BEST AUTHOR BEST : RABIH ALAMEDDINE [ 2 ]

.- WHAT'S the last great book you read?

'' The Hairdresser's Son,'' by Gerbrand Bakker, a slow-burn delight of a novel.

.- The last book you read that made you laugh?

My third reread of Joe Keenan's '' Blue Heaven.''

Aaliya Saleh, the title character in '' An Unnecessary Woman '' is a big reader. What would be her favorite books in the years since you published the novel?

Olga Tokarczuk's '' Flights '' would have blown her away.

.- Can you name a book that once provoked a strong reaction in you and now leads you to ask, '' What was the big deal ?''

Different books are great influences during certain time of one's life, not so much at other times.

In my late teens, I considered Dostoyevsky the greatest writer ever, and '' Crime and Punishment '' a masterpiece. I reread it in my 30s and thought it was OK. I tried rereading in my 50s. I couldn't bear it.

So earnest, so didactic, so humorless. Perfect for my teens years, insufferable as an adult.

.- What's your favorite book no one else has heard of ?

Antonio Mufoz Molina's '' Sepharad.'' I don't know how many have heard of it, but I'm sure it's not enough. Also, Peter Nadas's '' A Book of Memories.''

.- What's the last book you recommended to your own mother?

My mother was always a heavy reader. Unfortunately, she now suffering from early dementia and it's heartbreaking. When Last I was with her, I bought her a Danielle Steel novel and amazingly, she read it.

She was able to remember the last 10 to 20 pages, so she followed the plot somewhat. She has read a number of books since. I'm grateful.

.- You're organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers dead or alive, do you invite?

Well, they all would have to be over 50. Older writers are much more interesting.

Let's see, I would have Wislawa Szymborska [ love her, love her work, love her sense of humor], Javier Marias [ love him, love his work, love his bitchiness] and Amitav Ghosh [ love him, love his work, love his cooking].

The World Students Society thanks The New York Times.