Discussion: Exit West

[ColumbusReads]

New article from The Guardian discussing some th3mes from the book:

https://amp.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Kathleen]

In trying to catch up with these links, I started with this last one you posted, Columbus--an excellent article about what abuse of migrants could lead to and what the ability to travel freely could accomplish. Thank you for sharing it. I'm so glad Hamid and his ideas are getting all of this press.

[ColumbusReads]

Kathleen wrote: "In trying to catch up with these links, I started with this last one you posted, Columbus--an excellent article about what abuse of migrants could lead to and what the ability to travel freely coul..."

For sure, Kathleen. I like reading and listening to him talk in interviews. I think he really has his finger on the pulse of the migrant and refugee situation(s). I’m so looking forward to reading his other work. (Please library get my copy in before the 17th!)

[Beverly]

Columbus wrote: "Even The Economist agrees. This best list also includes Stay with Me my favorite book of the year as well.

https://www.economist.com/news/books-......"

Here is another interesting list as it combines a number of the Best of Lists and lists out "The Best Books of 2017, If you combine 21 'Best of Books of 2017' lists.

And guess which book is number #3 :)

https://quartzy.qz.com/1143800/the-be...

[Laurie]

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Even The Economist agrees. This best list also includes Stay with Me my favorite book of the year as well.

https://www.economist.com/news/books-......"

Here is another interesting list as it combines a number of the Best of Lists and lists out "The Best Books of 2017, If you combine 21 'Best of Books of 2017' lists.

And guess which book is number #3 :)

https://quartzy.qz.com/1143800/the-be...

Thank you for posting this link. It's great to have a list that compares so many of the lists we've been seeing. I have only read Exit West and What We Lose of the 16 fiction titles, but several others are right at the top of my 2018 TBR.

[ColumbusReads]

BookRiot’s absolute best books of 2017:
https://bookriot.com/2017/12/12/best-...

Reminder: Moth Smoke buddy read starting Sunday. See thread

[Monica]

Columbus wrote: "BookRiot’s absolute best books of 2017:
https://bookriot.com/2017/12/12/best-..."

BookRiot seems to have it right with Exit West and a book I'm currently reading What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky which is on a trajectory to be one of my favorite books of the year.

[Carol]

Monica wrote: "Columbus wrote: "BookRiot’s absolute best books of 2017:
https://bookriot.com/2017/12/12/best-..."

BookRiot seems to have it right with Exit West and a book I'm currently r..."

wow - with that endorsement, I must move What it Means way up my TBR.

[Kathleen]

Monica wrote: "Columbus wrote: "BookRiot’s absolute best books of 2017:
https://bookriot.com/2017/12/12/best-..."

BookRiot seems to have it right with Exit West and a book I'm currently r..."

I am so excited to read What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky, Monica! Ever since I read "Who Will Greet you at Home," which just blew my mind.

[Monica]

Carol and Kathleen, I am really enjoying the stories. It appears to be a medium (short stories) that when done well, I really appreciate ;-)
The vignettes were the highlights of Exit West for me as well.

[Lata]

Monica wrote: "Carol and Kathleen, I am really enjoying the stories. It appears to be a medium (short stories) that when done well, I really appreciate ;-)
The vignettes were the highlights of Exit West for me a..."

I'm excited to see your response to What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky. Can't wait to check out these stories.

[ColumbusReads]

Exit West on 19 “Best of” lists this year. Tied with Jesmyn Ward for 2nd

http://lithub.com/the-ultimate-best-b...

[Ronald]

A little late but I read Exit West. Very compelling novel. Although called dystopian, what struck me was the currency of the book. What Hamid creates is a world of unbridled movement, more or less bad, that reshapes the human who moves. There is a use of Einsteinian notions of relativity. Nothing is truly as we see it because in the time it takes to see it, the thing has already changed. Wonderful idea!
The other thing that struck me about the construction of the novel is that the author intentionally converts the reader into a voyeur, sitting on his/her couch watching a horror unfolding and going, "tut, tut." The celluloid violence of the first half of the novel is unadorned precisely because the reader, from a position of relatively safety, cannot ever truly imagine the violence, the soul-destroying sense of being a cipher, a nothing. So we are left to go "tut, tut."
The television structure is emphasized by the periodic "commercial" (those intersections that at first seem irrelevant and perplexing) that confuses but does relieve the intensity of the novel. Again, kudos.
One question that remains for me is, is this a hopeful novel? It ends with what appears to be relative peace and the possibility of love, or, at the very least, passionate contact. In a world where things continually fall apart, however, maybe contact, attachment of any sort, could reasonably be viewed as hopeful, perhaps even a triumph.
Love the book.

