Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Either/Or by Elif Batuman

3 reviews

anagramatica's review

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dark funny reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I found the college setting and philosophical dialog a little irritating at first. I was listening to the audiobook and the author was reading. I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue listening, but I stuck with it. There were some pure funny moments, some cringe funny moments, and a lot of existential young-person-seeking moments. The later part of the story was easier for me to warm up to.
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babettes's review

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emotional funny 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

4.5

completely blew me away. Watching Selin's growth, how the books she reads and the movies she watches, in addition to her actual living life, move the story is so well done. I relate to a lot to her in the beginning. Her staunch protection of her flawed mother mirrors my sentiments towards my father. The way she still is obsessed with someone  and tries to create a narrative out of those feelings. However in the last quarter of the book we lose our similarities. She, pushed by the other women in her life all getting into relationships, seeks out the uncomfortable companionship of men. I understand that part of what the text is trying to get at that the decisions she is making aren't good ones, but it's still hard to watch. But that just is a testament to the greatness of the character. Selin is my friend, I don't want her to be forced to do anal using sunscreen as lube! 
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savvylit's review

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emotional funny 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

Two aspects of this novel that I really enjoyed were the same things that I loved about The Idiot: Selin's dry humor & her genuine confusion regarding societal norms. As I read, I found myself thinking that I'd missed Selin and her perspectives on the world. That's how effectively her character is written. Batuman makes Selin feel as authentic and accessible as someone you could know in real life.

**Slight spoilers ahead**
Either/Or was ultimately quite different from The Idiot in one primary way: Selin begins to have physical encounters with men for the first time. Throughout Either/Or, Selin mentions her desire to feel like she's living a full life - like she were a character in a novel. Thus, rather heartbreakingly, her desire to have sex is mor abstract and solely motivated by a heteronormative sense of obligation. As the book progresses, Selin is often sexually harassed and coerced into sex. The accuracy and realism of these passages is devastating and demonstrative of the need for all people to continue to demand enthusiastic consent. It's the only acceptable response for any question of physical intimacy.
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