Art expressed by people of all ages. I speak from my
book, an author herself, asked me to attend
own experience as an artist. Being able to exhibit
with her a book sharing here in Oman, only two
my different forms of expression through my
months back. About twenty people attended
paintings has helped me grow as a person. The
this gathering all of who were writers of some
ups and downs made the entire rollercoaster
type or the other. My observation would con-
ride worthwhile and I have no one to thank but
clude that ninety percent of the people were
Oman and its people who have allowed me to
locals. We discussed our writings with each
express and share my work.
other, our ambitions, our plans, our experiences. It was definitely a special night for me; a night
In addition to the artist within me, the writer was
that I will remember for a long time. What made
given the opportunity to express herself. Oman’s
it most special was the passion in the Omani
slow-paced life offered me time, that probably
women’s voices, the confidence in the Omani
no city would, to listen to my silence, the voice of
men’s words, and the unity of us all, having one
my heart, the calls of my soul. It also offered me
thing in common: writing, and how to spread it
with resources to turn my personal journal into a
around the Sultanate.
book; eventually a published book that I decided to launch here first, before my home country. I
From my personal experiences and observations,
learnt a great deal from this experience.
from my own research and surveys, I have learnt that the bestselling books pertain to the topic of
In terms of print media, Oman is making head-
Oman, i.e. Omani heritage, the desert dunes of
way rapidly in terms of new, uprising, and emerg-
Oman, the wildlife of Oman etc. I was told that
ing newspapers, magazines, and publications,
customers include both expatriates as well as
whether daily, weekly, or monthly. My parents
Omanis. Overall, Oman is growing, and still has
would presumably have had one newspaper in
a large hurdle to leap over. But it is on its way.
the seventies which would have most probably
Oman works on its own time. That is the reason
been written in Arabic. Today, however, Oman
why Oman is Oman and not some other country.
has several newspapers and magazines in both
Holding on to values and simultaneously being
Arabic and English. Moreover, I have met and
open to modern technology is one of the most
researched a growing number of Omani authors
difficult challenges for any country, any city, and
who have written or are in the process of writing
any individual. Up till now, I believe Oman is
their own books. It is brilliant to also see Omanis
doing a pretty good job. That is what I love most
in bookstores, searching through both the Eng-
about it; it remains moderate and balanced by
lish and Arabic sections of the shelves.
opening its doors to the popular life of modern
technology at its own pace while holding on to
Fortunately, a friend of mine, the editor of my
its values and beliefs. Cover photo of Marianne Karam’s novel ‘Loud Silence’
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