An Unnecessary Woman
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Average rating3.8
An obsessive introvert in Beirut, eschewed by her family and neighbors for her divorced status and lack of religious reverence, quietly translates favorite books into Arabic while struggling with her aging body until an unthinkable disaster threatens what little life remains to her. By the best-selling author of The Hakawati. 20,000 first printing.
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The title character of An Unnecessary Woman journeys mainly within the walls of her Beirut apartment, obsessed with creating Arabic translations of world literature that no-one will ever read, and circling through memories — of childhood and war; of her detested former husband; of his sister, her best friend; and gradually of long-hidden secrets that break open into a new chapter of her life. This rambling, chapter-less book is more an extended personal essay than a novel, and takes patience to follow, but may reward a patient reader with its insights into this neglected woman's world.
Couldn’t really get into it. It just kept going no stopping. Didn’t know when she was going to stop that idea and continue with the next. Seems like it’s written like a journal where you just keep your thoughts going. Lack of chapters didn’t help either.
