.

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About the author
Jokha Alharthi
Jokha Alharthi

Jokha Alharthi is an Omani novelist and academic whose work explores family, memory, gender, and the transformation of Omani society. Born in Oman in 1978, she earned a PhD in classical Arabic literature from the University of Edinburgh in 2011 and teaches at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat. Writing in Arabic, Alharthi has published novels, short-story collections, children’s books, and scholarly works. She gained international recognition in 2019 when her novel Celestial Bodies, translated into English by Marilyn Booth, won the Man Booker International Prize. Alharthi became the first Arabic-language author to receive the award, bringing greater international attention to Omani literature. Her novel Bitter Orange Tree, originally published in Arabic as Narinjah in 2016, further demonstrates her interest in the complexities of women’s lives, social expectations, and the emotional connections between generations. Her writing offers readers an intimate perspective on Omani culture while exploring experiences that resonate across borders.

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Details
Published
2024
Author
Jokha Alharthi