Exit West by Mohsin Hamid- 4 Stars

[Joi]

Nadia and Saade live in an undisclosed middle-eastern country, where the country is wartorn going through constant violence, political unrest, and is a general dangerous place to be. Nadia, a young woman who wears jeans and tees- and chooses to wear a complete full covered black robe over her and Saaed, a young contemporary who IS religious meet during classes and fall in love. Amidst the turmoil, they hear of "doors" that can lead to other places. They follow the doors and experience new things, places, people, feelings that lead themselves as individuals and as a couple.

This book is topical, current, and it's purpose is great. This shed's light on the refugee crisis by humanizing it. We see how Nadia and Saade are effected by their own country, as well as how they come to be refugees in multiple places, as well has now the 'natives' receive the coming of refugees. The book gives great juxtapositions that we may not realize happen in real life- Nadia fully covered in a robe for personal preference sits on the steps reading the news on her cell phone, finds herself in a picture and realizes she IS the news. The oppression versus independence, the modernity versus the country who can't even feed it's people. Often times both sides are viewed in the same place or person. The first half really shows the gut-wrenching lives that people live in currently in the Middle East. I hope readers will see this as a eye-opener.

I loved that this was a love story amongst other things. Yes, it shows hardship, horrible conditions, and horror- but it also did it in an imaginative way that was less documentary-like, and more in the eyes of love. The focus was more about falling in and out of love with people, with places, and how we choose the lives we lead.

As for the writing itself, there is some magical realism which I normally dislike, and it didn't bother me in the least. The writing is flowy, almost fantasy-esque- but with more serious subject matter. It has a sense of confidence- reading like "this happened like this." "this character felt this". This is what made the experience less meaningful for me, and probably the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. The narration seemed detached from the characters somehow for me.

[Denizen]

Joi wrote: "Nadia and Saade live in an undisclosed middle-eastern country, where the country is wartorn going through constant violence, political unrest, and is a general dangerous place to be. Nadia, a young..."

Good review. I am impatiently waiting for my turn in the library holds queue.

[Amy]

Great review! I'm in the Q2.

[Sushicat]

I just got the notification that I can go pick it up - yay!