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lindasoderlundd's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
2.25
The writing was beautiful and atmospheric, and I really liked the last part of the book. Other than that, this book was just... meh. There was a lot of stuff that I found boring, and a lot of stuff that weirded me out. And for the most part, the love story didn't even feel like one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism, Child death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Transphobia, Vomit, Cancer, Dementia, Stalking, Biphobia, Cursing, and Excrement
____w____'s review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0
one of the most beautiful things i have read. sometimes you feel differently about your world after finishing a book and stepping back into it. this one, i know, will make my life richer in how i approach desire and getting older, going through time. but also, content warnings for: power imbalance in a relationship (age -- the boy is 17 years old!), racism, transphobia. and, obviously sexual content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
oflifeandstuff's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is one of the best books I have ever read.
It’s such a poignant capture of a young love that pokes at its drama as much as it takes it seriously.
I don’t know how it’s possible to portray someone’s inner life so well. A literary masterpiece and one that will go down in the annals of literature.
It’s such a poignant capture of a young love that pokes at its drama as much as it takes it seriously.
I don’t know how it’s possible to portray someone’s inner life so well. A literary masterpiece and one that will go down in the annals of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Transphobia, Homophobia, Antisemitism, and Dementia
captainwinter's review
emotional
reflective
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
1.5
Maybe I just don’t ‘get’ the book, but it really wasn’t my thing. I don’t get why Elio had to be underage for this to work, I found the writing to be pretentious and not fitting for a 17 year old, the relationship is obsessive and pretty toxic, there is so much build up but basically no climax (I thought the trip to Rome was gonna be it but no?), I still don’t understand what the whole call you by my name thing is about, and there’s some other minor problematic stuff. Also pretty much nothing happens? Like I just don’t get it? And don’t even get me started on the peach and the toilet thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia, Vomit, Rape, and Cancer
gabbygarcia's review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-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
I don't even know how to describe this book. The prose is absolutely stunning, incandescent... though, contrary to the back page's bold declaration, I would not call this a love story lmao
I would advise readers to research this book thoroughly and read the content warnings beforehand as many descriptions are quite graphic and uncomfortable to read.
I would advise readers to research this book thoroughly and read the content warnings beforehand as many descriptions are quite graphic and uncomfortable to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Ableism
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Excrement, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Transphobia
racist remarks about thai and mexican peoplekvelpr's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
I am conflicted, I enjoyed the beginning, disliked and was uncomfortable with so parts in the middle, and loved the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Vomit
youreawizardjerry's review against another edition
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Vomit, and Racism
kaadee's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
After reading other peoples reviews, I have come to a conclusion. I think it’s important that this book was made because it gives a glimpse into the the thought process of the groomed. We as readers know that it’s gross, uncomfortable and upsetting and while Elio also realizes this, his feelings are much different. Through Elio’s thoughts, we are also being groomed by Oliver to care for their relationship (see other peoples reviews calling this an amazing love story) it’s a good story, but not one about love. It’s about obsession, it’s about craving an experience but ultimately it’s about the power imbalances teenagers have with adults. How teenagers are easily taken advantage of and made to think they are in love. I honestly don’t think the writer wrote it to have this kind of meaning whatsoever which makes it worse for me. The deep dive into Elio’s sexual thoughts was disturbing. I mean, I really didn’t need to know what a 17 year old was thinking while he was going at it into a peach. I think it’s important to understand his thoughts but the amount of detail into the desires was gross. Also the writing style??? What pretentious person decided they would just add every word from the dictionary, put it into run on sentences, and then publish it? Some quotes were good but it’s too much philosophy without actually making any sense. People who praise this book for the writing and the feeling that you get while reading are weird. Honestly, the writing just made me want to finish it 10x faster just so I could be done. I love the movie compared to this. Also the fetish for Jewish people, GROSS!!! The author isn’t even Jewish which I didn’t know while reading. I was weirded out but I just went along with it because maybe he was just being expressive of his faith/background BUT NO, he just fetishized Jewish people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, and Transphobia
anjae's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book made me feel things, so I can’t rate it that low. But, there were so many things wrong with this book that I can’t rate it highly.
I found Elio’s obsession with and possessiveness over Oliver fascinating and thought-provoking, but it’s obvious that Aciman did not intend for it to be so. Elio and Oliver’s relationship is not a social commentary, and its problems are never discussed or seen as bad. If there had been a reflection on the age-difference, or the power plays, or the nature of Elio’s awe and worship of Oliver, then I could have rated it higher. But because the unhealthy relationship is seen as healthy, I can’t morally rate it higher.
There were also a few moments where I was genuinely disgusted and uncomfortable, namely the few paragraphs after the “peach scene” (the scene itself didn’t bother me, more so the description of the peach that followed), and the racism and fetishization of trans people by the poet towards the end.
I was also bothered by the continued mention of Elio and Oliver’s Judaism, especially because Aciman is not himself Jewish, and the mentions are always in relation to Elio’s attraction to it, making it seem like yet another fetish of Aciman.
Finally, the fact that the age and power difference between Elio and Oliver is never mentioned makes me uncomfortable. Perhaps that is intentional, by way of showing the allure of summer in Italy, but I think it is bad regardless.
The ending kept this book from being a 2 star read, though. I think it was a beautiful representation of what it means to break up; how someone can be your everything but then no longer shares your life. But unfortunately the bad in the rest of the book outweighs the good at the end.
I found Elio’s obsession with and possessiveness over Oliver fascinating and thought-provoking, but it’s obvious that Aciman did not intend for it to be so. Elio and Oliver’s relationship is not a social commentary, and its problems are never discussed or seen as bad. If there had been a reflection on the age-difference, or the power plays, or the nature of Elio’s awe and worship of Oliver, then I could have rated it higher. But because the unhealthy relationship is seen as healthy, I can’t morally rate it higher.
There were also a few moments where I was genuinely disgusted and uncomfortable, namely the few paragraphs after the “peach scene” (the scene itself didn’t bother me, more so the description of the peach that followed), and the racism and fetishization of trans people by the poet towards the end.
I was also bothered by the continued mention of Elio and Oliver’s Judaism, especially because Aciman is not himself Jewish, and the mentions are always in relation to Elio’s attraction to it, making it seem like yet another fetish of Aciman.
Finally, the fact that the age and power difference between Elio and Oliver is never mentioned makes me uncomfortable. Perhaps that is intentional, by way of showing the allure of summer in Italy, but I think it is bad regardless.
The ending kept this book from being a 2 star read, though. I think it was a beautiful representation of what it means to break up; how someone can be your everything but then no longer shares your life. But unfortunately the bad in the rest of the book outweighs the good at the end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Racism, and Transphobia
marissab's review
emotional
reflective
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Excrement, Racism, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Racism, Rape, and Transphobia