An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine the boston globe. Standing before a smudged bathroom mirror, aaliyah saleh, the 72yearold narrator of an unnecessary woman, warns. An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine book lovers. In conversation with elizabeth strout olive kitteridge one of the middle easts most celebrated writers, rabih alameddine, discusses his novel an unnecessary woman, an intimate and moving portrait of a reclusive bookloving 72yearold lebanese woman who views her complicated past through the lens of her favorite works of literature. Reading an unnecessary woman is about listening to a voice aaliyas not cantering through a plot, although powerful events do occur, both in the present and in memorya fun, and often funny, bookrich in quirky metaphors an unnecessary woman is not a game, though. Since 2006, under the direction of founding editor brigid hughes the mission of a public space has been to seek out and support overlooked and unclassifiable work. We meet for an hour the second thursday of each month at 12. It was also a finalist for the national book critics circle award and the national book award. Home an unnecessary woman discussion guide libguides. Does work matter if it is not shared or does not last. The book club click to join in the discussion about this. Steve gilbert, sally gilbert, beth dailey, tlt group and others. A public space is an independent, nonprofit publisher of the awardwinning literary and arts magazine. Sep 22, 20 discussion forum unnecessary pap smears.
I found the author to be very pretentious with his name dropping and the main character was truly unnecessary. The thirtyseven books that aaliya has translated have never been readby anyone. If you didnt have a chance to join us in person or on twitter, wed love to hear your thoughts on the discussion questions below. For fifty years, she has translated novels into arabic, usually starting a. An unnecessary woman, a piercing study of detachment and. Does aaliyas anonymity as a translator really makes her an unnecessary woman in her eyes. I like this book because i usually appreciate books that introduce me to other books. An unnecessary woman, nominated for the national book award. An unnecessary woman was the gold medal winner for fiction in the commonwealth clubs 84th annual california book awards in 2014, an annual event that honors california writers.
The woman in white is considered to be one of the first mystery novels. The guides offer summaries, questions, author interviews, and other supplementary material. Little women is the most famous work by writer louisa may alcott. To prepare for the start of the book club on wednesday and support your local independent bookstore, order your copy print or e book here or here or an audiobook here.
Vsdc book club discusses an unnecessary woman meetup. The brown bag discussion group is a monthly book club sponsored by the guerneville library. Reserve a set of books for your book discussion group. Soooo, were not too big to admit we make mistakes, right. Not much happens in an unnecessary woman, lebaneseamerican author rabih alameddines novel about an elderly recluse who spends. The book can be categorized as a work of metanovel. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Ten reasons an unnecessary woman is necessary reading a. It is the hourbyhour study of a woman who is struggling for dignity with every breath. Aaliya sobhi is an elderly divorced woman living alone in an apartment in beirut. Its the brainchild of prolific writer rachel syme, where anyone interested in participating can partake in reading a biography of a notable woman each month. An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine goodreads. Listen to these interesting discussions of booksfor example, elizabeth gilberts eat pray love, which some loved, some hated.
This discussion guide features questions about broad themes. Apr 17, 2019 aaliya sohbi lives alone in her beirut apartment, surrounded by stockpiles of books. Home an unnecessary woman discussion guide libguides at. Rabih alameddine, author of an unnecessary woman in his new novel, rabih alameddine questions what the value is of an inwardly focused. You could say i was thinking of other things when i shampooed my hair blue, and two glasses of red wine didnt help my concentration, says aaliyah sohbi. An enthralling saga, inspired by real events, that recreates the danger. Unnecessary woman lives on the margins, enveloped in. The edible woman by margaret atwood book club discussion. Could the novel have been set anywhere else other than beirut. New york times an unnecessary woman is a breathtaking portrait of one reclusive womans late. An unnecessary woman not much happens in an unnecessary woman, lebaneseamerican author rabih alameddines novel about an elderly recluse who spends her time reading and translating. These are some of the intense emotions which define an unnecessary woman. For your reading pleasure, here are 11 nonfiction books by women you need to read with your book club because you can never have too many. One of beiruts most celebrated voices, rabih alameddine fo.
Rabih alameddine, author of an unnecessary woman in his new novel, rabih alameddine questions what the value is of an inwardly focused life. New york times to participate you must read at least half the bookand rsvp at least two days before the meeting. An unnecessary woman is a painful reminder that life is too short to read all the fascinating literary works from around the world. An unnecessary woman is a love letter to literature and its power to define who we are. What are some of the other ways that the book suggests that aaliya could be considered an unnecessary woman. The book club click to join in the discussion about this months book, harvesting by lisa. Rabih alameddine s novel an unnecessary woman is a narrative about nothing but yet about everything. New york times an unnecessary woman is a breathtaking portrait of one reclusive womans latelife crisis. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not. An unnecessary woman rabih alameddine, 2014 groveatlantic 320 pp. Thank you alex for suggesting the addition of an open forum devoted to discussion on this blog. The last watchman of old cairo by michael david lukas. In this wonderfully rich san francisco chronicle novel from the author of the internationally bestselling the oracle of stamboul, a young man journeys from california to cairo to unravel centuriesold family secrets.
