Reviews

Either/Or was an ideal reading experience for me. I don't know how Elif Batuman makes a college sophomore talking about the books she's read in class so riveting, but that is her genius. Picking up where The Idiot left off, I found Selin slightly more clued-in than she was in The Idiot, but she's still charmingly naïve about so much. Certain types of bookish, socially awkward readers certainly see bits of themselves in Selin, and I found myself laughing in recognition at so many of the lines in the book. But there are some flickers of wisdom in Selin's inner monologue this time, making bits like this stand out:
"The more I thought about it, the less I understood why the duration of my current condition...should depend on my ability to find some doofus who would tell me I was special. I already knew I was special. So what did I need the doofus for?"
Like most fans of this series, I'm really hoping Batuman will give us a novel for each year of Selin's undergrad, and based on the ending of Either/Or, it seems likely that we will. I'm already eagerly anticipating the next installment.

alixereads's review

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5.0

While The Idiot was a slow burn, Either/Or was a ravaging forest fire in that it was all consuming.

I couldn’t put this book down. I think anyone can find a piece of themselves reflected in Selin; and reading her story was at times like taking a trip down (a very detailed) memory lane.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Was that what was so painful: that nobody had ever come so close to me—nobody had ever seen me, and come right up to me, and kept going, and looked into my eyes so seriously, with so little fear?”

“(…) so that, from this point on, my life would be as coherent and meaningful as my favourite books. At the same time, I had a powerful sense of having escaped something: of having finally stepped outside the script”.

I found myself finally rooting for Selin, for her self discovery; her expansion and her ability to finally do what was best for her (not Ivan or anyone else).

I really hope we get a third book in this series.

turnedherbrain's review

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funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.0

ahhhhhhlexa's review

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funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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