astoriareader's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
- I blindly went into this book, as I kept seeing praise & good reviews for it. Apparently, it’s a sequel.
- This book DRAGS at such a slow pace. It also is not structured well, and it has extremely long chapters.
- Pedantic, pretentious. No idea why so many college lectures & quotes from other books are in this??
- Felt absolutely no connection to the main character.
- Tries to be a coming-of-age story if a Harvard student in her sophomore year.
- I have no idea how I finished this book.
- This is the most boring fictional book that I’ve read.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
boogiebeez's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am actually Selin (it is rare that I relate to book characters this much). I often felt like the observations and witticism she made are similar to how i regard the world but way more efficiently articulated. safe to say that I loved this book and will gobble up anything else written by Ms Batuman
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Moderate: Xenophobia and Alcohol
theabee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia
brynpemery's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
mlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Lesbophobia
seanamcphie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment
waybeyondblue's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship
karabeavis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found the book excruciating at times. For me, the main character is hard to identify with and have empathy for. Despite having a cool mum who is a no—nonsense doctor, in regular contact, the protagonist is hapless, and
Spoiler
the sex she finally has is absolutely awful. There doesn’t seem to be a single pleasurable encounter. Pleasure doesn’t come into it. The character is totally neurotic, an American thing I observe in American sitcoms etc. It’s hard to like her.Back to the writing which is layer upon layer of cultural literature references: the book is thoroughly researched and clever. I loved the description of Selin’s time spent at her grandmother’s house in Turkey.
Overall highly esoteric and inwardly gazing. I like the sophisticated world the character moves in, but at the same time, I loathe it. I wanted to love this. there’s a buzz around it and many adore it!
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
tatjanasbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
moonbeamreads's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape