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mattyvreads's review
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book is not for me. I, unfortunately, did not really care for it. I found it to be for real very boring, actually.
I do think it is well-written, but it could have been an email.
It was like “POV toxic relationship”. Like a culmination of my least favorite parts of “A Very Nice Girl” and my least favorite stylistic elements of “Flights”. Just… not for me.
There were good parts! I find moments in this book absolutely and effortlessly hilarious. The author finds humor in the mundane and in the human condition.
Many parts of the book went over my head. I found it mostly pretentious and unapproachable. Also, the protagonist’s neuroses were in constant conflict with my own.
Some of the book was actually informative. I love the way that it discusses language and the evolution of language, and shit like that. Pretty cool.
I do think it is well-written, but it could have been an email.
It was like “POV toxic relationship”. Like a culmination of my least favorite parts of “A Very Nice Girl” and my least favorite stylistic elements of “Flights”. Just… not for me.
There were good parts! I find moments in this book absolutely and effortlessly hilarious. The author finds humor in the mundane and in the human condition.
Many parts of the book went over my head. I found it mostly pretentious and unapproachable. Also, the protagonist’s neuroses were in constant conflict with my own.
Some of the book was actually informative. I love the way that it discusses language and the evolution of language, and shit like that. Pretty cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, War, Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Misogyny
wasabby's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The first half of the book is focused on Selin, a freshman at Harvard, going through the machinations of college life. If the whole book was set up like this, I think it'd be easier to like it. Unfortunately, at the halfway mark, the book devolves into a strange grooming scenario between Selin and a senior/grad student. When you combine that with the sheer amount of casual racism, literal slurs, *acknowledgement* of the slurs and yet the continued use of them, the constant antisemitism the book somehow always finds a way to come back to... it's not a good book. It glorifies a predatory dynamic between a young woman and a man too old to be dating an 18 year old. It doesn't criticize the lack of empathy Selin feels for those around her. Characters in the book are often devoid of any real personality beyond "the black roommate" and "the friend of a friend who has a girlfriend in a wheelchair." Also just a lot of strange sexual content. If any of that's not your cup of tea, I'd avoid reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Excrement, Emotional abuse, War, Alcoholism, Classism, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Racism, Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Xenophobia
savvylit's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Idiot is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an incredibly intelligent yet socially naive young woman. For instance, Selin spends paragraphs contemplating philosophy, existentialism, linguistics, and mathematics - but she can barely express her own emotions and needs. Early in the novel, Selin enters into a toxic friendship with a fellow student named Ivan. Both Selin and Ivan are deeply emotionally stunted. In fact, they both talk AT each other instead of TO each other. And the majority of those one-sided conversations occur only via email. Their relationship was incredibly frustrating to witness & possibly my least favorite aspect of this novel. Luckily, Selin herself is so endearing that it makes up for it!
Selin's naivete, though frustrating, allows her to be an incredibly keen observationist. Being a college freshman, Selin experiences "adult" interaction for the first time. In these encounters, she often has a completely fresh perspective on ordinary scenarios that most of us might take for granted. And she's funny! Selin has a dry humor that kept me chuckling to myself from the first page to the last.
Selin's naivete, though frustrating, allows her to be an incredibly keen observationist. Being a college freshman, Selin experiences "adult" interaction for the first time. In these encounters, she often has a completely fresh perspective on ordinary scenarios that most of us might take for granted. And she's funny! Selin has a dry humor that kept me chuckling to myself from the first page to the last.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: War and Body shaming
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