Scan barcode
mals_library's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Blood, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Excrement, Child death, and Rape
theway's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Vomit
ryliereadss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
the_tbr_zone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
FYI: The pacing is really slow. There are some graphic sexual scenes.
Later!
Graphic: Sexual content
logenthielke's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
The book could’ve been perfectly normal, had the Elio been 20 or 21 years old instead of 17. I guess this book shows how easily someone can be groomed, but I truly don’t think the “age gap” was a necessary contribution to the story. A 17 year old boy being preyed on by a 24 year old man is not an age gap, it’s grooming and pedophilia. Hard pass.lia_mills's review against another edition
3.25
Note: I think this book works better if you treat it as literary fiction rather than romance fiction (partly because the age gap in question makes the central relationship ethically questionable in a way I think the story is aware of but doesn't fully engage with, but mostly because the book is far more interested in Elio's internal life than it is with this central relationship - it's just that most of Elio's internal life over the course of this story was him obsessing over this man).
Since listening to the audiobook, I've seen the film, which I prefer, but I'm glad I did the book first - the book is so entirely rooted in the protagonist's inner monologue, and the film relies on everything except a direct inner monologue (which it doesn't have) to explore his perspective, which makes for an interesting contrast.
The film wins over for 4 main reasons for me: 1) it has (slightly) more of an interest in other people's perspectives (i.e. treats Marzia more as an actual character), 2) the cinematography and landscapes are beautiful, 3) it almost entirely removes the "San Clemente Syndrome" section of the book (which did absolutely nothing for me), and 4) it has a different ending point, which I found more emotionally fulfilling in part because of its directness and in part because of the nature of the story.
To me, the film changes the story from being about remembering something (as it is the book) to being about experiencing something (and, at the film's ending, reflecting on that experience and really feeling the bittersweet pain of its aftermath), and I think the film does a stronger job with the latter than the book does with the former.
Moderate: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child death, Homophobia, Outing, Vomit, and Sexual content
gabi_sud's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I thought it was very beautifully written, the raw and real emotions Elio felt, I could very much relate to things he was going through. However, even putting the age gap aside, the relationship between Elio and Oliver was very predatory from both sides?? The amount of times Elio had thoughts about SA’ing Oliver? And many time he acted on those thoughts, touching him without consent. The time he thought about disabling him so he could be his master?? And obviously Oliver is no better even through we don’t know his thoughts but the peach scene alone was a good indicator of how sick in the head he is as well.
I wonder how people that view this as a beautiful love story would feel if one of them was a woman?
Also what the fuck was that bathroom scene. I get loving someone that much you want to be one with them, but looking at each others fecal matter is surely not the way to do it?
I truly don’t get Elio’s fascination with Oliver who might as well been a cardboard cutout cause he has just as much personality. Elio truly only desired Oliver because he was hot cause let’s be honest here, he didn’t even know him.
I’m not gonna say I didn’t enjoy the book at all, cause I’d be lying. There were parts I absolutely loved, could totally relate to Elio and his yearning for someone he can’t have but all the good parts were overshadowed by the weird and creepy stuff. Like there was truly no need for it.
And the foot fetish was driving me absolutely insane. Like not all of us are Quentin Tarantino.
The ending, however, absolutely crushed me , it was heart wrenching and really did things for me. Not sure how I feel about there being another book though. I feel like it defeats the whole point of this one.
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Stalking
Minor: Terminal illness, Ableism, Child death, Racism, and Vomit
lio_ramon_dolor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia
Minor: Vomit and Excrement
tea_ana's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol