Exit West, by Mohsin Hamid, 3.5 stars

[NancyJ]

I read Exit West for an upcoming bookclub meeting, and it's taking me a little time to decide what I really think about the book. The writing was often beautiful and thoughtful. The author describes thoughts and emotions, and this was effective in revealing insights about relationships. Overall the book was very thought-provoking, but I didn't feel as emotionally engaged as I expected to. It did make me think about emotions though, if that makes sense.

The book is about a man and woman from a middle east country that is under attack from terrorists. It sounded like what's happened in Syria, but he doesn't specify the country. The author is from Pakistan. They are desperate to leave the violence, but it's very difficult. The story has a fantasy/sci-fi element that makes it easier for people to transport themselves to another part of the world, using mysterious doors that begin to pop up all over the world. One of the doors brings them (and many other people) into a mansion in London. Thousands of people arrive and it creates a crisis in the city, These transports are happening all over the world. The story brings up many issues about how countries deal with incoming refugees, and how people from different countries interact with one another.

There was a really interesting comment about how we perceive people from other countries. The more they got to know their Nigerian neighbors, they started to feel that no one was "Nigerian." No one fit the prototype of what they thought a Nigerian was like.

Overall, the book provided an interesting account of the life cycle of a relationship between a man and a woman, in the context of Muslim cultural norms and expectations. Nadia isn't very religious or traditional, but she decides to wear the long black robes even when it is no longer expected. I found it very interesting to hear her reasons, and how it affected the way people treated her.

[NancyJ]

Ann wrote: "A thoughtful review, Nancy. :) During 2028, I actually tried to read Exit West but I couldn't become engaged with the story. After setting the book aside for a while, I never went back to it. When ..."

I set it aside several times myself. I think I read 2 or 3 other books between the time I started and finished this book. It didn't engage my heart, but I found a few hooks to help it engage my head.

Speaking of engaging, this one pulled me right in:
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity. It's for a July bookclub meeting, but it arrived early. I intended to just read a few pages tonight (to know what I'm getting into), but I might not be able to wait until July. I thought it would be too depressing. but the writing is very lively and so far the story is very engaging.

[Meli]

This has very mixed reviews but I have it waiting on my trim list so we will see if it gets picked!

[NancyJ]

Ann wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Ann wrote: "A thoughtful review, Nancy. :) During 2028, I actually tried to read Exit West but I couldn't become engaged with the story. After setting the book aside for a while, I n..."

BTW Welcome to the group!

[NancyJ]

Meli wrote: "This has very mixed reviews but I have it waiting on my trim list so we will see if it gets picked!"

I think it might get better with a good discussion. Also there are a few quotes I highlighted on the kindle that are quite beautiful.

[Booknblues]

I loved Exit West and it made the top 10 the year I read it. I understand people not loving it.

I loved the authors voice and the way the relationship developed. I thought his description of how their country became increasingly dangerous was very true to life and was very similar to a memoir I read.

I even thought the doors were very true because in a few memoirs I read about refugees it really seemed as if doors opened in peculiar ways.

[NancyJ]

Booknblues wrote: "I loved Exit West and it made the top 10 the year I read it. I understand people not loving it.

I loved the authors voice and the way the relationship developed. I thought his description of how t..."

I did like his voice too and the realistic changes in the relationship. To your point about the doors, I heard of a Canadian group who is managing to get LBGTQ people out of countries where they are in serious danger.

[Joi]

I had this in my review
"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."

Definitely takes a good book to get 4-5 stars from me if it has magical realism in it.

[Booknblues]

NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I loved Exit West and it made the top 10 the year I read it. I understand people not loving it.

I loved the authors voice and the way the relationship developed. I thought his d..."

I just listened to or watched something about this recently. I'm trying to remember where.