Play Book Tag discussion

For me, this is a story full of potential that never fully delivers. I was expecting something a little more... ambitious, I guess? More about the big picture of immigration politics, when it's really the story of two individuals and how their relationship is shaped and defined by their refugee experience. 

And that relationship story is a bit of a downer. I tend to avoid stories that revolve around a disintegrating romantic relationship, regardless of the reasons or how well they're written, and this one was much stronger in the first half. The second half feels more like an outline that's still waiting for the details to be filled in. It starts to meander with no real plot, and I spent the last 20% ready to get to the ending that we already knew was coming by that point. 

The portal phenomenon was also interesting at first, but the story never takes full advantage of the idea, and I'm not sure I buy how non-violently things were settled in the end, even though I was happy to get out of that stressful bit of the story with minimum trauma. 

I'm happy to have finally read a book I've owned for five years, but I'm not sure that I got much out of it. It may just be a case of preaching to the choir, though. I've always thought people should be able to move in and out of countries however they choose -- and was very happy to see it acknowledged that some people would use the portals in unexpected directions -- but I also know that's just not likely to ever happen. I don't know why I was expecting this book to have some kind of solution to that.

Pam, you are a beautiful reviewer. I have been really enjoying your reviews.

I read Exit West with my book club a few years ago. We also felt mixed about it. I think we felt that there was a lot that was unique about it stylistically. But some of us (me) felt bothered by those choices. And also that it was sad and a bit ungrounded. One of two of us loved it.

An example that I would use about stylistic choices, this was rather unforgettable, is that this author is the master of the complex, run on sentence. This guy goes whole paragraphs, even whole pages, once in a while, short chapters, without a period. The entire thing is a sentence. Clever and unusual, but not easy to take in. We need our breaths and gaps. It made a languid feeling to the story, but I didn't care for it. And those listening in audio (not me) were so annoyed they had to shut it off. But it was clever. This book was pretty popular a few or more years back. I did not get the rave. Yes Pam, its great to read an owned book that has been languishing.

I remember enjoying the first half of the book, much more than the second. Saeed and Nadia were interesting characters and I wanted to follow their particular story. The last portion of the book concerned a depressing view of the future, which was bleak.

I do credit the book with opening my eyes to the huge, world-wide problem we have with mass migration.

Great review!

I thought the portals actually diminished the real life effort, determination and risk immigrants take to leave war-torn areas.

Sue wrote: “I thought the portals actually diminished the real life effort, determination and risk immigrants take to leave war-torn areas."

I think you’re right, Sue. I started thinking maybe his whole point is that open borders really are a solvable problem if people on both sides were equally motivated, but Saeed and Nadia still would’ve been trapped on the inside with no way out

Amy wrote: "This guy goes whole paragraphs, even whole pages, once in a while, short chapters, without a period. The entire thing is a sentence. Clever and unusual, but not easy to take in. We need our breaths and gaps. It made a languid feeling to the story"

Oh that's a good point! I noticed the long sentences at first but thought I got used to them. That probably contributed to my feelings of never-ending chapters toward the end, though.

Holly R W wrote: "The last portion of the book concerned a depressing view of the future, which was bleak."

It was bleak. I know I thought this was more about the magic of the portals when I bought it, so I’m glad I had adjusted my expectations before picking it up. I’m not sure I would have finished it otherwise

@Pam - you write such good and interesting reviews, triggering discussion! Love it!

I gave this 5 stars and in fact still think about the book and its themes from time to time - I read it in September 2019, after the main hoopla had died down. In fact, I read it because friends and their teenage daughter highly recommended it. Other than that, I had little in the way of expectations about what it was about. That, I think, was a real advantage - this is a book it's probably better to go into without expectations.

Here's a link to my review - would be interested in your thoughts. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Over the last several years, I've been in a bit of a rabbit hole happening to read books that have brought me to think far more deeply about migration than I ever have and what contributes to migration -- immigration which is in most senses voluntary and where the immigrant could and sometimes does return to place of origin by choice, and refugees/asylum seekers where there is really no choice and returning home is not in the cards - most dramatically this reflects those forced out by war. Both fit under the category 'immigration' but the terms describing each are not the same -- there are really subtle and not so subtle differences.

The quirky tricky to read book Call Me Zebra by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi is the one that really forced me to consider this difference and as a result, I don't approach any book about immigration the same any longer. Others that have pushed my thinking: Season of Migration to the North and Migrations. Even Lisa See's On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family and Hernan Diaz's In the Distance fall into that rabbit hole.

Thanks, Theresa! Great review. I especially like your spoiler at the end. I thought Saeed's increased interest in his culture and religion as a direct result of his forced migration was one of the most interesting parts of that second half. Especially since he was portrayed as someone who may have even voluntarily migrated in other circumstances. The part about him connecting prayer to his (view spoiler)[manhood because of how he started going to the community prayers with his dad when he turned 14 (hide spoiler)] was very enlightening for me. I would have loved to see everything about that explored more. I loved Nadia's approach, too, and really wanted them to have those conversations they kept avoiding!

I have heard so many good things about Migrations, but it sounds like a tear-jerker. It's hard to find thought-provoking books that aren't heart-breakers, but that's really my preferred sweet spot!

Like Theresa, I loved this book and it made my top 10 the year I read it.

I think the writing was beautiful and moving and the story threw me for loops.

I've read any number of books about refugees and the use of portals or doors made complete sense to me and didn't in any sense diminish the difficulties which refugees face. It is hard to find the door and you are never quite sure what you are going through. I just read North to Paradise which reinforces that view.

I also thought that the relationship story was very well done. I loved Nadia and how she dressed really traditionally but was really quite badass.

my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Pam wrote: "Thanks, Theresa! Great review. I especially like your spoiler at the end. I thought Saeed's increased interest in his culture and religion as a direct result of his forced migration was one of the ..."

There is heartbreak for sure in Migrations but It ends hopeful, and my lasting impression is positive, even upbeat.

Wonderful review, Pam.