Elif Batuman's Reading List

"Adrienne Rich's "Blood, Bread, and Poetry" — specifically, the essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.""

"I do have two recommendations for new Russian books in translation: "In Memory of Memory," by Maria Stepanova, and "Living Pictures" (forthcoming), by Polina Barskova."

"I do have two recommendations for new Russian books in translation: "In Memory of Memory," by Maria Stepanova, and "Living Pictures" (forthcoming), by Polina Barskova."

"For some reason, those feelings melted away when I was reading Haruki Murakami. I must have read "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" at least 10 times."

"Books that have counteracted that feeling for me include Rachel Cusk's Outline trilogy, and Sheila Heti's "Pure Colour.""

"Books that have counteracted that feeling for me include Rachel Cusk's Outline trilogy, and Sheila Heti's "Pure Colour.""

"Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go." It's about an idyllic English boarding school where everyone is doing these amazing art projects, but something seems sort of off."

"I love when a sequel doesn't just continue the events from the previous book, but builds on that book's existence as an object in the world."

"It was so moving to look for what this beloved person had loved when she was in her 20s — almost like getting to hang out with her younger self."

"It's the perfect fantasy of an autonomous life that is somehow achievable by children. Sometimes, when I'm not feeling the magic of New York City, I can still remember that book and summon up the feeling of potential."

"I read that book in 2016 and it really did change my life! I was able to let go of a lot of shame and self-hatred that turned out to be tied up in my accumulated belongings."