“As violence and unrest looms over their country, Nadia and Saeed embark on a furtive love affair. As the city turns into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, the couple begins 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.” This is the description of Exit West, by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid, this year’s selection for Everybody Reads. The book was one of The New York Times’ Top 10 books of 2017 and was on the Man Booker Prize’s 2017 shortlist.

Everybody Reads is a two-month long community reading project of Multnomah County Library, made possible by The Library Foundation. Everyone is welcome to participate in this shared reading experience through book discussions, lectures, and events at neighborhood libraries and bookstores.

This year’s Everybody Reads will culminate with an exciting appearance from Exit West author Mohsin Hamid at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on April 5, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. we support The Library Foundation and are looking forward to hearing Mohsin Hamid speak. Tickets are available from Literary Arts here.