Sharifa bint Salim al Rahbi’s novel, *Salma’s Notebook*, delves into the experiences of girls growing up in Oman during the 1970s, a period marked by significant social and educational changes. Released in 2026 as part of the National Programme for Supporting the Book, an initiative by the Cultural Club aimed at fostering Omani literature, the book offers a detailed portrayal of the challenges and resilience faced by young girls in a transforming society.
The narrative centers on Salma, a young girl whose childhood is spent largely isolated from her peers, in a house distant from her village. To cope with her solitude, Salma creates an imaginary friend with whom she envisions a world full of beauty and companionship, meeting in various familiar places such as her home, the traditional irrigation channel known as the falaj, and at school. The 237-page novel, structured in 19 chapters, captures her early life marked by moments of both affection and hardship, alongside a complex relationship with her father, who is depicted as intermittently present.
Set against the backdrop of Oman’s gradual modernization, including the introduction of schools for both boys and girls and the spread of electricity, the book highlights Salma’s deep yearning for education. Despite the opening of educational opportunities, her pursuit of learning is ultimately curtailed by prevailing family norms and societal expectations. Reflecting common practices of the time, Salma is married at a young age, leading to early motherhood, which further shifts her life toward domestic responsibilities.
*Salma’s Notebook* functions as both a personal recollection and a historical snapshot, with the protagonist documenting her memories of village life, the falaj, her childhood nickname "Daughter of the Jinn," and the daily routines such as riding the school bus. Through these vivid depictions, the novel provides readers with an intimate look into the social fabric and everyday realities of an era characterized by both struggle and transformation in Oman.