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zouubugz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
Dnfed halfway through, I just couldn't bring myself to care.
I'm not the biggest fan of the writing, it goes so slow and at the same time it hops from one event to another so fast. It's basically just elio's full thoughts, which I didn't really liked. The writing was just weird to me and I had second hand embarassment multiple times.
I don't really like Elio, I did not enjoy reading his point of vue at all and as much as I tried to I just did not care what would happen. Homeboy is OBSESSED with Oliver to a point where I would have been concerned if I liked him.
I'll probably give the book another chance next year, but right now it's a no for me.
Update:
I FINALLY FINISHED IT
Guess what ? I hated it.
I have so many things to say, I don't know where to start.
The characters)
Elio is so annoying and I hated being in his head as he OBSESSES over Oliver, thinking he's in love when he just wants to fuck something. But I could get behind a horny teenage boy hyperfixating on an adult ig.
Oliver is a lunatic who's leading on a 17yo boy.
At some point Oliver goes in Elio's room while he's asleep and just LAY DOWN FULLY ON TOP OF HIM. SIR THAT IS A SLEEPING 17YO.
At one point they're fully making out but then Oliver says "we can't do this. I know myself. So far we've behaved, we've been good, neither of us has done anything to feel ashamed of. Let's keep it that way. I want to be good." WELL TOO FUCKING LATE? YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE GROOMING A 17YO??? BRING BACK SHAME.
And then right over dinner Oliver caresses Elio's feet with HIS TOES ???? King of mixed signals fr.
The dynamic)
Oliver calls Elio "kid". I'm not kidding. He calls him kid right after telling him he thought about them romantically and proceeds to kiss him right after. WEIRD.
Also, when they're alone in Elio's room, Elio thinks "I felt like a child left alone for the first time with his home-school teacher" and I'm supposed to be happy when they have sex ?
The hyper sexualisation)
Am I the only one weirded out that a 50+yo man wrote about a 17yo being so sexual ? Also, that same man said that "12yo girls are attractive".
Elio has one thought and it's fucking anything. And I'm all for sexual freedom but it was just too much and TOO WEIRD COMING FROM AN OLD MAN.
The issue with consent)
Both Oliver and Elio have an issue with consent. Elio thinks with his dick and decides that he would cum on Oliver's bed even if he refuses to have sex with him. Thankfully it didn't actually happened but what the actual fuck. And Oliver doesn't realise the power dynamic he has over Elio
The feet fetish)
Why are their toes always brought up?
I need to bring a quote from the book for this cause showing is better than telling:
I'm not the biggest fan of the writing, it goes so slow and at the same time it hops from one event to another so fast. It's basically just elio's full thoughts, which I didn't really liked. The writing was just weird to me and I had second hand embarassment multiple times.
I don't really like Elio, I did not enjoy reading his point of vue at all and as much as I tried to I just did not care what would happen. Homeboy is OBSESSED with Oliver to a point where I would have been concerned if I liked him.
I'll probably give the book another chance next year, but right now it's a no for me.
Update:
I FINALLY FINISHED IT
Guess what ? I hated it.
I have so many things to say, I don't know where to start.
The characters)
Elio is so annoying and I hated being in his head as he OBSESSES over Oliver, thinking he's in love when he just wants to fuck something. But I could get behind a horny teenage boy hyperfixating on an adult ig.
Oliver is a lunatic who's leading on a 17yo boy.
At some point Oliver goes in Elio's room while he's asleep and just LAY DOWN FULLY ON TOP OF HIM. SIR THAT IS A SLEEPING 17YO.
At one point they're fully making out but then Oliver says "we can't do this. I know myself. So far we've behaved, we've been good, neither of us has done anything to feel ashamed of. Let's keep it that way. I want to be good." WELL TOO FUCKING LATE? YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE GROOMING A 17YO??? BRING BACK SHAME.
And then right over dinner Oliver caresses Elio's feet with HIS TOES ???? King of mixed signals fr.
The dynamic)
Oliver calls Elio "kid". I'm not kidding. He calls him kid right after telling him he thought about them romantically and proceeds to kiss him right after. WEIRD.
Also, when they're alone in Elio's room, Elio thinks "I felt like a child left alone for the first time with his home-school teacher" and I'm supposed to be happy when they have sex ?
