The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People who Read Them by Elif Batuman
There have been any number of fascinating books arriving at the Ramblings recently, and some of the most inspired were the two lovely Valentine’s Day gifts from Mr. Kaggsy. I reviewed the first of the pair, “To the River”, here and it was a most wonderful reading experience. The second book was perhaps a surprise – a book on the Russians which I don’t already have and which looked very intriguing. So it was a given that it would come off the shelves soon – I can’t resist the Russians….
Batuman is a new author to me; a staff writer at the New Yorker since 2010, “The Possessed” was her first book and also came out that year. Since then she’s also written a novel “The Idiot” (hmmmm – I sense a theme here…) and she describes herself as “A six-foot-tall first-generation Turkish woman growing up in New Jersey”. “The Possessed” itself probably falls comfortably into that genre of what you might call ‘enhanced or themed memoir’ which seems to be so prevalent nowadays (you could perhaps put the Laing in there with it) and is none the worse for it – especially, from my point of view, when it turns out that the focus is on Batuman’s encounters with classic Russian literature and how it impacts on her. The result is a heady mix of memoir and experience with tales of how reading Russians has been a thread influencing important parts of her life – something with which I’d obviously empathise, though I don’t think mine has been quite so exciting!
Central to the book is a summer Batuman spent in Samarkand, studying the Uzbek language in the company of her then boyfriend Eric. Three chapters on their adventures are dotted throughout the book, and like all of the narrative it’s entertaining, funny and yet often very moving. Batuman’s encounters with other cultures can be quite eye-opening, and there are often near disasters as she stumbles through situations not quite knowing what to expect. In fact, the subtitle would have more accurately started with the word “Misadventures”!
Inevitably, as the book deals very much with Batuman’s experiences in the university sector, there are tales of boredom and bad temper at academic conferences and these are often hilarious; her dry humour captures the silliness and the rivalries and the tensions of these events wonderfully – although there are many uncomfortable conversations which are funny to read about but would be less so to experience… There are encounters with Joseph Frank, Dostoevsky biographer and scholar; and with Isaac Babel’s daughters at a high-profile Babel conference, an event that sounds extraordinarily stressful! Her visit to the Tolstoy Conference at his estate was fascinating, ending with some fascinating musings on Tolstoy and Chekhov; interestingly, she finds less of Chekhov’s presence in her visit to his house than she does of Tolstoy at Yasnaya Polyana. Dostoevsky features in the book towards the end, in perhaps a rather low-key way, given that the title is from one of his books, and there is the inevitable comparison between the two authors. Batuman is definitely a woman who prefers Tolstoy and although I’d choose Dostoevsky in the debate, I had to smile at her analysis of his style!
“Like much of Dostoevsky’s work, Demons consists primarily of scandalous revelations, punctuated by outbreaks of mass violence.”
“The Possessed” is an unusual book in many ways; choosing to define your life by your experiences in the sphere of Russian literature is not your everyday approach. But a book that discovers the connections between “King Kong” and Babel has got to be special, and Batuman is always an engaging, witty and self-deprecating narrator. As well as telling of her fascinating (mis)adventures, which are entertaining enough on their own, she brings much insight to the Russian authors she discusses. Dangerously, she gives a list of books and sources at the end which set me off researching; frustratingly, some seem to be untranslated, but the core chapters in Samarkand drew on a piece of writing by Pushkin I hadn’t encountered and have unfortunately led to me having to invest in this:
Yes, I’ve already read the “Tales of Belkin” and have at least two translations of them on the shelves; however, this collection contained the only non-P/V version I could find of his travelogue “Journey to Arzrum” and so inevitably I need to read this after the Batuman.
“The Possessed” was really a marvellous read, a wonderful mixture of funny and entertaining memoir alongside some beautiful discussions of, and insights into, many of my favourite authors. I came out of it not only even more impressed with Mr. Kaggsy’s Book Choosing Skills, but also with a very strong need to read a book that’s been languishing on my TBR for too long and which has had a number of versions of its title in translation – yes, “The Possessed” or “The Demons” or in the version I’m embarking on, “The Devils”.
I’m really in the mood for FMD’s revelations and mass violence, and in the immortal words of Captain Oates, I May Be Some Time….. ;D
Martin Black
Mar 04, 2019 @ 06:43:46
Oh, I do like the look of this! I’ve fond memories of my first read of Crime and Punishment and Dead Souls as a teenager.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 09:16:07
Same here, which is why I guess I gelled with the book so strongly. It’s very funny, but very profound too, which is a mix I like.
madamebibilophile
Mar 04, 2019 @ 07:24:36
This sounds really entertaining! That quote about Dostoevsky is wonderful 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 09:15:26
It is, isn’t it? I think perhaps it’s a little simplistic, as he does have a *lot* of depth in his books, but it made me laugh out loud. He *does* tend to do set pieces, but they’re very entertaining.
JacquiWine
Mar 04, 2019 @ 08:02:10
This sounds like such an engaging read. Much of the success (or otherwise) of a book like this lies in the writer’s ability to hold the reader’s attention, not always an easy thing to do given the personal nature of the musings.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 09:13:39
It’s very engaging and Batuman is a narrator I enjoyed journeying along with. You’re so right about how important that narrative voice is – fortunately I found her both informative and entertaining! 😀
Liz Dexter
Mar 04, 2019 @ 08:32:24
What a perfect book for you, someone who can identify with the writer. I do wonder about writing a memoir about Me And Murdoch one day, as I’m forever finding the precepts by which I live my life, phrases I use, etc., when I read her novels. And as for that chunkster, wow!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 09:12:42
Absolutely! It couldn’t have been more ideal really. I think you *should* write the Iris book – it’s always fascinating to see how particular books and authors have impacted on readers’ lives. As for the chunkster – I’m loving it so far, so that *has* to be good! 😀
winstonsdad
Mar 04, 2019 @ 12:47:11
Look forward to your thoughts on the devils it is a big book
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 13:49:09
It certainly is… But very enjoyable so far! 😀
Tredynas Days
Mar 04, 2019 @ 14:08:15
I’ve heard EB interviewed in book podcasts, talking about these ‘memoirs’ of books, and read some of her journalism; she seems a highly engaging character. Don’t think there’s time enough to fit this in with the task of reading and rereading those Russian classics – which it now occurs to me needs doing. I haven’t read them for some time…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 16:13:23
Certainly her writing is very engaging and as the book has had the effect of sending me off to read the Russians again that’s obviously a good thing! 😀
heavenali
Mar 04, 2019 @ 15:33:15
I read some Tolstoy and Dostoevsky in my early twenties, and really enjoyed them. Particularly Tolstoy I seem to remember. This book sounds so perfect for you – no wonder it’s whetted your appetite for more,well done Mr Kaggsy! I particularly like the sound of the Samarkand bits.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 16:12:32
Tolstoy probably has less incidences of mass violence, for one thing…. (although there is War and Peace!) 😀 But yes – the perfect book for me and a wonderfully involving read!
elisabethm
Mar 04, 2019 @ 19:31:58
I read Elif’s The Possessed years ago and it really rekindled my love for Russian literature, and the result of that was this blog 😄
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 04, 2019 @ 19:47:02
Well, that was a good result and I can understand why the book *would* have that effect! 😀
MarinaSofia
Mar 05, 2019 @ 10:13:29
Team Dostoevsky all the way, even though Tolstoy does write quite well for the most part!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 05, 2019 @ 16:22:16
*High Five*!!!! Much as I love Tolstoy, Dostoevsky has it for me every time! 😀
Readers' High Tea
Mar 05, 2019 @ 17:42:38
Lovely review! I think it might be better to read it after I read few more Russians, to be sure I understand the jokes 😉 Until now I read a bit of Dostoevsky (“Crime and Punishment”) and a little bit of Tolstoy (“War and Peace”), but I want to read more for sure!
PS: It’s so good to find bloggers that enjoy reading classics 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 05, 2019 @ 18:19:43
Thank you! But yes, I would suggest reading a few more Russians before venturing into this one. Dostoevsky’s “The Gambler” or “The Double” are some of his shorter works and they’re fab. As for Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina” is of course wonderful, but his shorter works are worth exploring. Really, you have infinite riches with the Russians. And yes – I love classics. Very rarely a fan of modern stuff unless it’s very special! 😀
1streading
Mar 05, 2019 @ 19:29:50
This book seems so much up your street I think I assumed you must have read it. Like any good books it leads on to others – O haven’t read Pushkin, but Devils is great!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 05, 2019 @ 19:43:26
I know – it’s astonishing that I hadn’t! And yes, it’s not done the TBR any good. Devils is fab so far. As for Pushkin, I think I did Tales of Belkin for Shiny New Books and I loved it!
juliana brina
Mar 06, 2019 @ 19:35:18
This sounds great! I’ve read Batuman’s The Idiot last year, and loved it. And now I want to read The Possessed, too 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 06, 2019 @ 19:44:39
It’s a wonderful book, Juliana, and has of course sent me back to the Russians! 😀
Simon T
Mar 10, 2019 @ 20:32:21
I don’t (yet!) share your enthusiasm for the Russians, but I do love any book that tells a life through books – and I lived in the literary academic world for enough time to enjoy reading about it. Will add to my list!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 11, 2019 @ 06:36:20
I think you’d find the academic sections a hoot, Simon – some of the conversations are excruciating and funny at the same time. Plus she might convince you to have a go at the Russians – not all of their books are ginormously long! 🤣
Etcetera
Aug 27, 2019 @ 14:32:49
I just finished reading this little gem yesterday, and a massive wave of grad school nostalgia came over me. Thank you for a lovely review!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Aug 27, 2019 @ 15:59:02
Very welcome! It is indeed a lovely read!