kgorinshteyn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aal1yahm's review against another edition
5.0
Better than the idiot, I think this is my new favourite book of all time
severinam's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
“At the same time, I had a powerful sense of having escaped something: of having finally stepped outside the script.”
If you thought nothing happened in The Idiot, you should dread this book. I started it with such enthusiasm because I absolutely loved loved loved the first part! Well, this one went from 4 stars to 2 in my mind in the progression of the plot until the ending forced me to put an extra 0.5 because I still care about Selin and her journey.
I liked some passages and I adore Selin, but this book did not make a strong impression on me. The last part, when Selin does a study abroad, left me more uncomfortable than anything and frankly saying I did not enjoy it at all.
I do not know if it is valid to say, but this feels like a second-book syndrome that maybe… possibly… can get better… when we see Selin’s junior year?
Or not. Elif Batuman I have high hopes for your mind (even if I do not anticipate reading about russia).
“At the same time, I had a powerful sense of having escaped something: of having finally stepped outside the script.”
If you thought nothing happened in The Idiot, you should dread this book. I started it with such enthusiasm because I absolutely loved loved loved the first part! Well, this one went from 4 stars to 2 in my mind in the progression of the plot until the ending forced me to put an extra 0.5 because I still care about Selin and her journey.
I liked some passages and I adore Selin, but this book did not make a strong impression on me. The last part, when Selin does a study abroad, left me more uncomfortable than anything and frankly saying I did not enjoy it at all.
I do not know if it is valid to say, but this feels like a second-book syndrome that maybe… possibly… can get better… when we see Selin’s junior year?
Or not. Elif Batuman I have high hopes for your mind (even if I do not anticipate reading about russia).
bmeadow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
isobel_laura's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
mollusk's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-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? Yes
3.5
leoniee_04's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
wmelisssa's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
andrewhilmes's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 ⭐️
gave me intense flashbacks to my own sophomore year of college (earlier this year) in a really bizarre way. so well done, just like the idiot, but lost me for the last portion. unlike in the idiot where Selin’s trip abroad felt integral to the story, in either/or, it felt detached from the rest of the novel in a way that really did not compel me. excited to read more from Batuman of course.
gave me intense flashbacks to my own sophomore year of college (earlier this year) in a really bizarre way. so well done, just like the idiot, but lost me for the last portion. unlike in the idiot where Selin’s trip abroad felt integral to the story, in either/or, it felt detached from the rest of the novel in a way that really did not compel me. excited to read more from Batuman of course.