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juliarenae's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
it was ok, happy it brought awareness to predatory behavior but i wish elio felt different at the end and didn’t miss him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
brittonmc1221's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
emilybacher's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
librarymouse's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Call Me By Your Name really reminds me of Bernhard Schlink's The Reader, and despite its literary merit, I am similarly unsure that I enjoyed reading the novel. The writing is beautiful in some parts, but Elio's unhinged obsession and Oliver's acquiescence to the sexual advances of a minor are both cause for concern and not particularly enjoyable to read. Elio is damaged from the experience, unable to let his history with Olive go in order to form new and lasting bonds in adulthood, in a way that Oliver is not. The power imbalance in this novel is stark. Call Me By Your Name is considered a romance, but I don't see it as such. It's about obsession, miscommunication, and social expectations. There are also an egregious number of scenes that focus on feet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death, Homophobia, and Abandonment
logopolis's review against another edition
challenging
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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
rosiesreadsx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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? Yes
5.0
it is the best book ever, guaranteed to make you cry atleast twice while reading🥹🥹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Excrement
leahloura's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Aciman's prose are truly jaw dropping. The prose in this book are lyrical, and honestly almost homeric. The setting in a beautiful Italian summer in the 80's had me hooked. That said, there is controversy surrounding this book because of the adult-adolescent romance that is the main focus/ plot of this novel, and because of that I would say that this is a book that should be read critically. I think that this novel is intended to make us reflect on how disturbing, strong, and complex human desire can be. I think it is a book that could make anyone who has experienced intense romantic obsession, infatuation, or lovesickness feel seen. Elios thoughts and feelings are written in a way that is so honest, it feels like you are reading someones most unfiltered and confidential thoughts and actions, the sort of things people would never say aloud.
I would recommend this book, especially as a summer read. Approach it like you're reading a diary, with enough open-mindedness to empathize and love the characters, but also enough objectivity to cast judgement where it is due.
I would recommend this book, especially as a summer read. Approach it like you're reading a diary, with enough open-mindedness to empathize and love the characters, but also enough objectivity to cast judgement where it is due.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Sexual content
natraf_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.0
have a lot of mixed feelings about this -
The first being the prose was beautifully written. It felt like poetry the way descriptions flowed off the page. However, I felt that this thought stream coming from a 17 year old boy was incredibly unrealistic.
17 year old Ellio, finds himself magnetically drawn to 24 year old Oliver, a postdoctoral student studying abroad and staying with Ellio’s family. What starts as a fascination becomes more of an obsession. Every waking thought Ellio has is of Oliver.
Having a young person interested in an older, seemingly cooler, more put together person seems normal. But Ellio’s thoughts become focused on fantasies he has had about he and Oliver’s pairing. There is a lot of sexual content that seems very one sided. These are Ellio’s thoughts and fantasies. It’s not until over halfway through the book we see Oliver reciprocate any feelings or interest.
At which time there’s the pretty disturbing scene with Ellio and the peach that I’m just going to pretend I never read… but it’s fine.
Once joined, I feel that Oliver has continued to take advantage of Ellio and his obsession with Oliver.
We see once Oliver moves back home and comes back a few months later to visit, that he is engaged. He has a woman he’s been seeing the last few years, and pretty much just ends everything he and Ellio shared.
Years later, he still has pieces of memories they shared, Ellio who is still hoping for a chance to see his long lost love , knows he still wants more with Oliver, but can’t. Oliver even acknowledges that his eldest son is the same age as Ellio was when they met, and that he would never want that for him.
I thought the writing was beautiful. I felt that the emotions conveyed and the deep feelings Ellio held were beautiful - but kind of crossed into the territory of obsessive. I feel that Oliver took advantage of him. I feel that their whole relationship was unsafe.
It’s a hard balance between seeing the true romance this was intended as, and the twisted obsession it was.
The first being the prose was beautifully written. It felt like poetry the way descriptions flowed off the page. However, I felt that this thought stream coming from a 17 year old boy was incredibly unrealistic.
17 year old Ellio, finds himself magnetically drawn to 24 year old Oliver, a postdoctoral student studying abroad and staying with Ellio’s family. What starts as a fascination becomes more of an obsession. Every waking thought Ellio has is of Oliver.
Having a young person interested in an older, seemingly cooler, more put together person seems normal. But Ellio’s thoughts become focused on fantasies he has had about he and Oliver’s pairing. There is a lot of sexual content that seems very one sided. These are Ellio’s thoughts and fantasies. It’s not until over halfway through the book we see Oliver reciprocate any feelings or interest.
At which time there’s the pretty disturbing scene with Ellio and the peach that I’m just going to pretend I never read… but it’s fine.
Once joined, I feel that Oliver has continued to take advantage of Ellio and his obsession with Oliver.
We see once Oliver moves back home and comes back a few months later to visit, that he is engaged. He has a woman he’s been seeing the last few years, and pretty much just ends everything he and Ellio shared.
Years later, he still has pieces of memories they shared, Ellio who is still hoping for a chance to see his long lost love , knows he still wants more with Oliver, but can’t. Oliver even acknowledges that his eldest son is the same age as Ellio was when they met, and that he would never want that for him.
I thought the writing was beautiful. I felt that the emotions conveyed and the deep feelings Ellio held were beautiful - but kind of crossed into the territory of obsessive. I feel that Oliver took advantage of him. I feel that their whole relationship was unsafe.
It’s a hard balance between seeing the true romance this was intended as, and the twisted obsession it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
serenierosie's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
aislingbyrne_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I read this after watching the film twice. I loved this so much, especially the last 30 pages or so, but I will say the film will always be that bit more special to me.
I think it’s worth mentioning that I didn’t really like the film on my first watch, and then gradually realised I actually had enjoyed elements of it and wanted to go back and rewatch it. Since rewatching, I think of these characters everyday and I couldn’t wait to read the book. Now having read the book, I loved it and I’ve realised the film was much closer to the book than I expected.
The characters are well thought out and although Elio’s stream of consciousness and thoughts of Oliver are somewhat creepy, I enjoy reading about his obsession with his first love. Elio’s dad is, and always will be, one of my favourite characters in any book or film. His words are so beautiful. The writing throughout the book is beautiful really. Truly an unforgettable book I can see myself reading again. But I can see why some people wouldn’t like it and maybe had I not seen the film, I wouldn’t have liked this book so much.
I think it’s worth mentioning that I didn’t really like the film on my first watch, and then gradually realised I actually had enjoyed elements of it and wanted to go back and rewatch it. Since rewatching, I think of these characters everyday and I couldn’t wait to read the book. Now having read the book, I loved it and I’ve realised the film was much closer to the book than I expected.
The characters are well thought out and although Elio’s stream of consciousness and thoughts of Oliver are somewhat creepy, I enjoy reading about his obsession with his first love. Elio’s dad is, and always will be, one of my favourite characters in any book or film. His words are so beautiful. The writing throughout the book is beautiful really. Truly an unforgettable book I can see myself reading again. But I can see why some people wouldn’t like it and maybe had I not seen the film, I wouldn’t have liked this book so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship