Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

22 reviews

savvylit's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

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

chloew130's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Murder, War, Death, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Violence

moonytoast's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

“we are all migrants through time.”

maybe would’ve rated this higher if there weren’t sentences verging on seven or more lines long…. if it would necessitate a block quote, it shouldn’t be a single sentence! trust me, this is coming from a resident long sentence girlie who constantly got feedback about how long my sentences were in my essays for high school. 

all in all though, this was a nice read and an interesting examination of how magical realism could impact our world’s sociopolitical climate and policies (i.e. nativism and immigration politics).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Xenophobia, Drug use, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

Minor: Child death, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury

nora_knight's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

This book explores the meaning of home and of human connection in a beautiful way. I read this for school but I really enjoyed it. The writing was gorgeous and had incredibly detailed descriptions that I loved. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Death, Hate crime, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and War

sallytiffany's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

4.0

Really compelling characters and storyline. It kept my interest and I liked the supernatural elements of it. Didn't like the shock value though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual harassment

thenonmouse's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Moderate: Self harm, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, and Drug use

Minor: Slavery, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Colonisation

caitline's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War

hannahr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, War, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Violence

jenniferthinks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I recommend the audiobook if you’re looking for a smooth, poetic telling of a parable on migration and immigration, of an intimacy over time, of a relationship weaving its way through life. 

I saw the mixed reviews, and I’m one for whom the writing resonated so deeply. I loved the feeling that I was being told a story by generations in the future, by someone who knows how it all unfolds, but gently brings us there with him. And the confidence in which each character is written and acts is admirable. 

One aspect that I really appreciate about the story is how Nadya’s veil is treated as a personal choice, and how she wears it as a form of resistance. I appreciate that the veil is nuanced, and personal, and not looked at through the eyes of a euro-centric perspective.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Gun violence

Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia

gingerkathrynreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault