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Majan Chronicles
Venture into hearts and minds with a new short story collection.
Explore Oman with Majan Chronicles, a series of fictional short stories all about the daily dramas of our lovely lives. Each story is a small, fun adventure into the soul of a different Omani: A retiree who doesn’t know what to do with his life anymore, a volunteer worker who goes to Al Batinah after Cyclone Shaheen, a girl who doesn’t want to feel alone anymore in her house of silence.
Each story has a unique perspective and offers insight into a different themes such as volunteerism, love, the benefits of boredom, and parenthood. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Majan Chronicles.
As a bonus, each story has a QR code which takes you to an audio version of the story produced by Oman FM 90.4
Explore Oman with Majan Chronicles, a series of fictional short stories all about the daily dramas of our lovely lives. Each story is a small, fun adventure into the soul of a different Omani: A retiree who doesn’t know what to do with his life anymore, a volunteer worker who goes to Al Batinah after Cyclone Shaheen, a girl who doesn’t want to feel alone anymore in her house of silence.
Each story has a unique perspective and offers insight into a different themes such as volunteerism, love, the benefits of boredom, and parenthood. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Majan Chronicles.
As a bonus, each story has a QR code which takes you to an audio version of the story produced by Oman FM 90.4
150 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2022
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Ammar Al Naaimi
5 books77 followersAmmar Al Naaimi is trapped in a void in the middle of space, which devours most of his time without him even knowing where the time had gone.
When not struggling valiantly against the void, Ammar writes Fantasy stories about Arabs doing magical things. He also has a daytime job as an editor.
When not struggling valiantly against the void, Ammar writes Fantasy stories about Arabs doing magical things. He also has a daytime job as an editor.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 15, 2022
First, let me reiterate how nice it is to see an Omani young writer portraying Oman’s culture and social drama through literature. I have read Ammar’s previous two publications and having just finished the third, I can say that Ammar has a unique way of storytelling that, more often than not, makes you hooked to the story.
My interest fluctuated when reading the stories in Majan Chronicle. Two stories stood out for me more than the others, which are Speaking Tongues and Overcome. The elements of these two stories were just to my liking and the storyline was to the point. This is not to say that the other stories aren’t good, but there was one element or two that affected the overall structure.
In general, this was a light read that kept me entertained when my four-month baby girl was taking her very short naps!
My interest fluctuated when reading the stories in Majan Chronicle. Two stories stood out for me more than the others, which are Speaking Tongues and Overcome. The elements of these two stories were just to my liking and the storyline was to the point. This is not to say that the other stories aren’t good, but there was one element or two that affected the overall structure.
In general, this was a light read that kept me entertained when my four-month baby girl was taking her very short naps!
August 29, 2022
Majan Chronicles is a collection of unique and interesting short stories set in Oman. The stories cover a range beautifully developed characters that explore themes such as bullying, racism, family dinner time, and so much more. While set in Oman with Omani langauge and cultural references, these stories can be enjoyed by those unfamiliar with Oman and would be an especially nice read for those familiar with Oman.
I personally loved how deeply human each of the characters felt. While reading the stories, I could feel that I was cooking in the kitchen in one story, running to the dukkan in another and sitting in the majlis in others. One of my favorite stories in the collection follows the life of a shy, nerdy boy who finds friendship and refuge from bullying in Pokemon Go.
A unique aspect of this collection is that each story contains a QR code that you can scan that will bring you to an audio recording of the story. This beautifully represents Oman storytelling culture with the modern world. I’m so excited to recommend this to friends and students who love stories.
I personally loved how deeply human each of the characters felt. While reading the stories, I could feel that I was cooking in the kitchen in one story, running to the dukkan in another and sitting in the majlis in others. One of my favorite stories in the collection follows the life of a shy, nerdy boy who finds friendship and refuge from bullying in Pokemon Go.
A unique aspect of this collection is that each story contains a QR code that you can scan that will bring you to an audio recording of the story. This beautifully represents Oman storytelling culture with the modern world. I’m so excited to recommend this to friends and students who love stories.
December 4, 2022
Another short story collection by Mr Ammar AlNaimi. I enjoyed it.
Because these stories take place in Oman there are parallels and happenings that mirror real life (despite them being fictional).
One story that I thoroughly enjoyed was "The Great Craze". The Hassan was relatable and not just because we share the same name. I am a fan of Pokemon and it was a big part of my childhood, the TV anime and videogames.
