Why people recommend it
The Idiot by Elif Batuman is a brilliant coming-of-age novel that follows a young woman navigating her freshman year at Harvard and her nascent, epistolary romance with an older student. The book received widespread acclaim and detailed discussion across multiple episodes of The Book Review. Host Gilbert Cruz welcomed the author onto the show to discuss her debut novel, drawing a clever parallel between the title and Dostoevsky's masterpiece. Pamela Paul shared her enthusiasm for the novel, noting that she found herself thoroughly absorbed and enjoying the reading experience despite occasional distractions. John Williams also mentioned picking up Batuman's book to read alongside other titles, acknowledging that his colleagues had recently discussed it on the air. Furthermore, the novel's impressive reception was highlighted when a speaker noted its recognition as a finalist for major comic novel awards. Throughout these segments, the podcast contributors celebrated Batuman's distinctive narrative voice, her sharp intellectual humor, and her acute observations of university life and early adulthood, cementing the novel as a standout contemporary debut.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Recommended
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- John Williams Recommended
- Lauren Christensen Discussed
Gilbert Cruz — 3 mentions
“why shouldn't the author of the possessed and owed to Russian literature name her debut novel after another DVI Masterpiece El if batamon will be here to talk about her new book The Idiot”
“Alf baman joins us now she is the author of a new novel her first novel The Idiot Alf thanks so much for being here”
“well that brings us back full circle to your new novel and your debut novel The Idiot Al if thank you so much for being here”
Pamela Paul — 2 mentions
“I'm now reading a book by El baman her first novel The Idiot”
“um so I did get a little distracted but I am reading still El Batum man's book The Idiot which is really enjoyable”
John Williams — 2 mentions
“so I also decided this week to read something else alongside it which I won't talk because you guys have all read it recently and talked about on the podcast which is ell Bachman's the idiot”
“and she has a big novel out this year called the idiot which parl also just reviewed in the book revieww also a very lovely piece”
Lauren Christensen — 1 mention
“so I've actually just finished El batuman the idiot having never read the DVI I now am moved to for the first time so I guess she's gotten me over that hump uh which is a Real Testament to her”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
“I was happy to see the idiot there which was that was a finalist finalist two kind of comic novels finalist and winner”