greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
3.75
I freely admit that it is possible that I didn't "get" this book, but it really felt like, and the text itself says this, it's 14 hours of the characters misunderstanding each other. But not in a Hallmark-movie-misunderstanding-silly way, like a "I guess that XXX." "What?" "Nothing." "No, what did you say?" "It's dumb. Just that I guess that XXX." "Oh." way. And I am all for a weird little book that is doing something different than the norm, but this got tedious. The writing isn't bad at all, but I had a hard time getting engaged. Which could be the point? That Selin couldn't get engaged with Ivan either? I feel like I could write on this book, but it didn't qualify as a "fun" read for me. I'm not sure this had a plot?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Racism, and Animal cruelty
ienbdri's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I did not enjoy this and I felt that the three profound thoughts could not make up for the other intensely boring 400 pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Toxic friendship
hannibanani29's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Cursing
emscatchard's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the first 100 or so pages before she started emailing ivan took me a year to get through, but i really enjoyed the writing style the whole way through. there was no plot, and i found it reminded me of watching those "day in the life" tiktoks people make where you can sit back and get a glimpse through other peoples eyes.
Spoiler
fuck ivan though. very well written character but fuck him fr what an ass
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
kshertz's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
No clue what this is about. A person that doesn’t know what they’re doing and keeps purposefully messing up their life? I’m not sure what they were trying to accomplish here but I’m glad I did the audiobook. Even then, I almost DNFd it. Which never happens with me. Definitely can’t recommend unless you like a really slow pace existential books.
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
savvylit's review against another edition
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
rosalind's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
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