Reviews

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

csillareka's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.0

gajeam's review against another edition

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5.0

Nothing happens in this book but it awoke a literary analysis part of me I didn’t know I had. Who’s gonna read my paper comparing Selin to Alyosha from “The Brother’s Karamazov”?

ahrya's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

alicecrow's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

(Audiobook) After reading many reviews, trying to understand why I didn’t like this book, I’ve come to realize that I might not be knowledgeable enough about English, Art, or Language to find this book funny or engaging. It felt pointless to me. Ivan, and Selin’s obsessions with him, is truly insufferable. I couldn’t relate to it and I couldn’t find much humor in the story. The author is obviously talented but the book just wasn’t for me.

josiemontana16's review against another edition

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5.0

i read these two backwards on accident but im glad i did. oh selin, you are not alone in how you over-analyze and self-distance at the same time

navasketch's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-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

4.0

americanroth's review against another edition

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funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

riefshark's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

4.0

such a deeply intimate book

aanna's review against another edition

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5.0

Reread in anticipation of the sequel, and I liked The Idiot even more than the first time around. Such an incredible, unique narrator, I am so excited to get more.

reader567's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense 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

3.0