gemck 's review for:

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

3.25

reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I loved some aspects of this book and kinda really hated others. The majority of this story takes place within the confines of a scenic villa on the Italian coast, so much so that the house almost becomes another character. Feelings become so concentrated within this little piece of land, especially combined with narrator Elio’s constant obsession and overthinking. Elio was so in his head that it was hard to determine what Oliver actually felt about him, as he would go on such intense tangents that Oliver became more of a concept than a love interest. It felt like there was more dialogue between the imagined, hypothetical Elio/Olivers than the real ones throughout the book. I think there was a lack of dimension to both characters, since we only really got to know them in relation to each other (or Elio’s infatuation and Oliver’s nonchalance). There’s also a really horrific metaphor in there that felt so unnecessary to the story and unfortunately I can’t stop thinking about it