Comments on: New Omani Initiative to Publish a 100 Books a Year http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/ The personal blog of Riyadh Al Balushi Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:13:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: UD http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2452 UD Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:16:24 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2452 I heard a factoid once that there are more books published in Sweden every year translated into Swedish than have been translated and published in Arabic in the last 100 years, or something like that... I heard a factoid once that there are more books published in Sweden every year translated into Swedish than have been translated and published in Arabic in the last 100 years, or something like that…

]]> By: UD http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2241 UD Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:16:24 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2241 I heard a factoid once that there are more books published in Sweden every year translated into Swedish than have been translated and published in Arabic in the last 100 years, or something like that... I heard a factoid once that there are more books published in Sweden every year translated into Swedish than have been translated and published in Arabic in the last 100 years, or something like that…

]]> By: Blue_Chi http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2192 Blue_Chi Thu, 21 May 2009 06:31:04 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2192 Hello Ahmed, thanks for commenting. <br><br>I really don't have a resource from which I got that number, I just remember that it was a very small one! :P Hello Ahmed, thanks for commenting.

I really don't have a resource from which I got that number, I just remember that it was a very small one! :P

]]> By: Ahmed Al-Maaini http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2191 Ahmed Al-Maaini Wed, 20 May 2009 22:33:49 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2191 Typo: synical=cynical Typo: synical=cynical

]]> By: Ahmed Al-Maaini http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2190 Ahmed Al-Maaini Wed, 20 May 2009 22:31:27 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2190 Dear Riyadh,<br><br>Many thanks for posting about this initiative in English. I would also like to thank you for other very interesting posts in your blog.<br><br>I have one comment on what you said:<br>"When Muscat was selected as THE Arabic capital for culture, only 9 books were published during that event".<br><br>Come on, Riyadh! Most of us might be synical about publishing and readership in Oman, but you are certainly mistaken about that number! I can list, from my poor memory only, at least 20 titles published by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture on that event. I am sure there are many more, despite the fact that some books were delayed until 2007, but on the scheme. <br><br>Sorry, mate. I just thought I needed to correct that. Dear Riyadh,

Many thanks for posting about this initiative in English. I would also like to thank you for other very interesting posts in your blog.

I have one comment on what you said:
“When Muscat was selected as THE Arabic capital for culture, only 9 books were published during that event”.

Come on, Riyadh! Most of us might be synical about publishing and readership in Oman, but you are certainly mistaken about that number! I can list, from my poor memory only, at least 20 titles published by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture on that event. I am sure there are many more, despite the fact that some books were delayed until 2007, but on the scheme.

Sorry, mate. I just thought I needed to correct that.

]]> By: Blue_Chi http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2189 Blue_Chi Wed, 20 May 2009 06:56:54 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2189 Thanks for commenting AP, I think that you are right, my justifications were a bit too extreme. Thanks for commenting AP, I think that you are right, my justifications were a bit too extreme.

]]> By: Arabian Princess http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2188 Arabian Princess Wed, 20 May 2009 02:30:26 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2188 <b>The exhibition is busy because (1) the majority of schools organize trips for their students, (2) Muscat can get boring and people have nowhere else to go, (3) people still have hope that they will find something interesting but they don't necessarily find stuff when they actually go there, (4) teenagers go in hope just to flirt with girls.</b><br><br>I dont think you are being very fair here .. I for one, wait for the book exhibition because it brings with it big Arabic publishers who have the newest books Al Saqi, Al Jamal and Al Hikma to name a few. I end up buying number of books everytime. I always say, if you want to go there to get somethign you need to know what you are looking for.<br><br>Regarding the price of Arabic novels, they are not very cheap these days. The average price of arabic novels is around 3 Rials and could go to 5 and 6 if it was popular. Omani novels might not be within that range.<br><br>Yes, we have a problem with readership and it all goes back down to the education at home and school. People who are not exposed to reading at a young age, could never grow up to be readers. So I guess, this goal should be aligned with the MOE in order for it to come to reality. The exhibition is busy because (1) the majority of schools organize trips for their students, (2) Muscat can get boring and people have nowhere else to go, (3) people still have hope that they will find something interesting but they don't necessarily find stuff when they actually go there, (4) teenagers go in hope just to flirt with girls.

I dont think you are being very fair here .. I for one, wait for the book exhibition because it brings with it big Arabic publishers who have the newest books Al Saqi, Al Jamal and Al Hikma to name a few. I end up buying number of books everytime. I always say, if you want to go there to get somethign you need to know what you are looking for.

Regarding the price of Arabic novels, they are not very cheap these days. The average price of arabic novels is around 3 Rials and could go to 5 and 6 if it was popular. Omani novels might not be within that range.

Yes, we have a problem with readership and it all goes back down to the education at home and school. People who are not exposed to reading at a young age, could never grow up to be readers. So I guess, this goal should be aligned with the MOE in order for it to come to reality.

]]> By: Blue_Chi http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2187 Blue_Chi Tue, 19 May 2009 22:45:00 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2187 Most books sold at the book exhibition are either religious books, children comics, or random collection of poetry, health, and cooking. And lets not forget the many outdated translations of computer guide books (example: How to Use Windows 98 - I SAW ONE MYSELF).<br><br>When Muscat was selected as THE Arabic capital for culture, only 9 books were published during that event.<br><br>The exhibition is busy because (1) the majority of schools organize trips for their students, (2) Muscat can get boring and people have nowhere else to go, (3) people still have hope that they will find something interesting but they don't necessarily find stuff when they actually go there, (4) teenagers go in hope just to flirt with girls.<br><br>I think that publication regulations in Oman are similar to other Arabic states. We don't have anything that is really special or super strict.<br><br>In the UK and the US there is no such thing as a pre-publication examination of any books by the authorities. Anybody can print out and publish any books. People are still responsible for what they write obviously, but in Oman the state has to review and approve the publication of any book. A printer will not even print your book if you do not have an authorization letter from the Ministry of Information. Most books sold at the book exhibition are either religious books, children comics, or random collection of poetry, health, and cooking. And lets not forget the many outdated translations of computer guide books (example: How to Use Windows 98 – I SAW ONE MYSELF).

When Muscat was selected as THE Arabic capital for culture, only 9 books were published during that event.

The exhibition is busy because (1) the majority of schools organize trips for their students, (2) Muscat can get boring and people have nowhere else to go, (3) people still have hope that they will find something interesting but they don't necessarily find stuff when they actually go there, (4) teenagers go in hope just to flirt with girls.

I think that publication regulations in Oman are similar to other Arabic states. We don't have anything that is really special or super strict.

In the UK and the US there is no such thing as a pre-publication examination of any books by the authorities. Anybody can print out and publish any books. People are still responsible for what they write obviously, but in Oman the state has to review and approve the publication of any book. A printer will not even print your book if you do not have an authorization letter from the Ministry of Information.

]]> By: OmanVirtually http://www.blue-chi.com/2009/oman-publishing-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2186 OmanVirtually Tue, 19 May 2009 17:14:50 +0000 http://www.blue-chi.com/?p=1050#comment-2186 I went to the book fair at Seeb - so busy, must be a lot of demand.<br>How does Oman’s publishing regulations compare to other Arab countries? <br>How is it different to say Britain in the legal situation of publishing any book and number of publications per head of population? <br>Do authors need permission in Britain to publish ? I went to the book fair at Seeb – so busy, must be a lot of demand.
How does Oman’s publishing regulations compare to other Arab countries?
How is it different to say Britain in the legal situation of publishing any book and number of publications per head of population?
Do authors need permission in Britain to publish ?

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