A committee of sonoma county librarians chooses the books. She has isolated herself but she is still part of the world through the books she. Part two this post has been created to provide an additional forum for discussion. The book the title is a reference to polish artist and writer. Elevating the eccentric, an unnecessary woman makes national mustread list. An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine reading guide. Press button get download links and wait 20 seconds. Margaret atwood has described the edible woman, her first novel, as an anticomedy, with themes many now see as protofeminist. An unnecessary woman was the gold medal winner for fiction in the commonwealth club s 84th annual california book awards in 2014, an annual event that honors california writers. Winner of the california book award finalist for the national book critics circle award finalist for the national book award beautiful and absorbing.
Aaliya, the unnecessary woman of the title, narrates her story in the winter of her 72nd year, as she contemplates which book she should. Mar 25, 2014 when shes finished translating a book, she sets it aside, and doesnt show it to anybody. Womens lives club a virtual book club with participants all from all over the world. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine reading guidebook. One button 15 links for downloading the book an unnecessary woman in all e book formats.
Every year, she translates a new favorite book into arabic, then stows it away. Read free book excerpt from an unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine, page 1 of 2. An unnecessary woman is the fourth novel by jordanianborn lebanese author, rabih alameddine. Creating bridges between the literary and visual arts is what makes the mfah book club unique. The vsdc book club usually meets at vegetarian restaurants in dc or nearby maryland or virginia. Rabih alameddine follows his bestseller, the hakawati, with a heartrending novel that celebrates the singular life of an obsessive introvert, revealing beiruts beauties and horrors along the way. With online discussion guides to stimulate conversation, each woman to woman book club reading selection can be more fully enjoyed by considering the questions with fellow readers. The protagonist, aaliya, a 72 year old divorced woman, lives alone in beirut with her books and her translations. Listen to our podcast and share your thoughts, reflections, and questions in the comments. There is also info on starting a local book club chapter or locating an existing club in your area. May 14, 2015 we had such a blast talking about this months saxbys book club book, an unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine.
We had such a blast talking about this months saxbys book club book, an unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine. I announced that our may book would be agnes grey by anne bronte, but i cannot get over how much i wish. The new york times describes the book as beautiful and absorbing. Ten reasons an unnecessary woman is necessary reading. The semiautobiographical novel tells the comingofage story of the march sistersmeg, jo, beth, and amyas they struggle with poverty, illness, and family drama in civil warera america. Discussion questions from lit lovers discussion experience by whitney book bistroy book reporters compilation of readers comments. An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine copies of this months book are available at either library and participants are encouraged to read the book and post their comments anytime during the month. An unnecessary woman by kottmeyer see profile 042914. Give examples of atwoods clever use of food images throughout the book. To ask other readers questions about an unnecessary woman, please sign up. If youve ever felt not at home in the worldor in your own skinor preferred the company of a good book to that of an actual person, this book will welcome you with open arms and tell you that youre not alone. Writing my way to a new self by hana schank, new york times, march 21, 2015.
When the book was written 150 years ago, readers had fewer distractions no computers or television, for example. Does a life that no one sees, no one cares about, matter. An unnecessary woman becomes entertaining and occasionally touching. Mar 20, 2014 an unnecessary woman, a piercing study of detachment and devotion. May 17, 2016 who do you think the unnecessary woman is. At one point in an unnecessary woman, aaliya finds herself wondering if shes grown too old for beirut p. Februarys book is janet malcolms the silent woman, a biography of sylvia plath.
An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine book lovers never. Coetzee, aleksander hemon, william faulkner and many more. An unnecessary woman, a piercing study of detachment and devotion. Any comments on the authors writing style in light of the times. When i read a book, i try my best, not always successfully, to let the wall crumble just a bit, the barricade that separates me from the book. This time is necessary for searching and sorting links. Your public library might also have copies print and e book available. Ncg book club discussion of an unnecessary woman northern. This is an interesting piece to read in addition to the book. Godless, fatherless, divorced, and childless, aaliya is her familys unnecessary appendage. In her spare time she privately translated books into arabic. Aaliya saleh lives alone in her beirut apartment, surrounded by stockpiles of books.
Scaling back from the epic scope of the hakawati, his 2008 feast of storytelling. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book. This is a book about the transformative power of reading but also shows how desolate it can be to retreat into the world of ideas at the expense of connecting with the people around you. No loss is felt more keenly than the loss of what might have been. It is a book in which almost nothing happens an episode in which aaliya, the protagonist, washes. Has anyone had an experiences that relate to places or experiences in the book. Aug 28, 2019 an unnecessary woman is a meditation on, among other things, aging, politics, literature, loneliness, grief and resilience. An unnecessary woman by rabih alameddine 2014 presenters. Book jacket resistance women by jennifer chiaverini. Check out tips, advice, and all the ways the library can help support your group. Little women topics for discussion louisa may alcott this study guide consists of approximately 107 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of little women. An unnecessary woman is a meditation on, among other things, aging, politics, literature, loneliness, grief and resilience. First marian drops meat from her diet, then, eggs, vegetables, even pumpkin seeds. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot.