Exit West: A Novel

By: Mohsin Hamid

In an unnamed city teetering on the brink of civil war, a young couple embarks on a furtive love affair.

ISBN: 9780735212176

JLG Release: Jun 2017

Sensitive Areas: Language: Strong Language, Discrimination: Reference/Discussion, Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War, Violence: Mild Violence, Sexual Content: Strong Sexual Content/Themes, Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Drug Use/Abuse, Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Alcohol Abuse

Topics: Civil war , Immigration , Marriage , Refugees , Geopolitical conflict

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Awards & Honors

2018 Indies Choice Book Awards Honor, Adult Fiction
2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist, Fiction
ALA 2018 Notable Book Lists, Fiction
2017 National Book Critics Circle Finalist, Fiction
Shelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Fiction
2017 Indie Next List Preview
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Literary Fiction and Fiction with a Twist of Magic
2017 Indie Next List Preview
2017 The Man Booker Prize Finalist
Brightly, Best Books of Early 2017
The Washington Post Books We Love So Far in 2017
2017 Kirkus Prize Finalist
2017 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize, Shortlist, Fiction
2017 Goodreads Choice Award, Best FictionShelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Fiction
Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Top 20
Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Adult Top 10
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2017
BuzzFeed 24 Best Fiction Books of 2017
Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Adult, Fiction
Los Angeles Public Library Best of 2017: Fiction
NPR’s Book Concierge, 2017 Great Reads
The Washington Post 50 Notable Works of Fiction 2017

Praise & Reviews

Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:

Booklist*, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal

School Library Journal

A young couple meet and fall in love as their city disintegrates into violence in this spare, allegorical novel. Nadia is a free spirit who lives independently, while Saeed is faithful to the traditions of family and prayer. Any semblance of normal life, to say nothing of courtship, is obliterated by the danger surrounding them, so Nadia and Saeed A young couple meet and fall in love as their city disintegrates into violence in this spare, allegorical novel. Nadia is a free spirit who lives independently, while Saeed is faithful to the traditions of family and prayer. Any semblance of normal life, to say nothing of courtship, is obliterated by the danger surrounding them, so Nadia and Saeed decide they must find a way to escape. They learn of doors, fantastical portals that defy the laws of physics and grant passage to distant locations. It seems a stroke of great fortune when Nadia and Saeed access a door that takes them to a Greek island. But the respite is illusory. The world’s population is on the move, and desperate migrants like Nadia and Saeed are swarming through doors in overwhelming numbers. The pair’s love is tested as they ponder strategies for survival. Should they stay, or find another door? Hamid describes with fluid insight the displaced lovers’ despair and longing for stability. His use of contemporary details such as cell phone dependence will remind readers that Nadia and Saeed are but a few steps removed from any college-age couple fleeing a homeland at war. VERDICT This short but potent work offers teens a visceral understanding of the world’s refugee crisis. Those who are aware of the current political climate regarding immigration will be moved by this poignant love story.—Diane Colson, formerly at City College, Gainesville, FL

Book Details

ISBN

9780735212176

First Release

June 2017

Genre

Fic

Dewey Classification

Trim Size

8 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Page Count

240

Accelerated Reader

N/A

Scholastic Reading Counts

N/A

Lexile

N/A

Format

Print Book

Edition

Hardcover edition

Publisher

Riverhead

Potentially Sensitive Areas

Language: Strong Language, Discrimination: Reference/Discussion, Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War, Violence: Mild Violence, Sexual Content: Strong Sexual Content/Themes, Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Drug Use/Abuse, Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Alcohol Abuse