The Idiot: Elif Batuman’s semi-autobiographical novel follows Selin, a Turkish-American freshman at Harvard in the mid-1990s, as she navigates the challenges of college life. Through her experiences in classes, awkward social interactions, and a confusing, unrequited romance with a Hungarian classmate, Selin grapples with questions of identity, language, and the nature of reality.
The novel is a meditation on the absurdities of academia and the complexities of coming of age. Batuman’s witty and introspective narrative captures the disorienting yet formative experiences of young adulthood, offering a unique and poignant exploration of intellectual and emotional growth.
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