A classmate of mine described this as a book (I'm paraphrasing here) "a pretentious jerk would read in a hipster coffee shop and quote it to make people feel stupid when really he doesn't understand what he's reading." I thought it was pretty funny and pretty spot on because Gide is a little pretentious. But nonetheless I loved what he had to say about the fruit and desire and pursuing one's dreams and hopes.

Nathaniel is the subject to whom Gide is writing and giving advice. But Nathaniel is actually the audience, the world, anyone reading. He is a universal character that is used to make everyone feel like Gide's words are intimate and informal and personal.

Gotta love those French philosophers.

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