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sillih28's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Having watched the movie before reading this book I already knew what to expect and wasn't too excited about it. As a queer person the fact that the only gay book that gets media attention is about pedophilia is very upsetting, however after reading the book I definitely understand the appeal. Through the whole reading-process I have had my ups and downs about who to like and what to think, but the thing that stands out most to me, was Elios very unhealthy obsession with Oliver. One could even see this as a balance to Olivers pedophilia.
All in all was the book a very nice read and I really like the authors writing style, and parting from what the movie shows was their romance way more lovey-dovey than erotic.
All in all was the book a very nice read and I really like the authors writing style, and parting from what the movie shows was their romance way more lovey-dovey than erotic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, and Vomit
Minor: Antisemitism, Cancer, Death of parent, Excrement, and Homophobia
There's one page were Elio is bordering on rape-fantasieslenamar's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well this book was a rollercoaster.
I started reading it sitting in school in one of my free hours and only one page in I said to my friend: "I already love this book"
I was amazed by how detailed the author has written this book. And this wonderful poetic writing style accompanies us through the whole book. Never have I read a book with figure of speech. The intertwining of philosophy, art and music is beautiful and unique. There aren't many authors who are able to write like this, one worthy comparison can be drawn to Donna Tartt.
Content wise, well let's put it this way, it was everything but not what I was expecting. I thought I would read a cute and fun LGBTQIA lovestory. Dont get me wrong, I love to be surprised.
Written from the point of view of Elio who is clearly obsessing over our dearest Oliver, it made me feel and think things I never would've dreamt of.
I had to put the book down several times out of (I'm not even sure how to call this feeling) a mixture of secondhand embarrassment and disgust, I think. Never will I see peaches the same way as I did before reading the book. There were some passages that made shake my head, scream at the characters but also laugh. And I loved every second of it. I love it when books make me feel this way or another. And believe me when I tell you that what I felt wasn't innocent. My poor brother next door when I started yelling at the book at 2 in the morning...
Anyway, what also fascinated me was that the characters, let's take Elio's thoughts as the example, thought and acted so raw, humane and uncensored. What would be a taboo for the majority of authors to write like this.
What I didn't like about the plot was the adult-child relationship. Mentally I had the feeling that Elio wasn't 17 but 14/15 and Oliver around 30. In reality they have a 7 year age gap but still, I couldn't get this out of my mind and it stopped me from being happy for both of them many times.
My favourite part was probably when Oliver and Elio went to Rome and on their first evening, they went to this kind of book party. This was so beautiful and reminded me a lot of "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
The fact that time didnt seem to matter at all, was pretty fascinating for me. No matter how late or early it was, there was always something happening. And the people were so open. It was pretty heartwarming.For example, when they were in Rome and were left alone in the bar because the waiter trusted them. Or when they went to this big market place or whatever it was and they sang and danced with complete strangers.
All in all it's a masterpiece which deserves the five stars, but I didn't give them, because my mind cant deal with the mental ages, the foot fetish and the possible fruit fetish. Sorry André
I started reading it sitting in school in one of my free hours and only one page in I said to my friend: "I already love this book"
I was amazed by how detailed the author has written this book. And this wonderful poetic writing style accompanies us through the whole book. Never have I read a book with figure of speech. The intertwining of philosophy, art and music is beautiful and unique. There aren't many authors who are able to write like this, one worthy comparison can be drawn to Donna Tartt.
Content wise, well let's put it this way, it was everything but not what I was expecting. I thought I would read a cute and fun LGBTQIA lovestory. Dont get me wrong, I love to be surprised.
Written from the point of view of Elio who is clearly obsessing over our dearest Oliver, it made me feel and think things I never would've dreamt of.
I had to put the book down several times out of (I'm not even sure how to call this feeling) a mixture of secondhand embarrassment and disgust, I think. Never will I see peaches the same way as I did before reading the book. There were some passages that made shake my head, scream at the characters but also laugh. And I loved every second of it. I love it when books make me feel this way or another. And believe me when I tell you that what I felt wasn't innocent. My poor brother next door when I started yelling at the book at 2 in the morning...
