Exit West by Hamid Mohsin - 4.4 stars and a heart

[Sushicat]

In an unnamed country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet. We see their budding relationship grow, perhaps quicker than it ought, in the context of a world starting out much like our own with regular jobs and neighborhoods but turning into a war zone little by little, to the point where staying is not an option anymore. Transported into the world of refugee camps, the book focuses not so much on the transient life they face, but rather more on how their relationship develops under the circumstances.

There is a lyrical quality to the writing, that makes the book a joy to read. Though I find the doors an intriguing way of speeding up the narrative and also of introducing a dystopian element into the story, I would have appreciated the book either exploring their impact on society more thoroughly or focusing more on the real life hardships of forced migration.

[Anita]

Glad you liked this so much! I agree completely on your observations about the writing itself - lyrical and beautiful.

[Diane]

I loved The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I have this on my TBR list. Glad that you liked it.

[Sushicat]

I just picked up The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Looking forward to it.

[Booknblues]

Sushicat wrote: "I just picked up The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Looking forward to it."
I want to read that as well.
Anyone wanting to try another Pakistani author might want to try, Nadeem Aslam who wrote The Blind Man's Garden and several others which have been well received.