Exit West and Go Went Gone both deal with immigration, as do many of our texts this semester. I chose these two, however, to compare the difference between the story being told by the immigrant versus the story being told by a white bystander. In Exit West, Nadia attempts to become a member of her new community and create a new home and belief system, while Saeed clings to the old ways. Nonetheless, they both deal with the trials and tribulations that come with immigrating, whether it be through a magic door or not. They are met with animosity from those who are already in the countries or a disinterest to help. Richard in Go, Went, Gone is one of the disinterested when the book begins. So much so that he doesn’t even notice a demonstration by refugees that he walked right past until it’s on the news. The characters in these two stories also undergo big changes, with Richard getting involved in the Refugee Crisis and Nadia and Saeed growing apart and changing as they get accomstomed to their new lives.