This might sound weird but "The Great Craze" reminded me of Stephen King's IT. In IT, the story moves focus in time from 1958 (when the characters were kids) and 1985 (when they were adults). And here, we see Hassan as a kid in 1996 and as an adult in 2016 (when Pokemon GO was released).
All in all, the stories were good and enjoyable. They were quick reads and fun. You should pick it up if you are Omani or would like to know more about Oman (there's a glossary of terms at the end, it's really neat).
I'm waiting on Mr Ammar's new books because it seems he has a prosperous writing career ahead of him.
Because these stories take place in Oman there are parallels and happenings that mirror real life (despite them being fictional).
One story that I thoroughly enjoyed was "The Great Craze". The Hassan was relatable and not just because we share the same name. I am a fan of Pokemon and it was a big part of my childhood, the TV anime and videogames.
This might sound weird but "The Great Craze" reminded me of Stephen King's IT. In IT, the story moves focus in time from 1958 (when the characters were kids) and 1985 (when they were adults). And here, we see Hassan as a kid in 1996 and as an adult in 2016 (when Pokemon GO was released).
All in all, the stories were good and enjoyable. They were quick reads and fun. You should pick it up if you are Omani or would like to know more about Oman (there's a glossary of terms at the end, it's really neat).
I'm waiting on Mr Ammar's new books because it seems he has a prosperous writing career ahead of him.
September 11, 2022
I'm not writing this review because my name is in the Acknowledgement page, also in page 96 (she's totally me)
I personally enjoyed the stories, and I love the fact there's a QR code for every story if you want to hear them being read by the author Ammar Al Naaimi. Every story has a nice message in the end, every story gives a spotlight to something we consider mundane, part of our daily life and wraps it all up in a light-hearted story that makes you feel warm eventually. Compared to the previous releases of Ammar, this one is more realistic. It touches parts of our lives and explores the human emotion more deeply, which I personally found it to be relatable.
I personally enjoyed the stories, and I love the fact there's a QR code for every story if you want to hear them being read by the author Ammar Al Naaimi. Every story has a nice message in the end, every story gives a spotlight to something we consider mundane, part of our daily life and wraps it all up in a light-hearted story that makes you feel warm eventually. Compared to the previous releases of Ammar, this one is more realistic. It touches parts of our lives and explores the human emotion more deeply, which I personally found it to be relatable.
September 6, 2022
This is a good book on 2 levels. Not only is each story well crafted and well paced. But the writer also leaves us wanting more with each story. I've read a lot of short stories in my life and I've always loved the art. Because writing a short story is an art - you don't have the luxury of time or attention and if you write badly, you've already lost your reader.
(let's ignore the typos, it was my first ARC)
The author also manages to infuse the stories with that special Omani touch which seems so familiar but is also very fresh. At the same time, the stories are universal and so very interesting.
Highly recommended.
(let's ignore the typos, it was my first ARC)
The author also manages to infuse the stories with that special Omani touch which seems so familiar but is also very fresh. At the same time, the stories are universal and so very interesting.
Highly recommended.
September 18, 2022
ARC Review 📚
Majan chronicles is a collection of short stories based in Oman about the ins and outs and the ups and downs of our daily lives.
These incredible stories wore soo beautifully written by the author, soo much detail went in to each one. The stories wore short yet you could feel what each character was going through what they wore seeing, eating or doing at a particular time, it was like looking through a window that opened up in to their lives.
The character development in each story was fanominal to say the least.
After reading the stories I felt that I've taken something important away from each on. Some wore lessons, others offered a deeper meaning of life and to appreciate the blessings that I already have.
The Author explored soo many themes that are relevant to our present times. The importance of family bond and communicating with each other, rediscovering your purpose in life, freedom and growth, to the importance of never giving up on yourself through small changes to eliminate bad habits and not judging people based on their race or culture but rather treating them as equal human beings and trying to find ways to better understand there way of life and so much more.
This book has something to offer everyone, weither you've been to oman or not. This country which is a safe heaven for many, a drop of heaven in this vast desert with it's reach culture and heritage its beautiful landscapes and to its people who are warmhearted, kind and caring which you'll never find elsewhere, (believe me I've been and lived in many countries in my 30 young years lol).
