Either/Or

Books | Fiction / Literary

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Elif Batuman

An instant New York Times bestseller!A New York Times Notable Book of 2022“Batuman has a gift for making the universe seem, somehow, like the benevolent and witty literary seminar you wish it were . . .This novel wins you over in a million micro-observations.” —The New York TimesFrom the acclaimed and bestselling author of The Idiot, the continuation of beloved protagonist Selin’s quest for self-knowledge, as she travels abroad and tests the limits of her newfound adulthoodSelin is the luckiest person in her family: the only one who was born in America and got to go to Harvard. Now it’s sophomore year, 1996, and Selin knows she has to make it count. The first order of business: to figure out the meaning of everything that happened over the summer. Why did Selin’s elusive crush, Ivan, find her that job in the Hungarian countryside? What was up with all those other people in the Hungarian countryside? Why is Ivan’s weird ex-girlfriend now trying to get in touch with Selin? On the plus side, it feels like the plot of an exciting novel. On the other hand, why do so many novels have crazy abandoned women in them? How does one live a life as interesting as a novel—a life worthy of becoming a novel—without becoming a crazy abandoned woman oneself?Guided by her literature syllabus and by her more worldly and confident peers, Selin reaches certain conclusions about the universal importance of parties, alcohol, and sex, and resolves to execute them in practice—no matter what the cost. Next on the list: international travel.Unfolding with the propulsive logic and intensity of youth, Either/Or is a landmark novel by one of our most brilliant writers. Hilarious, revelatory, and unforgettable, its gripping narrative will confront you with searching questions that persist long after the last page.

Coming Of Age

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More Details:

Author

Elif Batuman

Pages

368

Publisher

Penguin

Published Date

2022-05-24

ISBN

0525557598 9780525557593

Community ReviewsSee all

"It’s so rare to find a sequel that holds a candle to its original but this one was great"

Hannah Morris

"The thing I loved so much about The Idiot was how relatable it was, but also seeing Selin's close relationships. In this sequel, I miss both of those things, making it much less enjoyable for me (personally!!). The writing, however, has stayed consistent making it still very enjoyable, Elif Batuman's voice and humor are unmatched. Still, being that it was both a letdown from the previous novel and I didn't enjoy the story as much, my rating for Either/Or is 7/10📧 p.s. if you've read TI, I wouldn't say E/O adds enough to the story where you "have" to read it, and TI can certainly stand on its own just fine. Still worth checking out if you enjoy the writing style though!"

Mare

"In my opinion, this book exceeded its predecessor. Selin is still finding her footing, herself, as clueless and funny and reflective but coming to challenge her own opinions and tendencies a bit to figure out who she will become. Coming to this book having not read the original either/or, I felt that this book gave you enough clear context to get where the comparisons lay. The calls back to 90s era media (and Tom Waits, unexpectedly and wonderfully) was a welcome but of nostalgia, on top of an otherwise brilliant book. "

CaitVD

"Oh, what happened to my dear Selin!?"