The Idiot

More about the book

A portrait of the artist as a young woman, this novel explores the journey of self-discovery and invention. Set in 1995, Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, begins her freshman year at Harvard, immersing herself in unfamiliar subjects and befriending the charismatic Serbian student, Svetlana. Through a series of emails with Ivan, an older mathematics student from Hungary, Selin navigates the complexities of communication and the evolving meanings behind their exchanges. As the school year concludes, Ivan travels to Budapest while Selin heads to the Hungarian countryside to teach English, embarking on a journey that diverges from typical college experiences. Accompanied by Svetlana, Selin spends two weeks in Paris, but her summer becomes a profound exploration of her own identity, grappling with the confusion of first love and the realization of her destiny as a writer. With emotional depth, sharp wit, and a distinctive style, the author captures the uncertainties of approaching adulthood. The narrative reflects the duality of life's challenges and beauty, offering a thoughtful examination of the complexities of becoming oneself in a world that is both intoxicating and unsettling.