Contemporary Literary Works Engaging with Orientalism:

1. "Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid (2017): A magical realist novel exploring migration and

displacement through the lens of a couple fleeing a fictional Middle Eastern country. Addresses

orientalist assumptions about "refugees" and challenges Western portrayals of the East.

2. "Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line" by Deepa Anaparampil (2019): A darkly comedic collection

of stories satirizing American orientalism and cultural appropriation through the lens of the

Indian-American experience. Examines the construction of the "exotic" East and its impact on

identity and belonging.

3. "The Ministry of Moral Panic" by Amanda Lee Koe (2014): A Singaporean novel intertwining

historical fiction and satire to dissect colonial legacies and racial tensions in postcolonial

Southeast Asia. Analyzes the lingering effects of orientalist discourse on modern identity and

power dynamics.

4. "Homeland Elegies" by Elif Shafak (2019): A lyrical memoir exploring the author's Turkish-

Muslim identity within the context of Western perceptions and anxieties about Islam. Offers a

multifaceted critique of orientalism and its impact on individual lives and international relations.

5. "A Girl is a Half-formed Thing" by Eimear McBride (2014): An experimental Irish novel

using fragmented language and stream-of-consciousness narration to expose the brutal legacy of

British colonialism in Ireland. Critiques the orientalist tendency to dehumanize and silence the

colonized "other."

6. "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang (2015): A Korean novella investigating societal pressures and

gender norms through the story of a woman who rejects traditional expectations and seeks an
unconventional existence. Offers a nuanced portrayal of Korean culture and challenges Western

assumptions about gender and sexuality in the East.

7. "Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid (2017): A magical realist novel exploring migration and

displacement through the lens of a couple fleeing a fictional Middle Eastern country. Addresses

orientalist assumptions about "refugees" and challenges Western portrayals of the East.

8. "Brotherhood of the Sea" by Leila Slimani (2020): A Moroccan novel delving into the

complexities of male friendship and violence, set against the backdrop of political unrest and

economic uncertainty. Subverts romanticized notions of the Mediterranean "exotic" and offers a

critical look at gender relations and social hierarchies.

9. "Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata (2018): A Japanese novel exploring themes of

alienation and social conformity through the lens of a woman choosing to live unconventional

life working in a convenience store. Offers a critique of Japanese societal expectations and

challenges orientalist stereotypes about Asian work ethic.

10. "The Bird King" by Fatima Farheen Mirza (2020): A Pakistani-American novel examining

familial secrets and betrayals within the context of migration and cultural hybridity. Provides a

rich exploration of identity formation and challenges narratives of cultural clash and

assimilation.