Second NetGalley read for the month, and what a powerful novella this is; I’m not sure I’ll be able to do justice to it!
Mohsin Hamid – “The Last White Man”
(08 June 2022)
… so Anders was prepared and not prepared, but prepared as he was, he was not expecting one of the three men who came for him to be a man he knew, a man he was acquainted with, it made it much worse, more intimate, like being shushed as you were strangled.
Anders wakes up one morning in an unknown country* and finds his white skin has turned dark brown. He panics, wants his mum (but she died after a problem with the local water supply, when a number of people developed cancer and died) and phones his old friend and sometime lover, Oona. He lives in a one-room apartment (for the time being) and hides away from his job at the gym and the people around, eventually having to venture out for groceries but wearing a hoody and gloves. When he does return to work, he finds other dark-skinned people looking him in the eye – but why – and his boss opining that he would have not coped if it had been him. Soon we find that the people are changing, one by one, and divisions that open up with (off-stage) violence and discord, where you think that people will find cohesion but instead are divided, start to be untenable as the balance shifts. Meanwhile, Oona experiments with the idea of changing and her mum is sucked into online groups and fake news sites that explain how this is the End of Days – but is it?
We live inside Anders’, Oona’s and Oona’s mum’s heads with no commentary in the narrative or in the events to indicate how we are supposed to read them, who is perhaps right and who is perhaps wrong. We can understand where each is coming from, and although we might cringe when Anders decides to finally talk to the (always dark-skinned) cleaner at the gym and engage him, rather than just seeing him like a puppy to pat on the head, and finds he’s not quite having the conversation we expected, who hasn’t navigated racial sociopolitics awkwardly?
For me in particular, there’s a very powerful passage when Oona is unable to recognise former friends and acquaintances (their skin texture and hair appear to change as well as their colour, from little hints in the book) which would stand as a good description of prosopagnosia (link leads to a post on my other blog), or face-blindness, which I have myself:
There was a kind of blindness in seeing people this way, and Oona ran into people she knew without knowing that she knew them, and had a more difficult time judging what sort of person a person was, whether they were nice or friendly or dangerous, but along with this blindness, as with actual blindness, there was a new kind of sight, other sense that grew stronger, a feeling that developed from how someone spoke to her, and how their mouth moved, and what expression their eyes appeared to hold, what light she saw in them, was it curiosity or anger, and she had to work harder to make her way with people, starting from scratch every time, and it was tiring, wearing her out by the end of the day.
Is this a novel about Covid or race? Both, I think – there’s that fear of “getting” it then the almost relief when you do, the balance shifting to everyone having had it, the looting and hoarding, but then it’s also about the sense of loss of one’s whiteness, of the certainties, of realising how people of colour have been treated. But it’s also hugely a novel about loss. Oona has lost her dad and then her brother, and Anders’ father is failing – we do see inside his head a little, too, in some very moving passages.
The style of the book is matter of fact, distanced, as I said, riots and violence happening off-stage but still palpably there. There’s a sense of fear and disconnection: I liked the style but some people have found it too cold. We’re not told what to think, but TO think – for example, like when reading about the Holocaust or other ethnic cleansing, you can’t help but think “Where would I go?” “Would I shield people?”. The plain style makes it easy to read but not easy to skim; you can’t stop reading but you also don’t stop thinking. It’s so powerful, but then there is also a powerful sense of community, healing and hope buried in the horror.
I found Hamid’s earlier novel, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist“, equally compulsive, and I see I will have to read his other works. Powerful and thought-provoking, this one will stay with me.
*I was convinced the country was Norway, from the names and snow, and also the language style somehow reminded me of books like Anja Snellman’s “Continents“. Apparently other people have seen the country as the US or UK. The whole thing being so vague and the lack of commentary on people’s interior monologues really fits with reader response theory, that the reader creates the book as they read it.
Thank you to Penguin for selecting me to read this book in return for an honest review. “The Last White Man” was published on 11 August 2022.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
Aug 13, 2022 @ 12:24:59
I heard Hamid speak about this novel and read from this novel earlier in the month, and now it has arrived for me from the library. I thank you for sharing your thoughts about it.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 13, 2022 @ 13:29:10
Excellent! I’ve heard him interviewed through my job and it added some interesting aspects – I’m going to link to an article when it comes out next week.
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peterleyland
Aug 13, 2022 @ 12:51:09
That’s a great review Liz which gives me the picture. I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist with my adult Ed class and think I will enjoy this one. Of course I forgot to look for it in the library today! I was searching for the Booker Longlist and found just one, Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout which I can now start having just finished Actress. Thanks for the review. I don’t usually read them until I’ve finished the book but I like chatting.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 13, 2022 @ 13:30:00
I try not to give anything away so hopefully you will still be able to enjoy reading it after reading my review! You can have interesting conversations on blogs as well as in groups, can’t you.
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Cathy746books
Aug 13, 2022 @ 13:25:18
I read this last week and didn’t get on with it as well as you did. I thought some really interesting issues were raised but not explored in any great depth. I did like the writing style though.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 13, 2022 @ 13:31:16
From hearing him speak on it, I think that might be the point – it’s a sort of starting off point for things readers can think about in more depth. It’s funny I’ll accept that in a more traditional narrative and not in a more experimental one like Assembly, though. Did the style remind you of Nordic and Japanese translated books like it did me?
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Cathy746books
Aug 16, 2022 @ 11:43:33
Yes, I thought the style was very Nordic, quite removed and stripped back. It would be a great one for book clubs I think.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 16, 2022 @ 20:11:10
Yes, definitely!
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Rebecca Foster
Aug 13, 2022 @ 13:30:24
I really dislike unnamed settings and vague dystopian elements, so I didn’t enjoy Hamid’s Exit West and won’t read him again. But I’m glad you got so much out of this. To every book its reader (which doesn’t have to be me!).
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Liz Dexter
Aug 13, 2022 @ 13:33:29
I really want to read Exit West now. But I don’t really like dystopias as such, or indeed much speculative fiction, so I’m not sure why I liked this one so much – maybe because of the interesting themes and attractive style, plus the violence and horror was off-stage in the main (the main violent act was seen through the media of a viral video). I also do think that hearing an interview with him just when I was starting to read it helped me engage with it. And yes, you can have your medical memoirs and other business I can’t deal with, and I’ll take the odd dystopian dunno-where-it’s-set novel!
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Laura
Aug 14, 2022 @ 14:21:26
Yes I felt similarly about Exit West (though I think I got on with it better than Rebecca) and so avoided this one.
I am terrible at recognising faces. I don’t know if it’s bad enough to count as face-blindness but I definitely have to rely on other cues.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 14, 2022 @ 14:27:24
That’s really interesting! It’s usually you two liking books and me steering clear of them! And that is interesting – yes, if you use other cues than faces (and laughed at neurotypicals when they got confused during the time of masks!) then you are on the proso continuum – welcome! It’s only a bit annoying to me as my life isn’t set up to need to recognise people, but it can be debilitating. If you’re on Facebook there are a couple of prosopagnosia groups where we sympathise with each other and share stories, good and bad!
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Aug 13, 2022 @ 14:31:56
Great review Liz, and what a clever and thought provoking book this sounds!
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Liz Dexter
Aug 14, 2022 @ 08:48:44
It’s brilliant and I can’t stop thinking about it.
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Annabel (AnnaBookBel)
Aug 13, 2022 @ 15:26:56
I loved Exit West and his 1st. I must admit I was a little disappointed with this one though, still pulling my thoughts together it was rather lacking in drama – but there’s a point to that probably. But there was one page about 3/4 through where he said Oona, this, Oona that, Oona said, going on and on in the same vein which was so repetitive especially with the name Oona, that I got a little irritated at the style.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 14, 2022 @ 08:50:33
Oh, that’s interesting. Of course I read it on Kindle so a page in my version wasn’t the same as a page in yours, possibly. I found the style sort of hypnotic and immersive while not presenting bloody violence at you the whole time, but lots of people didn’t like particular aspects of it. I think I like that almost reportage of interior monologue, as, thinking about it, I like that style in McMurtry, too, and others.
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Brona's Books
Aug 13, 2022 @ 23:10:46
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book, and now you’ve just made me want to read it more! I’ve only read Exit West so far, and can recommend it too.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 14, 2022 @ 08:50:58
Oh, brilliant, I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it. And I need to get Exit West, obviously!
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WordsAndPeace
Aug 14, 2022 @ 21:22:27
The themes of this book sounds so interesting, thanks for sharing!
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Liz Dexter
Aug 15, 2022 @ 09:39:04
It’s fascinating and certainly thought-provoking.
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bookishnaijagal27
Aug 15, 2022 @ 00:35:27
This book sounds interesting, especially because you think it intersects Covid and race. But, I also love that the book aims to get the reader to think. Thanks for sharing!
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Liz Dexter
Aug 15, 2022 @ 09:41:58
I felt that was such an interesting aspect and I feel there was something there about the way Covid disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities, though I might be reading too much into it there. Definitely he felt part of a “dark-skinned” community, like it or not, when he changed, worried about getting funny looks from those who remained white, feared when “they” would come for him, felt weird about getting glances of recognition from other “dark-skinned” people; but also turning was a kind of virus, though not transmissible, so there was recognisable stuff about the fear of getting it, the almost relief when you finally did, etc. And yes, mainly it’s clear from the book and from author interviews that he wants you to think.
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bookishnaijagal27
Aug 16, 2022 @ 11:11:29
It seems like the book really makes the reader visualize what it is like to be marginalized. Interesting.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 16, 2022 @ 20:12:12
It feels like it does, I’ll be interested to read reviews by a range of people as not many people I know have read it yet, and you can’t usually tell the backgrounds of NetGalley reviewers.
