Review of The Medievalist

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Medievalist" by Phil Adamo.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Molly Isaacson just started her Medieval grad studies at Yale. Quinton Quick wants to finish his dissertation and join the ongoing voices advocating for exploring the Black side of the Middle Ages. Their lives will collide in the form of Abe Kantorowicz, their tutor. The man uses a crutch and has a knack for maieutics. But he also has quite a controversial past. Rumor has it he’s a neo-Nazi. Is he, though? While this happens, the alt-right groups seek to join forces under one encompassing symbol that references their “proud white” past.

Amidst books, lectures, and insane amounts of coffee, Molly and Quinton must decide if academics should take a stance on social issues. Will the racists be stopped? Who can Molly and Quint trust? What’s the best way to fight a covert threat? Should white people have a say in the fight against racism, or should they “shut up and listen”? The Medievalist: A Novel by Phil Adamo is a thriller that explores, with wit and charm, the current neo-Nazi problem and the weaponization of the Middle Ages through a fast-paced mystery.

One of the most interesting assets of this novel is the use of different text structures. The author uses chatroom dialogues, lecture transcriptions, film scripts, newspaper articles, internal monologues, emails, and tweets. They are all perfectly distinguishable, and the different layers add depth to the narrative. Throughout this, the attention to detail is mind-blowing. For example, when the narrative focus turns to Molly, the word “God” is not fully spelled, according to Jewish beliefs. This all created a fully immersive reading experience.

Molly is a neurodivergent person, which I found especially interesting. A lot of us think of neurodivergence à la Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory.” It was refreshing to see someone gifted in something other than STEM and with quite interesting quirks and challenges.

The narrative voices are perfectly delineated. For example, Molly has the annoying habit of using “like” as a filler word. This way, we get flawless character development even with the switch in text formats. Even though the author is, in his words, a “white, cis-gendered, heterosexual, able-bodied, neurotypical, male,” he wrote a Jewish woman and a Black man with sensitivity and realism.

The Medievalist is not only about our discourse of the past but also raises interesting questions about covert racism, the weaponization of the past, the power of words, the limits of free speech, racial quotas, and personal and historical symbolism. This all sounds grim, but the pacing is fast, the narration is witty, and there’s even a hint of romance to lighten the mood.

If I were to mention a downside, it would be that the editing needs a little work. However, the errors are not distracting or outrageous, so I didn’t think it granted lowering the score. I rate The Medievalist by Phil Adamo 5 out of 5 stars. The original format, flawless character development, organic dialogues, perfect pacing, and meaningful subjects are worth this rating and more.

The reading took me back to my college years. But less academically oriented readers can find some parts tedious. Fans of The Da Vinci Code will find a much more insightful and cultured experience in The Medievalist. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history, semiotics, and a good mystery. This novel will make you reconsider your own biases and your place in the ongoing fight for racial equality. Make sure not to miss it.

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The Medievalist
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[Miracle Oge Adaeze]

I enjoy reading the work of authors who go the extra mile to make reading a book easy and seamless. The fact that this author took the time to distinguish between different elements employed in the writing makes me want to read the book. I t shows that I will have no issue deciphering when there is chatroom dialogues, lecture transcriptions, film scripts, newspaper articles, internal monologues, emails, or tweets. Thank you for the amazing review.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I enjoy reading the work of authors who go the extra mile to make reading a book easy and seamless. The fact that this author took the time to distinguish between different elements employed in the writing makes me want to read the book. I t shows that I will have no issue deciphering when there is chatroom dialogues, lecture transcriptions, film scripts, newspaper articles, internal monologues, emails, or tweets. Thank you for the amazing review.

It's always a pleasure to read a book like this one. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[Cara Wilding]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Medievalist" by Phil Adamo.]

Amidst books, lectures, and insane amounts of coffee, Molly and Quinton must decide if academics should take a stance on social issues. Will the racists be stopped? Who can Molly and Quint trust? What’s the best way to fight a covert threat? Should white people have a say in the fight against racism, or should they “shut up and listen”? The Medievalist: A Novel by Phil Adamo is a thriller that explores, with wit and charm, the current neo-Nazi problem and the weaponization of the Middle Ages through a fast-paced mystery.

One of the most interesting assets of this novel is the use of different text structures. The author uses chatroom dialogues, lecture transcriptions, film scripts, newspaper articles, internal monologues, emails, and tweets.

