Comments on: THE POSSESSED slowly assumes material form http://www.elifbatuman.net/2009/07/31/the-possessed-slowly-assumes-material-form/ "Many people ask why a writer commits suicide. But I think that people who ask don’t know the vanity and the nothingness of writing." Kobo Abe Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:08:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Dave Lull http://www.elifbatuman.net/2009/07/31/the-possessed-slowly-assumes-material-form/comment-page-1/#comment-1153 Dave Lull Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:39:28 +0000 http://www.elifbatuman.net/?p=564#comment-1153 BOOK REVIEW 'The Possessed' by Elif Batuman A young scholar finds nourishment -- and madness -- in the academic circles devoted to studying Russia's literary masters. By Richard Rayner February 14, 2010 http://www.latimes.com/features/books/newsletter/la-ca-elif-batuman14-2010feb14,0,5740851.story BOOK REVIEW
‘The Possessed’ by Elif Batuman
A young scholar finds nourishment — and madness — in the academic circles devoted to studying Russia’s literary masters.
By Richard Rayner
February 14, 2010

http://www.latimes.com/features/books/newsletter/la-ca-elif-batuman14-2010feb14,0,5740851.story

]]> By: Harrison Solow http://www.elifbatuman.net/2009/07/31/the-possessed-slowly-assumes-material-form/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 Harrison Solow Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:33:47 +0000 http://www.elifbatuman.net/?p=564#comment-1149 Dear Dr. Batuman, This is a superb article. Stunning, really. I'm writing to tell you this and also to ask if I may quote you in my own book, Felicity and Barbara Pym, (May 2010) which an epistolary work (fiction and non-fiction) about the very distinctions you make in your article. My conclusions differ slightly since I would not have given the raw conglomerate of scribblers huddled around the space heater in the trailer repute as "writers" and I take great exception to what generally passes as a university education in English Literature in 80% of universities today, but I make similar points. Having been simultaneously Writer in Residence and Lecturer (Associate Professor level in US terms) at two British universities, I experienced the dichotomies you describe so beautifully, with full force. My MFA and PhD studies were engaging. Both were unnecessary to me as a writer but they did not harm me. My five year honours BA in Literature was absolutely essential. And I am a great proponent of interdisciplinarity. If I may send you the portion of your article in context (about a page of my book in which one (long) sentence of yours would appear, properly acknowledged of course) I would appreciate it. I can be contacted at harrisonsolow@alumnae.mills.edu or via The Red Room as above. Kind regards, Harrison Solow (female, despite the name) Dear Dr. Batuman,

This is a superb article. Stunning, really. I’m writing to tell you this and also to ask if I may quote you in my own book, Felicity and Barbara Pym, (May 2010) which an epistolary work (fiction and non-fiction) about the very distinctions you make in your article. My conclusions differ slightly since I would not have given the raw conglomerate of scribblers huddled around the space heater in the trailer repute as “writers” and I take great exception to what generally passes as a university education in English Literature in 80% of universities today, but I make similar points. Having been simultaneously Writer in Residence and Lecturer (Associate Professor level in US terms) at two British universities, I experienced the dichotomies you describe so beautifully, with full force. My MFA and PhD studies were engaging. Both were unnecessary to me as a writer but they did not harm me. My five year honours BA in Literature was absolutely essential. And I am a great proponent of interdisciplinarity. If I may send you the portion of your article in context (about a page of my book in which one (long) sentence of yours would appear, properly acknowledged of course) I would appreciate it. I can be contacted at harrisonsolow@alumnae.mills.edu or via The Red Room as above.
Kind regards,
Harrison Solow (female, despite the name)

]]> By: Dave Lull http://www.elifbatuman.net/2009/07/31/the-possessed-slowly-assumes-material-form/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 Dave Lull Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:40:10 +0000 http://www.elifbatuman.net/?p=564#comment-1148 This essay is adapted from The Possessed: Confessions of an Accidental Literary Scholar The Chronicle Review February 7, 2010 http://wiredcampus.chronicle.com/article/Chasing-the-Word-a-Writer-in/63882/ This essay is adapted from The Possessed:

Confessions of an Accidental Literary Scholar
The Chronicle Review
February 7, 2010

http://wiredcampus.chronicle.com/article/Chasing-the-Word-a-Writer-in/63882/

]]> By: Dave Lull http://www.elifbatuman.net/2009/07/31/the-possessed-slowly-assumes-material-form/comment-page-1/#comment-1137 Dave Lull Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:58:14 +0000 http://www.elifbatuman.net/?p=564#comment-1137 Slavic Sensation By Kristy Davis O, The Oprah Magazine | January 28, 2010 You'll Never Read a Russian Classic the Same Way Again http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/The-Possessed-by-Elif-Batuman-Book-Review Slavic Sensation
By Kristy Davis
O, The Oprah Magazine | January 28, 2010
You’ll Never Read a Russian Classic the Same Way Again

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/The-Possessed-by-Elif-Batuman-Book-Review

]]> By: Dave Lull http://www.elifbatuman.net/2009/07/31/the-possessed-slowly-assumes-material-form/comment-page-1/#comment-1126 Dave Lull Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:11:59 +0000 http://www.elifbatuman.net/?p=564#comment-1126 Vogue: People Are Talking About... Wednesday January 27, 2010 12:01PM Books: To Russia With Love: Vera Pavlova and Elif Batuman —Megan O’Grady http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2010/01/books-to-russia-with-love-vera-pavlova-and-elif-batuman/ Vogue: People Are Talking About… Wednesday January 27, 2010 12:01PM
Books: To Russia With Love: Vera Pavlova and Elif Batuman
—Megan O’Grady

http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2010/01/books-to-russia-with-love-vera-pavlova-and-elif-batuman/

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