Honestly I'm soo proud to be omani and this collection of short Stories will always have a place in my heart. Now October needs to hurry up so I can have my copy on my shelf.
Not to forget the Audiobook which is norrated by non other than the Author himself, ( available on all major podcast platforms) was incredible the sound effects and the soundtracks used wore outstanding. 🌷💗
Majan chronicles is a collection of short stories based in Oman about the ins and outs and the ups and downs of our daily lives.
These incredible stories wore soo beautifully written by the author, soo much detail went in to each one. The stories wore short yet you could feel what each character was going through what they wore seeing, eating or doing at a particular time, it was like looking through a window that opened up in to their lives.
The character development in each story was fanominal to say the least.
After reading the stories I felt that I've taken something important away from each on. Some wore lessons, others offered a deeper meaning of life and to appreciate the blessings that I already have.
The Author explored soo many themes that are relevant to our present times. The importance of family bond and communicating with each other, rediscovering your purpose in life, freedom and growth, to the importance of never giving up on yourself through small changes to eliminate bad habits and not judging people based on their race or culture but rather treating them as equal human beings and trying to find ways to better understand there way of life and so much more.
This book has something to offer everyone, weither you've been to oman or not. This country which is a safe heaven for many, a drop of heaven in this vast desert with it's reach culture and heritage its beautiful landscapes and to its people who are warmhearted, kind and caring which you'll never find elsewhere, (believe me I've been and lived in many countries in my 30 young years lol).
Honestly I'm soo proud to be omani and this collection of short Stories will always have a place in my heart. Now October needs to hurry up so I can have my copy on my shelf.
Not to forget the Audiobook which is norrated by non other than the Author himself, ( available on all major podcast platforms) was incredible the sound effects and the soundtracks used wore outstanding. 🌷💗
September 14, 2022
3.5 stars 🌟
First of all I want to point out how refreshing it is to read a book where you understand and know all the references and places. Ammar this is an incredible start and I can’t wait to read your future work🤝
Book review:
My friend once told me “You are the main character in your life, so act like it”, and so reading about our daily life drama makes me believe it even more😆
Having a collection of short stories means that some stories will stand out more than the others. I personally loved Speaking Tongues, Growing Feelings and Overcome! It’s amazing to see how Ammar is trying to spread awareness about the challenges regarding our culture. And the writing style was very easy to grasp and it was smooth👍🏻
I truly enjoyed this book and believe others will as well. However I also believe that Ammar is capable of more. There were a lot of stories and little depth in them, which made me feel slightly disconnected from the characters. I would love to see how it will turn out if he focused on 5 to 6 stories rather than 12.
This is an incredible start for future Oman-based books to be written and published worldwide 🌎🇴🇲♥️
First of all I want to point out how refreshing it is to read a book where you understand and know all the references and places. Ammar this is an incredible start and I can’t wait to read your future work🤝
Book review:
My friend once told me “You are the main character in your life, so act like it”, and so reading about our daily life drama makes me believe it even more😆
Having a collection of short stories means that some stories will stand out more than the others. I personally loved Speaking Tongues, Growing Feelings and Overcome! It’s amazing to see how Ammar is trying to spread awareness about the challenges regarding our culture. And the writing style was very easy to grasp and it was smooth👍🏻
I truly enjoyed this book and believe others will as well. However I also believe that Ammar is capable of more. There were a lot of stories and little depth in them, which made me feel slightly disconnected from the characters. I would love to see how it will turn out if he focused on 5 to 6 stories rather than 12.
This is an incredible start for future Oman-based books to be written and published worldwide 🌎🇴🇲♥️
July 9, 2023
This is a read I definitely enjoyed
I’m not much of a short stories collection reader but these ones were so relatable. I enjoyed reading about Oman and was surprised how much its culture and traditions are so similar to ours
The stories were written beautifully filled with love that I felt radiate off the pages
Hopefully I’ll be able to read more books written by Ammar who I’m sure will be one of the brightest writers in the future
I’m not much of a short stories collection reader but these ones were so relatable. I enjoyed reading about Oman and was surprised how much its culture and traditions are so similar to ours
The stories were written beautifully filled with love that I felt radiate off the pages
Hopefully I’ll be able to read more books written by Ammar who I’m sure will be one of the brightest writers in the future
September 11, 2022
Majan Chronicles is a compilation of twelve incredible short stories set in Oman. The plot narrates the characters' overcomes of their struggles and also covers topics such as trauma, retirement, bullying, racism, family bonding, and so much more. The story takes you through the Omani cultures and the interaction of Arabic words, which was harmonious.
