Reviews

Either/Or by Elif Batuman

laineyg's review against another edition

4.0

“It wasn't that I hadn't known these things, but that at some point, without realizing it, I had persuaded myself that I was different— that my honesty and non-lameness wouldn't be punished like that, because I had some special skill, some self-sufficiency, an ability to be alone. I always had been alone, when every other person in my family had insisted on having someone around to have sex with.”

emilenilemil's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

wahiba's review against another edition

5.0

My TBR is now twice as big

the Turkey part is a bit absurd but still "aesthetic"

Was this the decisive moment of my life? It felt as if the gap that had dogged me all my days was knitting together before my eyes—so that, from this point on, my life would be as coherent and meaningful as my favorite books. At the same time, I had a powerful sense of having escaped something: of having finally stepped outside the script

I guess this means no third sequel huh?

swendell's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

paulaeatsbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• 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

jenniferavignon's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

swilko's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.5

el_hinchcliffe's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

beccakad's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jola_g's review against another edition

3.0

I am very sorry to report that the dramatically descending red arrow on the cover of Either/Or can be used as a symbolic image of my mood while reading this new novel by Elif Batuman. I literally kept checking the name of the author to make sure the sequel to [b:The Idiot|30962053|The Idiot|Elif Batuman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474782288l/30962053._SY75_.jpg|51577226] was written by the same person. Some fragments sounded like auto-parody or fanfiction.

Basically, the protagonist does five things in Either/Or:
1. Explores her sexuality with a plethora of random guys she met a few minutes/hours ago;
2. Summarizes some books she read, spoilers included;
3. Basks in self-indulgence;
4. Recalls her childhood memories;
5. Skates gracefully on the surface of philosophical and literary issues, bestrewing the ice with 'Kierkegaard, Proust, Breton et altri' sprinkle

Compared to The Idiot...
...what is gone?
* Crispy freshness;
* Lustre;
* Warmth;
* Charm;
* Humour;
* Lightness;
* Subtlety;
* Ivan (only physically).

...what is new?
* Boredom;
* Perceptible efforts to be entertaining;
* Details of Selin's sex life in abundance. I wonder if the author was criticised for lack of sex in the first part and now she was trying hard to play catch up?;
* Passages which look like notes from actual seminars and lectures;
* Portraying people as stereotypical national caricatures — please, check the Turkish men Selin encountered during her trip;
* Selin's personality, radically transformed in a few months. How I missed the socially awkward, timid, smart, hilarious introvert from The Idiot!

As for sequels and second seasons, I usually try to keep my hopes low but I did not anticipate Either/Or to be such a colossal disappointment from almost all fronts. Sometimes a shadow of The Idiot's brilliance flickered shily, sometimes I pondered on the author's originality, talent and acuity. Still, I cringed for the most part. It felt as if Elif Batuman was terrorised by the editors to continue the series against her will and sabotaged it secretly.


Painting by Ana Maria Edulescu.