A review by alixereads
Either/Or, by Elif Batuman
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.
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.