Celestial Bodies

The notion of colonialism exists mostly in the novel’s subtext. In what ways are colonial themes presented and examined in the book?

In what way do the generational attitudes to marriage change and evolve in Oman over the course of the decades?

Many characters travel abroad to gain a foreign education. Which character is most helped by this education?

The Bedouin people are distinct from the townspeople of al-Awafi. In what ways is this cultural tension explored in the novel?

The use of first-person narration in the Abdallah chapters can alter the way in which the reader interprets the story. How does Abdallah’s narration affect the portrayal of various characters?

To what extent is Abdallah reliable narrator? Is there any reason to doubt his version of events?

Abdallah’s childhood memories of being dangled in the well have long-lasting repercussions. How does this traumatic experience affect his relationship with others?

Books are important to many characters. In what way are the marriages and the parenting of various characters affected by the literature that they consume?