Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

21 reviews

violerwolf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hamid’s circular, winding prose is definitely not for everyone, and I think it probably turns a lot of people away from this book. This style works really well though at creating a sense of calm inevitability throughout the book, that everything that happens will happen because of who the characters are and what the world is. Hamid’s focus on intersectionality within the novel plays well with the larger themes of immigration and community. Similarly, the lack of specificity of where Nadia and Saeed are from creates the sense that they could be anyone and everyone. I did find the characterization awkward at points, and I went into the book originally assuming the doors to be a much larger part of the plot rather than a simple allegory for open/uncontrolled borders, but overall I’m excited to check out Hamid’s other work.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Grief, Sexism, Drug use, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Death, War, Confinement, and Racism

violetends's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Confinement, and Racism

kashrae99's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Violence, Death, and Genocide

miachalupa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, War, and Violence

Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Drug use

rhi_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Self harm, Grief, Suicide, and Genocide

Minor: Sexual harassment and Drug use

readwriteknit's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Islamophobia, War, Racism, Murder, and Xenophobia

kellyung's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

sarahdoggen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Such an interesting book, I loved to see all the different perspectives on the topic of migration. Definitely strong characters, and a good, well constructed plot.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Classism, Grief, Racism, Violence, War, and Gun violence

jackbifrost's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, War, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

Moderate: Hate crime, Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Drug use

savvylit's review

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Exit West utilizes magical realism to discuss very weighty topics such as living in active battle zones, refugee resettlement, strict Islamic cultural norms, and xenophobia. Hamid deftly imbues Exit West with the twin stresses of a relationship's honeymoon period and civil war. New relationships are difficult enough as is but Nadia & Saeed's young love faces incredible obstacles. As seems befitting of sudden violent skirmishes, Nadia and Saeed are forced to quickly adapt to drastic loss. Loss of paychecks, food, electricity, loved ones... It takes hardly any time for their lives to become incredibly narrowed by war. But the next step of escaping to a resentful, wealthy region is not an easy task either. Ultimately, this is a gorgeously written book about human resiliency, sacrifice, and keeping your promises no matter what happens.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Death, and Death of parent