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Exit West
April 2017: Bestsellers
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Exit West by Mohsin Hamid -- 5 stars + ♥
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I loved this book so much. I would have read it in one sitting if I could.
Nicole R wrote: "Exit West by Mohsin Hamid5 stars + ♥
Refugees from the Middle East are fleeing an existence that most of us cannot even begin to imagine: violence at every turn, we..."
I am so glad that you loved it as I so heartily recommended it. The writing was so, so beautiful.
I was not sure how everyone would take the doors, but hoped that given today's world we all understand. People go where they can go. They want a good life.
I felt for Saeed and Nadia and wished that they could have had the courtship they deserved.
I loved Nadia. She was such a modern woman who used the burka as a shield.
If you get a chance read A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival. I read it right before and it made it all the more poignant.
Susie wrote: "I loved this book so much. I would have read it in one sitting if I could."I didn't realize you read this. So glad I'm not the only one in love with it.
Wow! This has not hit my radar before. Great review and I love books set in the ME. Adding to my TBR
OH! Wrong! It is already on my TBR. LOL
BnB, I liked the "doors." I read some reviews that said they thought it downplayed the struggles of actually moving, but I thought it gave the author the opportunity to focus on other aspects such as settling into a new country. And, while not always happy, I loved Saeed and Nadia's relationship. I thought it was honest.
Regina, you should read it. You could easily crank through it in one sitting.
Thank you so much for writing about this. A Hope More Powerful than the Sea is on my TBR but this is not. I resettled a Syrian family in February with a group and it's been so uplifting and such a challenge. We've been looking for books to read on the topic, I'll pass this one along too.
This book is already on my TBR. Our synagogue recently resettled a Syrian family here as well. Lovely that you got to be a part of that effort.
Hamid's last book How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is still lingering on my TBR. No holds list at the library so will stick with it for the time being. Exit West has a fairly lengthy hold list at this point.
I'm on hold for the audio of this, this review definitely makes me look forward to it.Denzien, I didn't even realize it was the same author as How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. A book that has been on my TBR since forever!!
Nicole R wrote: "BnB, I liked the "doors." I read some reviews that said they thought it downplayed the struggles of actually moving, but I thought it gave the author the opportunity to focus on other aspects such ..."Nicole, I liked the doors, once I adjusted to the switch. I think it illustrates how unsettling it is and how abrupt a move can be.....
And as we have seen recently doors can slam quickly....also going through a door can be both scary and dangerous.
I did also want to reiterate how beautiful Hamid's writing is. I'm glad I read it in the ebook format, because I love underlining and did so on numerous passages.
Good review, I would like to get to this one, hopefully sooner than later.
Our refugee resettlement group is now going to read this over the summer. Our family is still newly resettled here so we are too busy right now. I'm excited to read it with them.
Jen, tell us more about the refugee resettlement group. It sounds intriguing and fabulous.
Adding this one to the tbr. Thanks for this review!
On to the TBR it goes . . .
Anita wrote: "On to the TBR it goes . . ."It does have elements of magical realism. In some ways it reminds me of Underground Railroad.
The characterizations are very strong and the voice is wonderful.
The life of becoming and being a refugee is very real.
I thought of you when I read it Anita and wondered whether the magical realism would spoil it for you. I hope not.
I thought of you when I read it Anita and wondered whether the magical realism would spoil it for you. I hope not.
I think you will be able to overlook the magical realism aspect of this one, Anita. It is not pervasive and can almost be read as a metaphor of what it feels like emotionally to immigrate.
We have a neighborhood group of 150 total members and about 40 core volunteers who resettled a Syrian family in between the two Muslim bans here in the US (arrived in February). We work with an organization that resettles refugees but we're responsible for them when they arrive. They are a grandmother, mother and daughter. We get an apartment, furnish it, fill it with groceries, buy clothing and pay their rent for 6 months. We get them enrolled in English classes, high school and help them find jobs. The mother in our group is catering a dinner for 20 tomorrow to teach a group about Syrian food (she's an amazing cook, best baba ganoush I've ever had). I lead one team. It is amazing. We're meeting on Sunday to talk about next steps (another family?) and starting a book club!
Jennifer P. wrote: "We have a neighborhood group of 150 total members and about 40 core volunteers who resettled a Syrian family in between the two Muslim bans here in the US (arrived in February). We work with an org..."Jennifer P, I applaud you for your efforts. Thank you.
