Exit West by Mohsin Hamid was the 31st selection for One Book, One Chicago. The season’s program explored the theme "Beyond Borders." From September through December 2020, we explored the theme from multiple perspectives, as recounted through personal experience, imagined in literature, presented in politics, or synthesized in music and art.
A New York Times bestseller, Exit West is an astonishingly visionary love story that imagines the forces that drive ordinary people from their homes into the uncertain embrace of new lands. 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.
Exit West has won numerous awards and accolades, including being a finalist for the Booker Prize, one of New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2017, winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize for Fiction, and winner of the Aspen Words Literary Prize. The film rights to the book were purchased by Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO, and a film is planned, with Yann Demange directing, Riz Ahmed starring, and Michelle and Barack Obama's Higher Ground Productions and Netflix producing.
Events
The 2020 One Book, One Chicago season, despite taking place during the global COVID-19 pandemic, featured a variety of virtual events, as well as online digital programming. Over 65 virtual programs as well as book discussions, recommended reading lists, digital content and web TV series were presented from September through December. Highlights included:
- Keynote program: Author Mohsin Hamid in conversation with Booklist's Donna Seaman
- Path to Citizenship workshops: HIAS Immigration & Citizenship presented programs to learn about the journey from permanent resident (Green Card holder) to U.S. citizen. English/Spanish.
- Celebrating Our Journeys: Programs celebrating the journeys of the cultures that influenced Chicago, including Native Journeys: Dr. Anton Treuer; American Warsaw: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Polish Chicago with Dominic Pacyga; Citizen Illegal: Poet Jose Olivarez and Fashion Beyond Borders with Hoda Katebi.
- Learn New Skills: CPL librarians hosted workshops to teach you new skills that explore culture, including cooking web TV show Snacks in the Stacks, workshops to get help with genealogy research using CPL's online resources, and video demonstrations of cultural crafts with Art Beyond Borders.
- Web TV series Chicago Neighborhoods Beyond Borders: Urbanologist Max Grinnell hosted One Book neighborhood tours, featuring 10 episodes exploring neighborhoods across Chicago and how immigration and migration has affected them.
- Book clubs and discussion groups citywide
Watch archived programming from the 2020 season on our website.
Community partner programming included:
- DePaul University Chicago’s Department of English studied the One Book, One Chicago selection and theme through their One Book, One Chicago course, as well as through several programs.
- Harold Washington College, a member of the City Colleges of Chicago, explored the One Book, One Chicago title through their English Department classes and programming.
- Loyola University Chicago presented a book discussion of Exit West.
- Northeastern Illinois University incorporated the season’s theme and book into their coursework and well as through several programs.
Digital Programming
In addition to events, the season featured several innovative digital programs including:
Further Reading
Check out some of our further reading recommendations:
- If You Liked Exit West
- Beyond Borders For Kids
- Beyond Borders For Teens
- Beyond Borders in Graphic Novels
- Beyond Borders: Novels Featuring Portals
- Beyond Borders: Fiction About Immigrants and Refugees
- Beyond Borders: Nonfiction About Immigrants and Refugees
- Beyond Borders Life During Wartime and Conflict
- Beyond Borders: Allegorical Fiction
- Cooking and Culture
Sponsors
The 2020 One Book, One Chicago was presented by the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Lead support was provided from Bank of America. Additional support was provided by Union Pacific, travel sponsor United Airlines and generous donors to the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
Content last updated: January 14, 2021
