Either/Or by Elif Batuman
The sole recipient of admission to Harvard was born in America. 1996 is now Selin’s second year, and she is aware that she needs to make the most of it. Understanding the significance of everything that occurred over the summer is the first order of business. Why did Selin’s mysterious crush, Ivan, help her land that job out in the middle of nowhere in Hungary? Why were there so many other people in the rural areas of Hungary? Why is Ivan’s ex-girlfriend attempting to contact her now? On the plus side, her life seems to be unfolding like the story of a riveting book. However, why are mad, abandoned women a common theme in novels? How can one live a life that is as interesting as a novel, one that is deserving of being made into a novel, without turning into a crazy, abandoned woman themselves?
Either/Or by Elif Batuman
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Selin draws certain conclusions about the universal significance of parties, booze, and sex, and she decides to put those conclusions into practice – no matter the cost – with the help of her literature curriculum and her more mature and self-assured peers. Travel abroad is the next item on the agenda.
Either / Or is a milestone book by one of our greatest authors, developing with the impulsive logic and intensity of adolescence. Its captivating narrative is hilarious, revelatory, and unforgettably memorable, leaving you with probing questions that linger long after the final page.
Selin, a sophomore at Harvard studying linguistics, had a brilliant, humorous, and literary sophomore year. However, unlike Sren Kierkegaard (I guess), Selin is even more worried about parties, her college schedule, and if she’ll get banged. As the title suggests, Selin is heavily preoccupied with concerns about how to live, notably whether ethics should take precedence over aesthetics.
This is a very engaging book that examines the intricacies of on-campus life at Ivy League colleges and the struggles of young adults trying to figure themselves out. The main character, who struggles with relationships in college, is endearing but incredibly fallible. I want to read those thick paragraphs over and over again so that I can fully understand them.