The author's linguistic writing style was quit engaging. The pace was relevant and brief. The characters were wonderfully portrayed.
💫 Helping Out: The story covers the community aid of young volunteers and how the cyclone victims dealt with their lives.
💫 Intrigue of the Matriach: It speaks of the strength and worth of the matriarch and the family bond.
💫 Terror Behind the Wheel: It narrates how easily we assume people's races and fall into racism.
💫 Fighting the Ashen Dragon: This story speaks of a young man fighting to quit smoking.
💫 Speaking Tongues: This reflects the lack of communication and understanding between young married couples.
💫 The Great Beyond Isn't That Great: It depicts the second stage of a retiree's life, how his perspective changes.
💫 Hungry Nostalgia: The story is about a young girl who finds a way to beat her loneliness and bond with her family.
💫 The Hidden Truth: It speaks from the standpoint of woman's rights.
💫 Growing Feelings: This story is about a college girl who discovers her new passion during her semester holiday towards nature.
💫 The Great Craze: It tells the life of a timid boy who finds friendship and refuge from bullying in Pokemon Go.
💫 Overcome: This is about four friends who tries to keep the environment clean by doing little things.
💫 Piece of Heart: A heartwarming story between a teenage boy and his father.
Overall, the stories were heartwarming and highly recommend.
The author's linguistic writing style was quit engaging. The pace was relevant and brief. The characters were wonderfully portrayed.
💫 Helping Out: The story covers the community aid of young volunteers and how the cyclone victims dealt with their lives.
💫 Intrigue of the Matriach: It speaks of the strength and worth of the matriarch and the family bond.
💫 Terror Behind the Wheel: It narrates how easily we assume people's races and fall into racism.
💫 Fighting the Ashen Dragon: This story speaks of a young man fighting to quit smoking.
💫 Speaking Tongues: This reflects the lack of communication and understanding between young married couples.
💫 The Great Beyond Isn't That Great: It depicts the second stage of a retiree's life, how his perspective changes.
💫 Hungry Nostalgia: The story is about a young girl who finds a way to beat her loneliness and bond with her family.
💫 The Hidden Truth: It speaks from the standpoint of woman's rights.
💫 Growing Feelings: This story is about a college girl who discovers her new passion during her semester holiday towards nature.
💫 The Great Craze: It tells the life of a timid boy who finds friendship and refuge from bullying in Pokemon Go.
💫 Overcome: This is about four friends who tries to keep the environment clean by doing little things.
💫 Piece of Heart: A heartwarming story between a teenage boy and his father.
Overall, the stories were heartwarming and highly recommend.
September 5, 2022
The book felt like taking a road trip across Oman where you stop by people’s houses and learn their tales. I had wished it would go on for longer to discover even more about Oman and it’s people.
The stories offer a variety of people all with their own struggles and voice, experiences and visions. That alone, gave the book a colorful voice.
The integration of Arabic phrases and Omani traditions was smooth, it does not disturb the flow but empowers it.
The stories come at different levels, or rather are targeted at different audiences. It can be a family book for all to read, from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent.
The stories offer a variety of people all with their own struggles and voice, experiences and visions. That alone, gave the book a colorful voice.
The integration of Arabic phrases and Omani traditions was smooth, it does not disturb the flow but empowers it.
The stories come at different levels, or rather are targeted at different audiences. It can be a family book for all to read, from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent.
July 13, 2023
It was my first time reading a contemporary book settled in Oman, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to review it. Thank you, Ammar Al Naimi, for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall views:
★ Majan Chronicles beautifully captures the spirit of Oman, offering readers an immersive experience through its twelve captivating short stories. Ammar Al Naimi truly has a unique gift for storytelling, deftly weaving simple yet intriguing narratives that delve into the hearts and minds of his characters.
★ Each tale introduces us to a different character and gives us a short snippet of their life, highlighting a mishap or challenge they are facing. One of the most commendable aspects of the book is the author's ability to seamlessly transition between characters and their unique perspectives. He captures their emotions with sensitivity and authenticity. By doing so, he creates a powerful connection between the readers and the characters, fostering empathy and understanding.