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bookishnaijagal27
Aug 18, 2022 @ 01:54:12
It is something I would love to read at some point. I’ve become such a slow reader lately that I might not get around to it until late next year, lol
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Liz Dexter
Aug 18, 2022 @ 08:01:59
Handily, a) it’s really short, b) it’s unputdownable …
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whisperinggums
Aug 15, 2022 @ 13:58:19
I’m another who loved The reluctant fundamentalist but who hasn’t read another of his – yet.
I read your opening quote and thought, this is the sort of style I like – as you later say, “matter of fact, distanced”. It’s quite common in Japanese literature (at least I’ve found it so) and I find it quite mesmerising.
Anyhow, the questions this book seems to ask sound spot on for today.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 15, 2022 @ 15:35:02
Yes, I’ve seen and liked it in Japanese as well as Nordic work. I hope you can get hold of a copy and look forward to hearing what you think of it!
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whisperinggums
Aug 15, 2022 @ 23:34:47
Don’t hold your breath … I am snowed under with life and don’t seem to get to read as much as you seem to!!
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Grab the Lapels
Aug 15, 2022 @ 13:58:26
You may be interested in checking out the 1931 novel Black No More by George Schuyler, which is a satire about a company that advertises the ability to turn black people white, and so folks line up to become white. As a result, white people are in a rage because now they can’t tell who to hate, and what happens if their white children marry a black person who looks white and their babies are are born obviously biracial. The horror!
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Liz Dexter
Aug 15, 2022 @ 15:35:54
Oh, you are correct, I am very interested – thank you for the recommendation! I have added it to my wish list – in bold – and it will be on my list when I do my book token splurge when the new indie bookshop opens locally.
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Grab the Lapels
Aug 17, 2022 @ 23:53:10
It’s satire, so it’s pretty funny but also in your face racist to make a point.
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Lola
Aug 15, 2022 @ 21:42:58
I had the same distanced feeling when I read Exit West. It must just be his style. I just looked up my review and I called it distant and clinical. I still liked it though!
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Liz Dexter
Aug 16, 2022 @ 20:13:00
I’m picking up the next copy of Exit West I see – I know it’s in the local charity shops but I’ve been steering clear of their temptations for a bit …
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Lola
Aug 17, 2022 @ 11:48:26
As will I, Liz! As will I after this week’s haul!! 😶
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Liz Dexter
Aug 17, 2022 @ 11:56:17
We all deserve a splurge now and then! I haven’t done my summer book token splurge yet, as I’m waiting for the new indie bookshop to open locally, however. But there are about 7 charity shops between it and my house, too …
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Lola
Aug 17, 2022 @ 13:45:46
Oh dear! More books incoming then 😋
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Harry Katz
Aug 15, 2022 @ 23:46:25
I read Exit West a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. This one has been at the top of my list since I first heard about it. Thanks for confirming my eagerness with this great review!
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Liz Dexter
Aug 16, 2022 @ 20:13:31
Thank you! And I’m glad; I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it. It won’t be long until I get a copy of Exit West!
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heavenali
Aug 17, 2022 @ 12:17:35
I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by this author, though some years ago. This sounds really fascinating. That strange dystpian world rather appeals to me.
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Liz Dexter
Aug 17, 2022 @ 13:25:18
I have a feeling I read your copy of that one! I think you’d find this one enjoyable and interesting, too.
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The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid – blogtour – Annabookbel
Aug 22, 2022 @ 03:00:13
August Miscellany!
Sep 01, 2022 @ 09:15:24
The Last White Man | Unsolicited Feedback
Sep 10, 2022 @ 16:20:19
imogenglad
Nov 06, 2022 @ 12:09:24
I’ve just read this, and have been composing a review this morning! I wondered if it was set somewhere Nordic too, though initially assumed the UK when I started reading it.
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imogenglad
Nov 06, 2022 @ 12:10:16
Did a search to see what other people have made of it, and your review came up at the top of my search list 🙂
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Liz Dexter
Nov 06, 2022 @ 15:25:54
Interesting you thought it was UK then Nordic, too – and thank you for the info on the search – very interesting!
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Book stats 2022 books of the year 2022
Dec 31, 2022 @ 19:03:03
Shawnerly
Jun 01, 2023 @ 04:06:44
Oh, I enjoy your perspective! I dint think about the overall loss notated in the book. They’ve lost everything including whiteness. Very interesting. Im going to pick up his other book.
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Liz Dexter
Jun 01, 2023 @ 14:50:14
Thank you – it is interesting what different things different people have found in the book; the loss of friends and family seemed worse to me than the loss of their whiteness in a way but of course the two play against each other as they feel they have lost power and agency. Where did you think the book was placed geographically, by the way? I really recommend his other books, he’s such an interesting and provocative writer, but doesn’t feel provocative for the sake of it, but to make people really think.
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