A review by ra2chael
Either/Or, by Elif Batuman

funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.25

Wheeww. I loved seeing Selin step into herself more and more throughout this sequel. Her inner world is so, so rich, and unlike The Idiot, where I felt the novel fell flat when she left Harvard, in Either/Or the story soared in the second half of this book. The story gets a little repetitive at points, and I didn’t feel like the Ivan situation was very resolved, nor did I love reading Selin’s extremely passive barely-consent with a string of awful men. But, like in The Idiot, these flaws feel like an intentional personality flaw and were wonderfully frustrating. Really such an enthralling  and clever story.
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