★ There are also QR codes are provided at the beginning of each story, leading to the audio versions available on Spotify. This feature enhances the reading experience, allowing readers to engage with the stories on a multi-sensory level and further immersing them in the world of "Majan Chronicles."
★ I liked how the stories ended positively with hope and joy no matter what troubles the characters were facing.
My favorite story was " Intrigue of the Matriarch"; it felt very relatable and made me go, "I've been there too!". Also, seeing things like " Switz cake" being mentioned in the story was very pleasantly surprising as I've grown up with these things too and seeing them in the story is just very relatable.
Final thoughts:
★ I think middle eastern readers will absolutely love this short story collection as we can find a sense of relatability in the stories and learn something from them.
Other readers might also enjoy this novel if they want to gain some understanding of Omani culture and the middle east in general.
A glossary of terms is also provided at the end of the book, so understanding certain words shouldn't be a problem.
Happy reading, everyone!
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall views:
★ Majan Chronicles beautifully captures the spirit of Oman, offering readers an immersive experience through its twelve captivating short stories. Ammar Al Naimi truly has a unique gift for storytelling, deftly weaving simple yet intriguing narratives that delve into the hearts and minds of his characters.
★ Each tale introduces us to a different character and gives us a short snippet of their life, highlighting a mishap or challenge they are facing. One of the most commendable aspects of the book is the author's ability to seamlessly transition between characters and their unique perspectives. He captures their emotions with sensitivity and authenticity. By doing so, he creates a powerful connection between the readers and the characters, fostering empathy and understanding.
★ There are also QR codes are provided at the beginning of each story, leading to the audio versions available on Spotify. This feature enhances the reading experience, allowing readers to engage with the stories on a multi-sensory level and further immersing them in the world of "Majan Chronicles."
★ I liked how the stories ended positively with hope and joy no matter what troubles the characters were facing.
My favorite story was " Intrigue of the Matriarch"; it felt very relatable and made me go, "I've been there too!". Also, seeing things like " Switz cake" being mentioned in the story was very pleasantly surprising as I've grown up with these things too and seeing them in the story is just very relatable.
Final thoughts:
★ I think middle eastern readers will absolutely love this short story collection as we can find a sense of relatability in the stories and learn something from them.
Other readers might also enjoy this novel if they want to gain some understanding of Omani culture and the middle east in general.
A glossary of terms is also provided at the end of the book, so understanding certain words shouldn't be a problem.
Happy reading, everyone!
October 17, 2022
I was one of the lucky readers who had the opportunity to pre-order this book and have it signed by the author, who wrote in his dedication, ‘May these stories bring you joy.’ And that is precisely what they did. “Majan Chronicles” is a collection of fictional short stories written by the young, promising Omani author Ammar Al Naaimi. Each story is set in Oman, with a different set of characters and plot lines. What I loved about the stories is how each explores a different area in the vast country, allowing readers who are unfamiliar with Oman to be introduced to it and its culture, and those who live in the country to see it with a new set of eyes and appreciate it, and the rich stories it has to offer, further. In addition, I enjoyed how well-written each of the stories was. Al Naaimi’s writing is deceptively simple, and I mean that in the best way possible. The language is easy for a variety of age groups to follow, yet many of the stories have incredible depth, and explore important themes and issues, including racism, reproduction and the struggle to hold onto traditional ways of life in a fast-changing country. This is a feat that not many authors can achieve well. What Al Naaimi also does wonderfully is how he generally concludes his stories on a hopeful note, which balances out the heaviness of some of the themes, and delivers on his promise to bring his readers joy through this book. Al Naaimi is an author to watch and I look forward to reading more works by him that highlight the richness of Oman and the stories it has to offer the world.
December 14, 2022
A collection of heartwarming stories set in Oman. The stories take you on a journey around Oman delving into major Omani events, and cultural issues, and gives a new perspective on issues compared to the global view.
I chose this book to gift to my ESL students for the unique way the stories were told. The QR code to the audiobook was a really nice touch.
Looking forward to the future brilliance of Ammar Al Naaimi!
I chose this book to gift to my ESL students for the unique way the stories were told. The QR code to the audiobook was a really nice touch.
Looking forward to the future brilliance of Ammar Al Naaimi!
July 20, 2023
I keep on reading this book slowly because I don't want it to end, it brings me comfort ❤️
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews