Review of The Medievalist
Posted: 03 Oct 2023, 06:57
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Medievalist" by Phil Adamo.]
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.
******
The Medievalist
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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.
******
The Medievalist
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
