An Unnecessary Woman

She reads widely and deeply, translates favorite novels, and has a rich inner life to explore daily events.

[1] Saleh secretly translates Western literature, such as Anna Karenina and Austerlitz, into Arabic.

[3] The Washington Post said, "Literature is Aaliya's religion and much of the wonderful humor in 'An Unnecessary Woman' comes from her pithy contempt for those who fail to live up to its sacred precepts.

[4] The NPR critic noted that the plot is relatively limited, but praised the writing, stating that, "I can't remember the last time I was so gripped simply by a novel's voice.

[5] The Guardian concludes positively, writing that, "precisely in its strangeness, a genuine literary pleasure: a complicated one.