Molly is a neurodivergent person, which I found especially interesting. A lot of us think of neurodivergence à la Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory.” It was refreshing to see someone gifted in something other than STEM and with quite interesting quirks and challenges.

The Medievalist is not only about our discourse of the past but also raises interesting questions about covert racism, the weaponization of the past, the power of words, the limits of free speech, racial quotas, and personal and historical symbolism. This all sounds grim, but the pacing is fast, the narration is witty, and there’s even a hint of romance to lighten the mood.

Your review leaves me with the impression that this is a must read! I love when an author is creative in their presentation of materials - your examples give it a modern take. I enjoyed your comparison with Sheldon Cooper, nice! While it does sound grim, the fact that it is delivered in such a witty manner makes it compelling to read. I enjoyed reading your review, thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[NetMassimo]

A mystery that includes historical bits and addresses important issues is intriguing, also thanks to the diverse cast of characters. Thank you for your great review!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Medievalist" by Phil Adamo.]

Amidst books, lectures, and insane amounts of coffee, Molly and Quinton must decide if academics should take a stance on social issues. Will the racists be stopped? Who can Molly and Quint trust? What’s the best way to fight a covert threat? Should white people have a say in the fight against racism, or should they “shut up and listen”? The Medievalist: A Novel by Phil Adamo is a thriller that explores, with wit and charm, the current neo-Nazi problem and the weaponization of the Middle Ages through a fast-paced mystery.

One of the most interesting assets of this novel is the use of different text structures. The author uses chatroom dialogues, lecture transcriptions, film scripts, newspaper articles, internal monologues, emails, and tweets.

Molly is a neurodivergent person, which I found especially interesting. A lot of us think of neurodivergence à la Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory.” It was refreshing to see someone gifted in something other than STEM and with quite interesting quirks and challenges.

The Medievalist is not only about our discourse of the past but also raises interesting questions about covert racism, the weaponization of the past, the power of words, the limits of free speech, racial quotas, and personal and historical symbolism. This all sounds grim, but the pacing is fast, the narration is witty, and there’s even a hint of romance to lighten the mood.

Your review leaves me with the impression that this is a must read! I love when an author is creative in their presentation of materials - your examples give it a modern take. I enjoyed your comparison with Sheldon Cooper, nice! While it does sound grim, the fact that it is delivered in such a witty manner makes it compelling to read. I enjoyed reading your review, thanks so much for sharing it with us.

I'm glad I was able to convey my enthusiasm for this book. Thank you so much for your kind words.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

A mystery that includes historical bits and addresses important issues is intriguing, also thanks to the diverse cast of characters. Thank you for your great review!

Thank you for your comment!

[FrankDavid9048]

Its always a pleasure to read a good book like this one

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Its always a pleasure to read a good book like this one

It is, indeed! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Sigrid Brown]

Thanks for this great review ... I also loved Adamo's descriptions of academic life and classroom scenes. He does them so well!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Thanks for this great review ... I also loved Adamo's descriptions of academic life and classroom scenes. He does them so well!

I think so, too. It was pretty great to be taken back to my academic days.
Thank you for your comment!

[Bob Jones 10]

"One of the most interesting assets of this novel is the use of different text structures. The author uses chatroom dialogues, lecture transcriptions, film scripts, newspaper articles, internal monologues, emails, and tweets. They are all perfectly distinguishable, and the different layers add depth to the narrative."

This post of your review got me thinking of other novels that use different text structures. The earliest of these, as far as I know is "Moby Dick", which uses multiple POVs, sermons, even little plays and sea shanties. So here's my crazy idea: is "The Medievalist" a retelling/reworking of "Moby Dick"? Hear me out.

Warning: no spoilers here, I think, but there are Easter eggs.

The main protagonist of the story is Abe, a professor who uses a cane. Abe = Ahab (who has a peg leg). The main narrator is Molly Isaacson. Isaac and Ishmael are the two sons of the biblical Abraham. At some point when she's seeing Quinton Quick, he says, "Call me Quint." and she says, "Call me Isaacson." Maybe that's a stretch for "Call me Ishmael," but there's more easter eggs. Quinton Quick, Quint Quick = Queequeg in MD. Quint is also a black character who has tattoos (though not as many as Queequeg). Quint and Molly first meet because they have to share the single study carrel, which is awkward, the same way Ishmael and Queequeg first meet when they must share the single bed at the boarding house. There's probably more that I'm not seeing. The White Whale = White Supremacy? I don't know.

What do you think?