An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine is a novel about Aaliya, a reclusive Beiruti woman in her seventies whose life revolves around her books and the translations that she does in her small apartment.

Nothing much happens in this novel, yet we are privileged to see the inner workings of Aaliya’s mind, her thoughts at this late stage in her life, as she moves back and forth through time reliving memories of past days. There are moments of wisdom and moments of regret, everything informed by her vast knowledge of literature.

Its a joy to read a book that is a love story to great literature and poetry.. However, I was very aware that I was reading a man writing as a woman, and I wondered why the author made this choice. Still, a beautifully written novel, a worthwhile read.