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gabrielleclarke05's review
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
luluslittlelibrary's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
0.5
I did not like this book. First, the age gap is really concerning. This book is definitely supposed to be a "first love" story (especially for Elio) but it isn't written correctly for that kind of story. It might have worked better if they were older (and had a smaller age gap) or if they had even a drop of chemistry. There relationship feels very forced and is clearly written by a straight man. The only good thing about this is the author's ability to write a beautiful setting and atmosphere of Italy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Minor: Antisemitism and Homophobia
k_aro's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I read Call Me By Your Name over the spring break, and it took me about a week to slog through. Every few sentences I wanted to switch over to a food YouTube video just to get a break from it: the sentences are unnecessarily flowery, Elio does not sound like a 17 year old, and there is deeply concerning content (aside from the adult/minor relationship) that makes me feel as though CMBYN is really the Fifty Shades of Grey of queer content.
(Discussion of sexual content ahead, folks, there's only so much I can keep PG-13 when comparing a literal erotica and a quite sex-involved book.)
Which is to say, the author of FSoG clearly had no idea what a healthy BDSM relationship looks like, or even what BDSM should be like, and it was written for the "vanilla" sex gaze (and by that, I mean that people unaware of what sex beyond like, light dirty talk). Either it was titillating because it was a new experience, or it was grotesque in almost how divorced from what 'normal' sex looks like to this vanilla sex gaze. In a similar vein, CMBYN is written for the heteronormative gaze: its relationship is intense, unhealthy if you know what to look for (and even if you don't), and horny to all hell. It's for people who want to see what they want to see in a mlm relationship (constant horniness, unabashed obsession wth each other) OR, it's deeply grotesque and fulfills what one already believes about mlm relationships.
But, yet another similarity, FSoG and CMBYN never go deep enough to belong in a space of deep intensity that can sometimes be desired. Elio is obsessive, sure, and he has a deeply warped sense of what a healthy relationship is, but it's never Killing Stalking levels of intensity. If André Aciman wanted to write a novel about the deeply problematic nature of obsessive love, he could've gone harder... as it stands, I just have to assume this is what he thinks queer/MLM love is.
Also, the infamous peach scene, which is even worse in the novel when (sexual violence)Elio compares the peach to a rape victim. No, I'm not kidding.
However... it did bring me an inordinate amount of joy to slowly reveal the real shitshow that Call Me By Your Name is to my friends, and simultaneously horrify them. So, 5/5 for that experience.
(Discussion of sexual content ahead, folks, there's only so much I can keep PG-13 when comparing a literal erotica and a quite sex-involved book.)
But, yet another similarity, FSoG and CMBYN never go deep enough to belong in a space of deep intensity that can sometimes be desired. Elio is obsessive, sure, and he has a deeply warped sense of what a healthy relationship is, but it's never Killing Stalking levels of intensity. If André Aciman wanted to write a novel about the deeply problematic nature of obsessive love, he could've gone harder... as it stands, I just have to assume this is what he thinks queer/MLM love is.
Also, the infamous peach scene, which is even worse in the novel when (sexual violence)
However... it did bring me an inordinate amount of joy to slowly reveal the real shitshow that Call Me By Your Name is to my friends, and simultaneously horrify them. So, 5/5 for that experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Aside from the tags listed, there is also a good amount of deeply concerning thoughts Elio has towards Oliver, a lot of them somewhat violent or obsessive/stalker-ish in nature. Oliver's behaviour towards Elio can also feel somewhat bordering on abusive, but I do not believe it was intentional. Also (sexual violence)leahvic95's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
epellicci's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Unfortunately, I could not get along with this book. The writing tried too hard to be poetic and instead came off as vague and cold. I found Elio's character unbearable - obsessive and pushy, the way he felt entitled to Oliver was creepy, not helped by the fact that almost his entire personality was written surrounding his relationship to Oliver, so he felt very two dimensional and boring. Communication between the main characters is stunted, which along with the age gap gives their relationship a decidedly toxic undercurrent. I wound up skimming most of the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Terminal illness and Vomit
emmaoline's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I am left with one question after reading this book and that is how was this ever published?
