Elif Batuman
While Elif Batuman’s The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them is a somewhat enjoyable read, its title is misleading. The title sets up the expectation that this is an exploration of Russian books, their authors, and their readers. Unfortunately, it failed to meet the expectation. Instead, we are presented with a travel memoir of sorts.
Batuman describes her experience in graduate school; her attendance and participation at academic conferences; her travels to interesting locations, including Samarkand where she studied the Uzbek language; and St. Petersburg. Along the way, she takes inconsequential sidetracks and divulges details about her personal life, including her relationships with men and her fascination with a Croatian student. Much of the content felt like unnecessary padding. There were few insights on Russian authors and their books, and none on their readers. The final chapter includes a lengthy summary of Dostoevksy’s Demons with little analysis. The pace was uneven, and the essays seemed to meander along with no clear purpose or connection.
On the plus side, Batuman is intelligent, very well-read, and articulate. She shows flashes of humor and shares some interesting observations about the places she visits and the people she meets. Her writing is accessible and peppered with frequent phrases and one-liners from literary works. Her voice is distinct and engaging but the content is disappointing and failed to deliver on its promise.
Recommended with reservations.