Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Nadia is an independent woman in a city becoming increasing overrun by militants who insist on strict behaviour from women. She meets Saeed at night school, and attracted to each other, their relationship blossoms, Saeed having to put on a black overdress to visit Nadia in her apartment. She wears her black cloak through choice which he does not understand, while he prays, an expectation she does not follow.

As the militants make their presence felt, the two become aware that their lives will be overturned and so choose to escape.

People talk of doors to safer places in the west, and through this short tale we see them opening many doors, finally ending up in a refugee camp in San Francisco.

Doors open initially to an island off Greece, then they find a door to Europe, then London. Each place where they stay is beset with problems, but they fit in, using their savings to buy a tent and food, finding work to raise money, befriending other refugees, watching what happens.

Through their eyes we are exposed to the struggles beset by refugees; initially having to leave behind beloved parents, having to trust someone who says they can open a door for you, finding work, avoiding confrontation. Each door provokes a different thought within the reader of just how the couple arrived at each place, calling on their own knowledge to fill in the gaps.

Their time in London is confronting, as it is the one place many readers will know of, so the thought of refugees putting up their tents in Hyde Park, helping build dormitories for the increasing number arriving in England, and when Nadia and Said are able to work for the refugee community, the situation is amazing.

I was engrossed by this little book. The plain unadorned writing style made the problems more accessible, the doors a metaphor for the different methods refugees use to gain access to a safer place. The main characters are wholly credible, their plans for their futures recognisable, their paths to achieving those goals, reflecting a courage we can only watch in awe, reminding us that this could happen to any of us.

Themes: Refugees, Relationships, Independence.

Fran Knight