In "Exit West," Mohsin Hamid weaves a poignant tale of love and migration through the lens of a couple, Nadia and Saeed, who discover mysterious doors that lead them to new worlds amid escalating conflict in their homeland. As they traverse from war-torn landscapes to bustling cities, their relationship is tested by the challenges of displacement and the search for belonging. With each door, Hamid explores themes of hope, resilience, and the transformative power of human connection. As the couple navigates the complexities of their journey, they confront the realities of global migration in an increasingly fractured world. Will they find solace in each other and the new worlds they enter, or will the ever-expanding horizons pull them apart?
By Mohsin Hamid
Published: 2017
"“Storytelling is a way to make sense of the world.”"
FINALIST FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE & WINNER OF THE L.A. TIMES BOOK PRIZE FOR FICTION and THE ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE “It was as if Hamid knew what was going to happen to America and the world, and gave us a road map to our future… At once terrifying and … oddly hopeful.” —Ayelet Waldman, The New York Times Book Review “Moving, audacious, and indelibly human.” —Entertainment Weekly, “A” rating The New York Times bestselling novel: an astonishingly visionary love story that imagines the forces that drive ordinary people from their homes into the uncertain embrace of new lands, from the author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and the forthcoming The Last White Man. In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair, and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through. . . . Exit West follows these remarkable characters as they emerge into an alien and uncertain future, struggling to hold on to each other, to their past, to the very sense of who they are. Profoundly intimate and powerfully inventive, it tells an unforgettable story of love, loyalty, and courage that is both completely of our time and for all time.
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““Storytelling is a way to make sense of the world.””
Exit West
By Mohsin Hamid
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Mohsin Hamid is a celebrated Pakistani author known for his thought-provoking novels that explore themes of identity, migration, and the human condition. Born in Lahore in 1971, he spent part of his childhood in the United States and has lived in various countries, which informs much of his work. His acclaimed books, including "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" and "Exit West," have received numerous awards and are widely taught in schools and universities. Hamid's writing blends literary fiction with contemporary issues, making him a prominent voice in global literature. In addition to his novels, he has contributed essays and commentary to leading publications, further establishing his role as an insightful commentator on socio-political issues.
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