This isn't a quick read, and it wasn't a particularly easy read. But it was a beautiful read. Alameddine's language was so vivid, elegant, and poetic it was easy to get lost in the words.

The subject matter - a woman who doesn't fit into her world, and how she chooses to put some structure around her life - is one that appeals to me a lot, since I enjoy reading about complex and nuanced female characters. While Aaliya doesn't develop as a character exactly, the way that Alameddine slowly unwraps the character was great to read.