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2busyreading's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Vomit
jo_lzr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This story focuses on love, physical desire (though not only physical) and separation. The prose of this book is one of the reasons why I gave it 4 stars. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful the prose was. I liked reading it from Elio's perspective, especially the 4th part of the book. This story shows that separation, in all kinds of relationships, is inevitable and an essential component of human existence. I love the way it portrays both the beauty and sufferings that are part of the human experience, without demonizing the pain but rather accepting it and even reminding us that it has its own use.
I also have to mention that it was surprisingly a fast read.
Additionally, the scenery was beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
I didn't give it 5 stars because I didn't relate to some of Elio's thoughts and because there were some scenes that I wasn't as interested in.
I also have to mention that it was surprisingly a fast read.
Additionally, the scenery was beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
I didn't give it 5 stars because I didn't relate to some of Elio's thoughts and because there were some scenes that I wasn't as interested in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Vomit
Minor: Rape, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Excrement, and Cancer
pola_sk's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
tadiwa_e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I cannot really express the experience I went through reading this book. Almost DNFed it 3 times… I am still processing. But I will say. What a beautifully written piece. I would not call it a romance but maybe a recollection of Elios memories. It was intimate and sometimes really intense.
However I cannot get behind the age gap and power dynamics in the relationship. No matter how much Aciman tries to present it as something to be praised. For that I cannot give a higher rating. Some parts of this book also were disgusting… sorry… there’s no way THAT scene is going to be skipped past like it never happened.
Overall I loved a lot of quotes in this book and it was thought provoking especially Elios Fathers speech at the end.
However I cannot get behind the age gap and power dynamics in the relationship. No matter how much Aciman tries to present it as something to be praised. For that I cannot give a higher rating. Some parts of this book also were disgusting… sorry… there’s no way THAT scene is going to be skipped past like it never happened.
Overall I loved a lot of quotes in this book and it was thought provoking especially Elios Fathers speech at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Child death, Cancer, and Death of parent
jordan_noel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
At first, I felt this book was an overly vulgar description of a teenager’s sexual awakening initiated by his attraction to an older, mature man. It felt like a summer romance and nothing more; a fling to be done with at the end. Maybe reminisced upon in an older age, but never a deep regret.
However, in Part 4, this suddenly felt like much more to me.
<SPOILER>
With loss, their romance could be clearly recognized as eros; something the readers could grieve with the characters. In Oliver’s forced complacency with his new wife and family and Elio’s determination to hang on to this brief moment in the past, it’s hard not to feel grief for such a short-lived happiness. What they had together doesn’t disappear as they age but it gets silenced and the characters are forced to live lives of dejection. If I could feel as much in the rest of the book as I felt in Part 4, I could find practically nothing to complain about in this book. Maybe it was the author’s intention to make us feel such deep regret after viewing their love as an initially silly romance, I don’t know. But I do feel this book greatly connects beauty and sexuality with a most turbulent and determined kind of love in a way that’s unique and unexplored in many modern love stories.
However, in Part 4, this suddenly felt like much more to me.
<SPOILER>
With loss, their romance could be clearly recognized as eros; something the readers could grieve with the characters. In Oliver’s forced complacency with his new wife and family and Elio’s determination to hang on to this brief moment in the past, it’s hard not to feel grief for such a short-lived happiness. What they had together doesn’t disappear as they age but it gets silenced and the characters are forced to live lives of dejection. If I could feel as much in the rest of the book as I felt in Part 4, I could find practically nothing to complain about in this book. Maybe it was the author’s intention to make us feel such deep regret after viewing their love as an initially silly romance, I don’t know. But I do feel this book greatly connects beauty and sexuality with a most turbulent and determined kind of love in a way that’s unique and unexplored in many modern love stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Chronic illness, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Death
singalana'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Tämä kirja herätti ristiriitaisia tunteita, koska kokemus jakautui pääasiassa kolmeen tunnetilaan. Kirja kertoo, kuinka yhtenä kesänä 17-vuotias Elio rakastuu itseään seitsemän vuotta vanhempaan kesävieraaseen, Oliveriin.
Kirjan alkupuoliskolla seuraamme Elion suorastaan pakkomielteistä ihastumista Oliveriin. Seuraa kiihkeä (ja hyvin graafinen) romanssi, ja sen jälkeen katkeransuloinen loppu, koska kesä on lopussa ja Oliverin täytyy mennä.
Kirjassa kuvattiin elävästi kesää, Italiaa ja ihmisiä. Silti en päässyt päähenkilön kanssa oikein sinuiksi, ja osa kirjan sisällöstä sai aikaan vaivaantuneisuuden tunteita. Olisin halunnut tutustua enemmän muihin hahmoihin, etenkin Elion isään, mutta näkökulma pidetään hyvin tiiviisti Eliossa ja hänen suhteessan Oliverin.
Suuren osan kirjasta vietämmekin Elion pään sisällä, siinä mitä hän ajattelee, suunnittelee ja muistelee. Hänen suhteensa Oliveriin on hyvin elävä, ja lopussa katkeransuloinen. Silti en voi antaa kirjalle tämän korkeampaa arvosanaa, sillä jotain jäi puuttumaan, ehkä jokin lopullinen yhteys hahmon ja lukijan välillä, jotain sellaista, joka olisi saanut lukijan rakastamaan Oliveria yhtä paljon kuin Elio.
Tämän lisäksi loppua kohti kirjassa on paljon lainauksia italiaksi, ja itse koin ne hieman turhaksi.
Tämän lisäksi loppua kohti kirjassa on paljon lainauksia italiaksi, ja itse koin ne hieman turhaksi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Antisemitism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Infidelity, and Vomit
balluna's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
stormeno's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Drug use, Antisemitism, Death, and Death of parent
chelseeaa's review against another edition
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
3.0
it was… something. for a minute you forget that there’s a seven year age gap between the two. it’s written beautifully but, i found it difficult to pick back up after i’d finished reading a couple pages. it’s a pretty but ultimately strange book filled with feet, swimming trunks and.. peaches.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Child death, and Death
eloisajfletcher's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Antisemitism, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent