The Idiot | Women's Prize 2018 Review
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- Опубликовано: 30 окт 2024
- My thoughts on the debut deadpan novel The Idiot by Elif Batuman (shortlisted for this year's Women's Prize for Fiction)
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This is not a sponsored video, and unless otherwise stated, I bought these books myself.
I'm so glad I'm not the only person who really liked this book! 😄 The humor hit the right spot for me, too, and you're so right about the gentle tone of it-there are so many ways it could've come off as too pretentious, but it's so subtle and unassuming that I just found it really endearing and well-observed. I really like your traditional clown analogy-I loved so much of this book, but even I got a little fatigued by the end, haha. And thank you for your thoughts on whether or not it's a pretentious read-I know a lot of people have found it to be, but I agree with your take and thought it was ultimately pretty humble and unassuming (even the title, which I think some people read as a pretentious nod to Dostoyevsky, to me seems very literal and self-deprecating). Ugh, great review (as always) :)
I am SO with you on this book - you, me, and Kendra against the world ;)
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. I read it in 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down. I met Elif when she was in the South for a book reading, and her humor is exactly like it is in the book. I could listen to her tell stories all day. So, so, so happy to finally find someone else who likes it too. Autumn and I picked it for one of our discussion books for June because we felt it needed more love. 😂
I really loved this one, too. Every single character felt meaningful and that they led their own lives outside of Selin’s involvement in them. The dialogue was also so rich, at times I felt like I was reading memoir. This one was such a treat! Glad you liked it too
I really like your point about the side characters feeling meaningful - I loved the conversation between Svetlana and Selin where they talked about being protagonists vs. being side characters in each other's stories
I really enjoyed this, too. I felt like it was as if Greta Gerwig had written Tom McCarthy's Satin Island.
Jen Campbell if it's anywhere near this description, I'm all for it!
I also got Greta Gerwig vibes, which I'm 100% up for.
Then I would be an Idiot not to read the book.
Jen Campbell I can so see Greta Gerwig as Selin! What a comparison.
It's nice seeing you talk about a book that you feel good about! You really talk about books in terms that no one else seems to. It always makes your reviews particularly insightful. I actually started reading The Idiot a few weeks ago and was not taken in by it at all - it just fell a bit flat for me, but given your take on what it's trying to do, I'd like to give it another try soon.
Thank you very much. If The Idiot isn't grabbing you, I'd say don't worry about reading it - not much changes throughout the book, so your initial response is likely to be your final response :)
I knew you would help me understand this book. I'm so wrapped up in my personal reaction - or my identification with certain parts of Selin - that I can't put my thoughts together. And I did find it nicely repetitive, in a similar way that I found Reservoir 13 very pleasant (though structurally, not at all the same). Anyway, I'm trying to find a way to review this book that doesn't require me to 1) Read Dostoyevsky (I love him, just don't have the time right now!) or 2) talk about deeply embarrassing experiences from my young adulthood. I'll keep ya posted :)
I am ALL HERE for a review full of embarrassing personal experiences. But in all seriousness, it would be really nice to hear your thoughts on this book, whether they're fully formulated or not
You give us so much to chew on in this review! I love the idea of this novel being a traditional clown--what a beautiful and specific metaphor. Great video as always, and I believe I may have to pick this one up.
Thank you for such a beautiful comment xx
I'm so grateful to have come across a positive review of this book; I was so interested in it but became dubious as I heard comparisons to Will Self's level of pretension (which heaven forbid, I wouldn't walk into such a hell hole!)
It's kind of weird and unfortunate how in a lot of cases "pretentious" is used to mean "something intellectual I didn't like." I also had the sense that I would like this book, despite what I'd heard about it, so I'm glad I trusted my instincts xx
I was initially turned off by negative reviews of this book. I thought the title alone made it sound pretentious - putting itself on the same level as Dostoyevsky. However I liked the point you made against the common complaint of this being pretentious. I love the sound of that deadpan observational humour. The notion of questioning things being dangerous made me laugh out loud, as that reminds me very much of my workplace! I am ordering this right now. Thanks for another brilliant review.
Thank you for another brilliant comment! Hope you enjoy (although remember the 20 page warning - if it's not grabbing you, love yourself and maybe pick up something else instead ;) )
This is a terrific review. I learned a lot from your perspective. Thank you!
After some negative reviews, I really enjoyed watching yours. You’re a lot more specific in your thoughts about it, and made me realise that I might actually like this book. So I think I’m going to give it a try:)
This comment is LOVELY, thank you :)
That was an absolutely brilliant review and it helped clear up a lot of confusion I had about the novel. Thank you and keep up the good work! :)
Thanks for the reminder of one of my favourite Blackadder scenes :-D
"They're coming! Run for the hills!"
"No, my lord! They're coming from the hills!"
"Run away from the hills! Run away from the hills! If you see the hills, go the other way!"
I really loved this book, I didn't find it boring at all but I do agree it could have been quite a bit shorter, and there's only so many dry humorous observations that I can deal with before it gets a bit much. I loved the Einstein poster bit so much, I think that's when I knew this book was definitely for me. The way she makes observations and just moves on immediately was great. I tabbed so many parts of this book. I would never have read this if I wasn't reading the women's prize longlist (the blurb sounded so dull) but this is why book prizes are great! Most of the others I've read from this prize haven't been great but it was worth it for this book alone. And also Home Fire.
YES, this one and Home Fire have definitely been standouts, and I read both because of lit prizes. So even though I'm feeling less warm and fuzzy about prizes than I did before it's important to remember that :)
You reignited my interest in this again! I have gone back and forth a lot on if I want to read this book. Maybe I'll read the first 20 pages in a bookstore and see if it's for me. As seen on my channel, I need to learn to do this with books I buy anyway. I'll probably stay away until the hype dies down more, but I'll have to keep it in mind.
First 20 pages is definitely the way to go!
I’m 50% in and felt the same as you. I see why people wouldn’t like it but find the humor enjoyable and love the characters. Glad it got another positive review from you since mostly the reviews have been negative besides Claire. Guess the judges have a sense of humor!
I know, I think the inclusion of this book on the shortlist more than any other tells us a lot about the judges' taste!
As always, your reviews are incredible and actually tell us whether there's a chance we'll like this book. Thank you
Best comment ever! Thank you
Yes!! I totally agree. The humour was so witty throughout this book and used a lot of dark humour in some of the situations I found. I loved this read. I have a bit of a book hangover now!!
I love your starbursts analogy!! I didn’t get on with this book, but loved hearing your views as always!
Thank you, Jaclyn!
Well this was unexpected! I totally thought you would hate this book (that video with your brother comes to mind 😂). I had already been convinced not to read this by the amount of negative reviews that I've heard, but now I feel I have to give it a shot to see where I stand. I loved this review, especially when you talk about how we communicate within the constraints of our understanding. Language is something that I found fascinating so that part of your review really caught my attention and made me want to pick up the book. Great video as always!
Thank you, I'm glad to hear you're also interested in language! And I actually had a sneaking suspicion I'd like this one a lot, despite all the mixed things I'd heard, but I definitely understood where my brother was coming from in his withering assessment ;)
Question, how can one discern between the pretentious and the truly profound? How as a writer can you pull off beimg profound without wandering over into pretentious?? Isnt that a fine line? Does.it depend on the readers perceptions? Please let me know or, it would be a great video theme. You could compare possibly the profound and the pretentious. Lol please help.me out. As a reader, I know the author will be trying to manipulate my thoughts and feelings but if I allow.that without critical.thought am.I the idiot or did they just do their job really well??? Lol dont answer that!!
Readers will always disagree about this (for example, I think Sight by Jessie Greengrass is super pretentious but a lot of others think it's profound), so I'd say it's about you personally deciding. If something seems genuinely deep to you, then trust your response! And if it seems both shallow AND like it's not aware of how shallow it is, trust that response, too. Also, we're allowed to enjoy pretentious things, especially if we like them for other reasons ;)
Insert Literary Pun Here thanks!
CANT believe i just found ur channel!! I will give this book a go :)))
Excellent :) Glad to have you here!
I laughed out loud at this several times. I knocked over my partner's coffee kicking the café table at "The second train was crowded, and smelled like the human condition."
Oh I LOVED this book. Thanks for this thorough and smart review.
I thought I was going to really like it in the first few pages, but the humor and length of it got old very fast for me, and I did think it was trying to be profound by continually telling you how not profound it was, which I found to be relatively obnoxious. Aggressively bored is definitely a good description for what I felt after page 100 or so. I really enjoyed your thoughts!!
Thank you, I appreciate you even clicking on this review (especially with me smiling in the thumbnail) considering how much you hated it! I've been fascinated by how differently we've responded to this Women's Prize list in general
Well, as if I would ever miss a video! Yours is the first review (even positive) that made me think long and hard on the merits of the book. A lot of what you said were all the reasons I *wanted* to love it but felt it fell short in the end, for me personally. Love love love me some opposing opinions!!
I am really drawn towards books that are bashed by the majority but are championed by the minority. So I am keen on picking up this book. Brilliant review I must say, Jennifer. And your clown act was a major highlight.
Thank you Joseph! I feel the same type of curiosity toward books that seem to only appeal to a limited subset of people
If you like the Idiot try the following, which are similar: A Gate at the Stairs - Lorrie Moore, Sorry to Disrupt the Peace - Patty Yumi Cottrell and The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth Mckenzie
oh and I thought the book was fantastic!!
I'm a HUGE fan of Lorrie Moore, and The Portable Veblen was my favorite book of 2016, so these are spot-on suggestions!
great!!!!!
Wow this is an amazing review. I am 125 pages in & I just can't quite figure out how I'm going to review it yet, so was so interested to hear what you had to say.
Your review is spot on. I would say I never long to pick it back up, but when I start I really can't stop listening to Selin, her interactions, her thoughts. The author has captured how she thinks so well, and an adolescent mind.
I am carrying on... Maybe I'll be able to make my mind up by the end!
Thank you, this comment is beyond wonderful. I also struggled to gather my thoughts about this book! Good luck with your own review :)
This sounds delightful.
Great review, love it, keep it up!
If ever I should read the book I'll get back to you.
Thank you, and thanks for the encouragement!
Loved the nuance in this review! c:
Thank you Lydia, you've been so amazingly supportive of this whole series and I truly appreciate it
Great review, you really made me interested in giving this book a go.
Fantastic! And thanks for this comment :)
this seems right up my alley!
Sounds like one has to really connect with this one to really understand it.
I liked it more than I thought I would. I did appreciate the humor and the "academic chitchat," but I struggle to see the point of this novel because of its repetitiveness and lack of development. I agree it was too long..
I wouldn't say there was an overarching point, necessarily, beyond capturing the rhythms of everyday life and thought. But I agree the lack of development keeps it from being a massively memorable book
First, first, first :-). and the first 'like' as well. I feel like a queen now. Oh, and I liked your take on the book, even though I was really very, very bored by it. But that might be an age-thing...
Hahaha no, I know people of all ages who were supremely bored by this book ;)
Britta Böhler I managed the first two chapters and just couldn't go on.
I really want to read this for myself and see if I’d like it
I happy there's mixed oppinions because i hated it, i spent the whole time thinking there must be something i'm missing. I know people who find it incredibly funny but i just don't get it.
I know Less is considered a weird Pulitzer but i think it's a masterpiece compared with this one
Elif Baturman and Fydor Dostoevsky must have had same idea i think and how inconsiderate Fydor Dostoevsky must be not to google the title before naming the book. (JK)