Not just in terms of content but the writing seems like nonsensical drivel only found in a first draft. At times it felt like Aciman had recently purchased his first thesaurus when writing this book, but had yet to learn anything about punctuation. Whilst what is supposed to pass for plot feels more like horror than romance.
There are no likeable characters in this book. There are no people in this book, only aliens masquerading as people. Although I did enjoy the character Ada whose only purpose was to say "I am Ada," in a crowded room. If this was spoken to the main characters or not, or in the background is not really clear, which made it funnier.
But in the end, I am left reeling from the racist colonial ideology that came out of nowhere and had way too much time spent on it as if it were Shakespeare. This disgusting language was so disturbing I forgot the earlier passage where a peach was described as "bruises and damaged, like a rape victim,"[sic]
Not just in terms of content but the writing seems like nonsensical drivel only found in a first draft. At times it felt like Aciman had recently purchased his first thesaurus when writing this book, but had yet to learn anything about punctuation. Whilst what is supposed to pass for plot feels more like horror than romance.
There are no likeable characters in this book. There are no people in this book, only aliens masquerading as people. Although I did enjoy the character Ada whose only purpose was to say "I am Ada," in a crowded room. If this was spoken to the main characters or not, or in the background is not really clear, which made it funnier.
But in the end, I am left reeling from the racist colonial ideology that came out of nowhere and had way too much time spent on it as if it were Shakespeare. This disgusting language was so disturbing I forgot the earlier passage where a peach was described as "bruises and damaged, like a rape victim,"[sic]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Sexual content, Rape, Racism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Deadnaming, Antisemitism, and Infidelity
cecestonier's review
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I was so disappointed in this book. I think some of it had to do with just how overhyped it was, and honestly I don't have much to say about it so this review will be short. Aciman's writing style seemed incredibly promising, with some thoughtful and descriptive moments that really did capture my attention, but beautiful writing does not take away from the problematic romanticism of pedophilia, obsession and themes such as sexual assault. This book was shocking — it's not that I shy away from such topics as I adored reading My Dark Vanessa, but this book was the ultimate disrespect to victims of such circumstance. Elio was entirely unlikeable. This book was a poor excuse to write an author's twisted fantasy, and the fact it is so hyped up concerns me. And after learning about André Aciman's own admittance to finding twelve year old girls attractive, I am well and truly turned off by this book.
This is the first and last time I will be posting about CMBYN on my feed. It was lucky to receive even one star.
This is the first and last time I will be posting about CMBYN on my feed. It was lucky to receive even one star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
hannahmayhere's review
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book.... yikes. Where to even begin? The premise is something I just can’t get behind. Main character is 16. Older dude who is a college professor comes into the picture and a “romance” ensures. The entire book portrays their explicitly sexual relationship as this once in a lifetime love experience and I just have a fundamental issue with that.
Also, the completely weird and just not okay peach and toilet scenes. Unacceptable.
Add in the fact that the main character fantasizes about rape? And also about the “love interest” being killed to relieve him of his desires? And that at one point the wishes the other character would be in a wheelchair so that he would “be superior to him”?? And in one line the main character casually compares a peach to a rape victim? Wayyyy crosses multiple lines for me.
There are some ways the author writes that I appreciate and found some passages to be beautifully written - hence the 2 stars and not 1. But I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Also, the completely weird and just not okay peach and toilet scenes. Unacceptable.
Add in the fact that the main character fantasizes about rape? And also about the “love interest” being killed to relieve him of his desires? And that at one point the wishes the other character would be in a wheelchair so that he would “be superior to him”?? And in one line the main character casually compares a peach to a rape victim? Wayyyy crosses multiple lines for me.
There are some ways the author writes that I appreciate and found some passages to be beautifully written - hence the 2 stars and not 1. But I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Moderate: Ableism and Homophobia
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
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