An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih AlameddineMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
This is a deeply thoughtful exploration of character and place.
More so than many other books I've read, I was aware of its impact on me emotionally. There are devastating scenes that I was able to absorb without tears; I know if I were in a different time and place myself, I would have been uncontrollably crying as I read.
My own character and place as I read had a surprising influence on me. Recovering from a preventive mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, I was sedentary and cocooned at home. My best friend & beloved husband Lance took care of my needs. Our 11-year-old Aussie Woody cuddled and protected me. So, so fortunate to have clusters – family, medical team, friends – for support. So, so fortunate to have a peaceful, well-lit room for healing.
The contrast to me was stark as I read of Alameddine's heroine Aaliya's circumstances and state of mind. Decades of war and distrust await outside the door to her small apartment in Beirut. She lives a solitary life in her apartment that is so full of books and manuscripts, she barely has room to breathe. It seems her entire life as "an unnecessary woman" is fraught with tension tamed only by literature and ideas.
This story will stay with you. Read it when the time is right for you. Your heart will open, and a new awareness will inform you.
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