A single, retired woman, whose best friend died years ago, living in Beirut who has spent her life working in and shaping a bookstore. I thought I would love it. But between the idea and the execution--too many gaps. I wanted to know more about her friend (and sort of sister-in-law) who died. I wanted to know more about the bookstore and less about the esoteric books she's read. I get a bit weary of books that feature books so prominently. It can seems as though it is just a glorified Facebook quiz, "How many of these literary references can YOU spot?!"

I did love that Aaliya keeps herself occupied, physically, mentally and spiritually by translating books. She does not publish the translation; she does them out of love of the process. That notion of doing something with passion and deliberate care--just to DO it--is one that fascinates me. I suppose there are parallels to my own horse-training, poem writing, sketching. But I think it would have been a more powerful book if that strand of an idea would have been made more prominent. It provides the end of the book its light and hope, but I'm not sure that was not a cop-out.