Comments on: Review: The Possessed, Elif Batuman

By: Memory

Memory — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:56:19 +0000

I haven’t read too many contemporary short stories set in the real world because those I’ve tried to read were all EXACTLY like the ones Batuman describes.

That makes me want to read this book.

By: softdrink

softdrink — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:44:54 +0000

I really need to pull this off of the shelf and read it, especially since I seem to be reading more Russian lit than I ever thought I would.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 04:46:17 +0000

In reply to Vasilly. I hope you like it, if you're able to get a copy of it.

By: anna

anna — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:00:09 +0000

In reply to Jenny. so true: you left us to the mercy of the school system for Russian literature: is it any wonder we dislike it? Though you did a great job with us and Shakespeare, which I think is much more important.

By: Vasilly

Vasilly — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:41:55 +0000

I’ve seen this on plenty of best-of 2010 lists so I know I’m missing out. 🙂

By: Eva

Eva — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:39:19 +0000

In reply to Jenny.

I honestly can’t remember! That’s why I wish I’d written about it on my blog. I didn’t hate it…I remember liking the bits where she was in Uzbekistan the best.

I studied Russian from an international relations perspective, not from a lit perspective, so that might have been a factor too. But I think I just didn’t connect with her writing style, even though she seems like a cool person.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:17:27 +0000

In reply to bookssnob. Yeah! I think I've returned it, so it should be at Mid-Manhattan just waiting for you to take it home and love it. :)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:15:59 +0000

In reply to Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness). I hope you like it! It's not on my best of 2010 list (which I don't have one of anyway), but it's got some extremely funny moments.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:15:38 +0000

In reply to Eva. I would have thought you'd like it, but only because you are all about the Russian stuff. There wasn't anything about the content of the book that said EVA to me. What didn't you like about it?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:15:00 +0000

In reply to litlove. I hope you can! It's pretty darn funny.