Exit West by Mohsin Hamid - 4.5 Stars

[Regina Lindsey]

Nadia and Saeed meet in the country of their birth somewhere in the Middle East. He’s a moderately conservative young man and she is an independent free-thinking woman. They fall in love in the days leading up to the country’s civil war and with many others seek a way to escape when rumors of magical doors serving as gateways to the West emerge. Finding a broker to assist the two, they find a door that leads them first to Mykonos then around the world in pursuit of a stable and secure life for the two of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hamid’s earlier work The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and he did not disappoint here. Likewise, I enjoyed this tale immensely and, while tempted to fly through it, forced myself to pace myself, savoring the writing. I usually don’t embrace magical realism, but the devise works here allowing Hamid to explore the psychological aspects of the migrants’ experience rather than focusing on the physical journey. It was a bit reminiscent of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and is not deeply pervasive. What resonated with me was the added toll the stress of constantly moving had on the young couple’s relationship. As relationships mature the stress of life can exert pressure; often the thing that attracts a couple in the end tears them apart. Here, while the two care deeply for each other and act admirably throughout the course of the relationship, their personalities and reaction to the world around them expose the fissures in their relationship, and it is heartbreaking to witness. Nadia, with her independent streak, is almost exhilarated by the experience and grows with the introduction of those different from her reading while Saeed clings more and more to the familiar the farther they travel from home.

What kept it from a five star read for me was that while the tale was heartbreaking I never emotionally connected or invested in the characters.

[Booknblues]

I'm so glad you liked it.

Great review.

I felt more connected than you did, but I think it was because I had just read A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival and the circumstances seemed so similiar to Doaa's. Even the doors were similiar in a sense to the way in which Doaa left Egypt.

That being said I really loved Hamid's parents and felt connected with them.

[Anita]

Very balanced review. This is on my TBR, but I'm a little bit reluctant because of the magical realism component. But I did think The Reluctant Fundamentalist was very original, so that makes me want to give it a try.

[Regina Lindsey]

I think you will be okay with MR. it serves a purpose and is really in the background.

[Anita]

Regina wrote: "I think you will be okay with MR. it serves a purpose and is really in the background."

Thanks, Regina! I will keep it on my list!

[Susie]

I agree with Regina. I think you'll be ok with the magical realism.

[Joi]

Anita wrote: "Very balanced review. This is on my TBR, but I'm a little bit reluctant because of the magical realism component. But I did think The Reluctant Fundamentalist was very original, so that makes me wa..."

I'm reading this right now and had the same qualms about MR as you. So far it hasn't bothered me but I JUST got to the doors part.