Exit West By: Mohsin Hamid: Review

Exit West 

by: Mohsin Hamid

Review

I am glad to announce that yesterday I finished my first of the Man Booker shortlist novels for the year 2017, Exist West by:Mohsin Hamid. Throughout the end of September and early October I will be trying to complete the rest of the shortlist prior to the results on October 17th. Initially going into Exit West I had some trepidations regarding a fully fleshed out cast of characters and the way the author decided to work with immigration (i.e. the doorways to new places). However, upon finishing this book I can say that all of those worries faded away. 

This book for those of you who do not know, follows two people, Saeed and Nadia, living in a war torn Middle Eastern country and their escape from the chaos. The location in which the first portion of the book takes place largely resembles many current war torn totalitarian regime eastern countries. There is fighting in the streets, religious genocide, and pointless slaughter ripping through their city with the new regime. Based on the premise, the reader knows that they will escape; knowing that does not devalue the pain and hardships which they are forced to go through along the way. 

Photo Credit: Me

This novel deals with heavy topics in a short and concise way which elaborates just enough, and leaving the reader with questions to further explore based on its discussions. The themes which are discussed within this brief 231 page novel include: 

• Leaving Home
• Immigration
• Moral conflict 
• Native lashback
• Trust
• Love 
• Acceptance

Each of these themes are dealt with as Saeed and Nadia progressively draw closer and move away from everything that they have ever known. This plot driven discussion on race and immigration plants seeds of doubt within your mind and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions and views on current events. Having ideas illuded to and left to simmer in my brain gave me a new perspective on race and immigration that I had never confronted before. I always knew that I was progressive and open to help all, but this novel showed me just how accepting and kind I think we all should be. It also gave me a chilling perspective of how our current political times are harming refugees and migrants everywhere. 

Hamid's simplistic and clear writing style has paved the way for some difficult and hard hitting issues, using two characters from and unknown place to remove personal judgement of the reader. Pure genius! I enjoyed the characters of Nadia and Saeed as the novel progressed, though at times their actions and thoughts were painfully predictable. Each character is fully realized using minimal text, something I love. However some may critique this book on its 'diminishing of the immigration process through the use of magical realism', 'poor character development', and 'lacking descriptions'; I believe that this novel is best viewed through a critical thinking lense. The ideas which Hamid discusses are of such political and global significance that this book should be experienced by all! 

This book may not win the Man Booker 2017 prize for its lacking descriptions and brevity, however it packs many hard hitting questions in, which we all must think about. 

Rating: Four Stars

This book will shake you to your core, with its pertinent discussion of immigration and race relations.

Must Read!

Happy Reading!