Books: “Either/Or” by Elif Batuman

“Either/Or” was the first published work of the 19th-century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. It outlines a theory of human existence that is marked by the distinction between a hedonistic, aesthetic view of life versus the ethical life, which is predicated upon commitment.

“Either/Or” is also the title of the latest novel by Elif Batuman, a Turkish-American novelist who may not be as brilliant as Soren but is infinitely more hilarious.

The novel follows the collegiate escapades of Selin, a Turkish-American Harvard sophomore, who is similarly conflicted between ethics and aesthetics. Should she continue to pine for Ivan, her Hungarian boyfriend, even though they’ve done nothing more romantic than exchange torrid emails? Or should she throw all caution to the wind and try to pursue the purely hedonistic, by simply racking up a few sexual experiences?

Along the way, Selin reveals her savagely funny point of view on everything under the sun. When a German acquaintance learns Selin is of Turkish descent and asks her to belly dance, Selin responds she is from New Jersey. “‘Oh, forget it then,’ she said, turning her back as fast as she could like it might have been contagious.’”

“Either/Or” shows that Batuman is really onto something with Selin, a character she introduced in “The Idiot,” her previous novel.  I can’t wait to see what adventures Selin gets into during her next year at Harvard. Until then, this brainy wonderful novel will more than suffice