Jen, that sounds amazing. What a fabulous community.
Jennifer P. wrote: "We have a neighborhood group of 150 total members and about 40 core volunteers who resettled a Syrian family in between the two Muslim bans here in the US (arrived in February). We work with an org..."That's wonderful. I haven't heard of any Syrian refugees in my community, but there was an influx of Syrian immigrants a few generations ago (now in their 80's and 90's). They have a descendant that's a city councilman and another that is the superintendent of the public schools (also a couple of lawyers that many consider shady). Kibby is a staple in many of the local restaurants. It's somewhat surprising that no refugees have come to the community.
Well if Nicole R gives it a rave on to my TBR it goes.
Nicole did you read the book or do audio? There are a number of people ahead of me for the Kindle version at my library - but I have 15 credits available at Audible but I want to know what you thought of the audio if that is what you did.
This sounds really good and it's not something I've read much about. I'm going to try the audio too since I have extra Audible credits.
Jennifer P. wrote: "We have a neighborhood group of 150 total members and about 40 core volunteers who resettled a Syrian family in between the two Muslim bans here in the US (arrived in February). We work with an org..."That is so interesting. What a wonderful thing you are doing. I love Syrian food and have my own recipe book; The Art of Syrian Cookery by Helen Corey. Love Kibby neeyee, Grape Leaf Rolls, Salad made with lemon and mint but alas I cannot make their wonderful flat bread cooked on a sajj.
Ladyslott wrote: "Nicole did you read the book or do audio? There are a number of people ahead of me for the Kindle version at my library - but I have 15 credits available at Audible but I want to know what you thou..."I think Nichole did the audio, but I'll let her answer.
I loved reading it especially the beginning because the writing was so wonderful and I wanted to save it and savor it.
Linda, I did the audio and though it was excellent. It was read by the author, which I sometimes think is a bad choice, but it was perfect here. It was also quite short. 4.5 hours I think, so you could finish it in no time.
Susie wrote: "I thought of you when I read it Anita and wondered whether the magical realism would spoil it for you. I hope not."Hmmm, thanks for the forewarning, Susie and BnB . . .at least if I pick it up, I will know going in. But that's probably a bad sign for me . . .
Kristel wrote: "That is so interesting. What a wonderful thing you are doing. I love Syrian food and have my own recipe book; The Art of Syrian Cookery by Helen Corey. ..."How fun that you use that cookbook. How did you ever discover it? Helen Corey is part of the Syrian community in our town that I was talking about earlier.
Nicole R wrote: "Linda, I did the audio and though it was excellent. It was read by the author, which I sometimes think is a bad choice, but it was perfect here. It was also quite short. 4.5 hours I think, so you..."
I think I'll probably do the audio. Thanks!
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Art of Syrian Cookery (other topics)How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (other topics)
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (other topics)
Exit West (other topics)
A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mohsin Hamid (other topics)Mohsin Hamid (other topics)
5 stars + ♥
Refugees from the Middle East are fleeing an existence that most of us cannot even begin to imagine: violence at every turn, weekly bombs and raids, scrambling for food, for water, for existence. But in the midst of all of this there are moments of everyday life: going to work, making a new friend, falling in love. At what point do you dangerously decide to leave? To leave everything behind? To exit west in search of something more?
Saeed and Nadia meet, date, and fall in love in the midst of a war torn undisclosed middle eastern country. They live their lives the best they can, confiding in each other late at night in the dark while sharing a single blanket on the floor. And, when the violence becomes too much, the seek out the mysterious "doors" around the city that will transport you someplace new, hopefully someplace new, and most certainly someplace unknown. Saeed and Nadia step through and instantly become refugees.
Hamid masterfully told this story in the third person, narrating the lives and thoughts of the characters as if we were watching their lives from above. He heartbreakingly captures the uncertainty of leaving behind everything you know even when it is bad, blindly trusting that there is something better, and struggling to fit into a new place. In parallel with that, he tells the story of Saeed and Nadia's relationship. The ups and downs and the impact being a refugee has on them as a couple and as individual.
The writing was beautiful. It earned the book the status of favorite. The sentences just flowed, and as they were read on audio by the author, each phrase dripped with meaning and impact.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a short time investment that will stay with you long past the last page.