This book helped solidify that I need to be more selective with what I read as audiobook. I’m giving this a 4 because I think if I’d read it as a book I’d have enjoyed it more. As it is, because this was a nonlinear story with many, many characters, I lost the thread multiple times. I like what I gathered from the story, but I definitely lost track of who was who and the relations between people. I think it would have been hard to track in a book as well, but it would have been easier to flip around and remind myself of the connections.

I loved that this was a story of multiple generations around a time of great change. The characters all react differently to “new” ways of living. Family dynamics in this kind of scenario are fascinating to read.

I don’t have anything much more than that to say - I enjoyed learning about everyone and seeing their stories play out. It’s the kind of story I’d love to see as a mini-series. It would be something like the Omani version of Downton Abbey.