Uma Mulher Desnecessária, de Rabih Alameddine

I loved this book, because it's such a love letter to books and literature and the way they can redeem one's life, giving it meaning and purpose. The main character is extremely humane and believable, the evocation of Beirut, a city torn by war and modern development, is moving and real, as are the people described, particularly the three neighbours. The nostalgic tone reminded me of Mathias Enard's Boussole, another powerful and touching hymn to literature.

And I was glad for so many references to Fernando Pessoa and a few to Saramago.