An UNNECESSARY WOMAN-An Essential Esoteric Novel by Lebanese Writer R Alameddine

Rabih Alameddine's brilliant bibliophile's gift & Nat'l Bk Award winning novel AN UNNECESSARY WOMAN is essentially a hybrid of literary genius, historical fiction, and an ode to art's ability to transcend humanity.   Alameddine (b. Jordan 1955) makes both Beirut & San Francisco home.  The  novel is set in Beirut.  The heroine, Aaliya, ("highest, most exalted) is a misanthropic, auto-didactic, voracious reader & translator of translated literary works into Arabic.  Her self-imposed rules for translating and monastic lifestyle render her affable, laughable and infuriating. "I am alone. It is a choice I've made, yet it is also a choice with few other options available. Beiruti society wasn't fond of divorced, childless women…"  Aaliya has deep love for her country and contempt for its backwards misogynistic mentality and penchant for military confrontation.  Her hatred for Israel is clear. She faults  Israel for constantly "retaliating-excessively, as has always been her won't." Still, she maintains the highest esteem for many Jewish writers.  Homage is made to many of the worlds' greatest artists, composers, musicians and writers.   The most exalted praise is reserved for Chopin, Matisse and Tolstoy. It's not true to claim Aaliya was without a beloved ally.  Sadly, "Hannah reappears in my memories to remind me of how alone I am, how utterly inconsequential my life has become."  It's also disingenuous to describe this as morose meanderings.  This miraculous masterpiece is a testament for  availing oneself to friendship and opportunities.