Anyway, what also fascinated me was that the characters, let's take Elio's thoughts as the example, thought and acted so raw, humane and uncensored. What would be a taboo for the majority of authors to write like this.
What I didn't like about the plot was the adult-child relationship. Mentally I had the feeling that Elio wasn't 17 but 14/15 and Oliver around 30. In reality they have a 7 year age gap but still, I couldn't get this out of my mind and it stopped me from being happy for both of them many times.
The fact that time didnt seem to matter at all, was pretty fascinating for me. No matter how late or early it was, there was always something happening. And the people were so open. It was pretty heartwarming.
All in all it's a masterpiece which deserves the five stars, but I didn't give them, because my mind cant deal with the mental ages, the foot fetish and the possible fruit fetish. Sorry André
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Antisemitism, Biphobia, Child death, Excrement, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Vomit
coldcojones's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia
_rhea_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit
gabrielleclarke05's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Wow.. this was gross in multiple parts. Elio compared the peach to a SA victim🧐 I’m glad the film cut out the problematic bits. This book just felt like the author writing down his weird fetishes
The movie overall is better and this book just felt creepy and the author is a self proclaimed pedophile so take that as you will
The movie overall is better and this book just felt creepy and the author is a self proclaimed pedophile so take that as you will
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Body shaming, and Sexual assault
reggina's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Homophobia
clockworkstars's review against another edition
Livre très problématique et de plus très lent, aucune envie de le finir
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Sexual content, Self harm, Rape, Racism, and Toxic relationship
nildaliz's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
alyssadavis's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I suddenly realised that we were on borrowed time, that time is always borrowed, and that the lending agency exacts its premium precisely when we are least prepared to pay and need to borrow more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death and Terminal illness
Minor: Biphobia and Homophobia
grayisasleep's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
i was around 14-15 when i first read this book and i wanted to reread it now, when i’m 18 to see how my opinion has changed. i plan to do this again in my 20s. when i first read it i rated it a 5/5 easily. i thought it was the most beautiful, emotional, raw piece of writing on intimacy ever written. but i was 15.
looking back on this story now i have many mixed feelings. my love for this book was so strong that it has deepened how i feel about it now. i want to resent this book— and i do, i just wish i did more. this is not a love story. it is a story of grooming, and it is difficult to see that because we are in elio’s mind. i was so deeply infatuated with this book at 15, and while rereading it i felt those feelings come back. the giddiness, the “beauty” of this book— of this “relationship.” reading this at 15 has my warped perception on it just as elio’s perception of oliver was warped. i hope by my next reread in my 20s i’m over it.
i’m not going to write a whole essay on this book because hundreds of people already have but there’s just so many problems with it. the author adds in incredibly gross scenes because he thinks he can just excuse it as “complete and total intimacy.” like no dude it’s just straight up gross.
the writing is what really saved this for me the second time around though. it really is the most beautifully written book i’ve read in my life (thus far that is.) i need so many quotes from this book engraved into me.
but yeah, in conclusion; pretty writing but oliver is a disgusting, manipulative person and i wish more people saw this book for what it really was.
looking back on this story now i have many mixed feelings. my love for this book was so strong that it has deepened how i feel about it now. i want to resent this book— and i do, i just wish i did more. this is not a love story. it is a story of grooming, and it is difficult to see that because we are in elio’s mind. i was so deeply infatuated with this book at 15, and while rereading it i felt those feelings come back. the giddiness, the “beauty” of this book— of this “relationship.” reading this at 15 has my warped perception on it just as elio’s perception of oliver was warped. i hope by my next reread in my 20s i’m over it.
i’m not going to write a whole essay on this book because hundreds of people already have but there’s just so many problems with it. the author adds in incredibly gross scenes because he thinks he can just excuse it as “complete and total intimacy.” like no dude it’s just straight up gross.
the writing is what really saved this for me the second time around though. it really is the most beautifully written book i’ve read in my life (thus far that is.) i need so many quotes from this book engraved into me.
but yeah, in conclusion; pretty writing but oliver is a disgusting, manipulative person and i wish more people saw this book for what it really was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Child death, Death, and Death of parent