[Lata]

Loved reading your thoughts on Exit West, Ronald. I felt like the novel ended in a more hopeful place.

[ColumbusReads]

Ronald wrote: "A little late but I read Exit West. Very compelling novel. Although called dystopian, what struck me was the currency of the book. What Hamid creates is a world of unbridled movement, more or less ..."

I agree with Lata. Wonderful take on this book and gives me something else to think about.

[jo]

Ronald wrote: "A little late but I read Exit West. Very compelling novel. Although called dystopian, what struck me was the currency of the book. What Hamid creates is a world of unbridled movement, more or less ..."

i found it so hopeful as to be utopian. utopian literature is not easy to pull off. he does it. brilliant.

[ColumbusReads]

Exit again folks.....I’m glad The Leavers is included as w ell.

https://electricliterature.com/electr...

[Janice (JG)]

Ronald wrote: "A little late but I read Exit West. Very compelling novel. Although called dystopian, what struck me was the currency of the book. What Hamid creates is a world of unbridled movement, more or less ...

One question that remains for me is, is this a hopeful novel?..."

Great insights Ronald, thanks!

I think it is hopeful in the sense that, in fact, life goes on, and humans change and grow and love and lose and gain and etc just as always. This seems to me to be the essence of the idea of "the immigrant," which we all are as we move through this earth gig.

[ColumbusReads]

I asked in the beginning about this book cover for the simple reason I pay special attention to them. I enjoy trying to figure out what the author/designer is trying to convey about the book. I often wonder how much input the author has in selecting the cover. I know oftentimes some authors put their entire trust in the designer to get it right.

Exit West was selected by many book cover designers as one of the absolute best covers of the year. I know some didn’t care for it but I was drawn to it by the stark blue and it seemed spacey and just rather unique. Here’s what one book cover designer said about it.

Exit West, Mohsin Hamid, design by Rachel Willey

It dazzles without being heavily labored over. I love the bold, painterly hand lettering—especially the playfulness of the “W” and “M”—and how it sits on two different planes. The world that Rachel has created is expansive and magical, a nod to the magical realism in the book.

Any other thoughts?

[jo]

Columbus wrote: "I asked in the beginning about this book cover for the simple reason I pay special attention to them. I enjoy trying to figure out what the author/designer is trying to convey about the book. I oft..."

this is so awesome, columbus. i pay zero attention to book covers! i love that you do!

[Janice (JG)]

Columbus wrote: "I asked in the beginning about this book cover for the simple reason I pay special attention to them. I enjoy trying to figure out what the author/designer is trying to convey about the book. I oft..."

Actually, after reading the book, I was a little confused by the cover because I couldn't see the connection between the story and the cover... unless the fact that they were constantly heading to the West, with each door taking them farther west, is the point, but that just seems way too obvious and perhaps meaningless? Which is fine, because it might just be about the strong art and the painterly feel of it.

[ColumbusReads]

Well, that just about does it. End of the year and the President picks Exit West as one of his faves of the year. “44”

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/31/politic...

[Saksham]

Is the thread still active? Am I allowed to comment?

[Beverly]

Saksham wrote: "Is the thread still active? Am I allowed to comment?"

Yes, the thread is still open and please post your comment.

[Saksham]

Ronald wrote: "A little late but I read Exit West. Very compelling novel. Although called dystopian, what struck me was the currency of the book. What Hamid creates is a world of unbridled movement, more or less ..."

I really like the television structure along with those short commercials, that you seem to have noticed, quite interesting to know that.

[Saksham]

Columbus wrote: "I asked in the beginning about this book cover for the simple reason I pay special attention to them. I enjoy trying to figure out what the author/designer is trying to convey about the book. I oft..."

I don't know if someone has pointed this out before but the cover is like a continued text that goes from bottom to top or vice-versa(You can see half exit written below and half hamid written above). I guess this sort of roundedness or touch was what we see in the novel where even after exiting from all those gates they come back to their country in a sort of travel around the globe, going west until they come back to the point of origin at last.

[Lata]

Interesting point about the cover, Saksham.