The hyper sexualisation)
Am I the only one weirded out that a 50+yo man wrote about a 17yo being so sexual ? Also, that same man said that "12yo girls are attractive".
Elio has one thought and it's fucking anything. And I'm all for sexual freedom but it was just too much and TOO WEIRD COMING FROM AN OLD MAN.
The issue with consent)
Both Oliver and Elio have an issue with consent. Elio thinks with his dick and decides that he would cum on Oliver's bed even if he refuses to have sex with him. Thankfully it didn't actually happened but what the actual fuck. And Oliver doesn't realise the power dynamic he has over Elio
The feet fetish)
Why are their toes always brought up?
I need to bring a quote from the book for this cause showing is better than telling:
With my toes I reached over to his toes and touched them. Then, without thinking, I slipped my big toe in between his big toe and his second toe. He did not recoil, he did not respond. I wanted to touch each toe with my own.
Last night I kissed his foot and sucked his toes.
And I could go on and on about it.
THE FUCKING PEACH SCENE (pun intended)
Elio daydreams that someone is making him fuck a peach so he then decides to fuck a peach (it's way too graphic) and then leaved the "cum-filled peach" on his desk (he also compares the peach to a rape victim) and then Oliver comes and EAT THE FREAKING PEACH.
No words. I have no words.
The bathroom scene)
Oliver poops and then this scene happens:
"Don't flush. I want to look." What I saw brought out strains of compassion, for him, for his body, for his life. "Our bodies won't have secrets now." I said as I took my turn and sat down. He had hopped into the bathtub and was just about to turn on the shower. "I want you to see mine." I said. He did more. He stepped out, kissed me on the mouth, and, pressing and massaging my tummy with the flat of his palm, watched the whole thing happen.
Do I need to even say more ?
And they say romance is dead ig
And they say romance is dead ig
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
mirr0rba11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.5
peach scene was diabolical why did we accept that n move on we SHOULD NOT have
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
kimberlyswalters's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
violetdisposition's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
I loved the writing style of this book - I would describe it as eloquent, overwritten, unreliable narrator vibes. The main characters are both terribly flawed and are destined to lose each other and yet there is so much in the story about relationships, self-discovery, the passage of time, memories, families, etc.
This is not a sweet love story, and I don't think it is trying to be one either. I would definitely recommend looking at content warnings before reading this book.
This is not a sweet love story, and I don't think it is trying to be one either. I would definitely recommend looking at content warnings before reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Vomit
sleepywhippetbookclub's review against another edition
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
3.0
Bloody hell. I mean, it's well written but Elio just gives total serial killer vibes doesn't he?
Like hislow key stalking, wishing Oliver was dead, forcing sex on others, his secretly wanking into Oliver's swim trunks when they're not even on speaking terms, wanting to EAT his swim trunks... !? And that's just the start. Or perhaps it's his wanting to cut Oliver's heart out ?
And that's before we get onto himfucking the peach !? Then describing it like it'd been raped ? Not to mention leaving it for hours on the side whilst he has a sticky nap covered in peach slush, only for Oliver to pop right in and willingly, INSIST on EATING. THE. DAMN. THING !
When I read the blurb, I thought this was going to be, and I quote "like Saltburn but without the disturbing stuff". If anything, this felt more disturbing than Saltburn 😂
Ultimately is a book about obsession. Is it love? I'm not sure. At it's heart it's about a horny 17 year old, obsessively lusting over 24 year old college professor who's only there for the summer.
One quote from Elio sums the story up pretty well:
Like his
And that's before we get onto him
When I read the blurb, I thought this was going to be, and I quote "like Saltburn but without the disturbing stuff". If anything, this felt more disturbing than Saltburn 😂
Ultimately is a book about obsession. Is it love? I'm not sure. At it's heart it's about a horny 17 year old, obsessively lusting over 24 year old college professor who's only there for the summer.
One quote from Elio sums the story up pretty well:
"Do I like you? I worship you"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
marc_le's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Terminal illness, and Grief
bluestar_apologist's review against another edition
When I found out that the story was “romance” between a 17-year-old kid and a 24-year-old man, I stopped reading. The author could’ve easily made the character be older (18 or 19), but the creep of an author made the deliberate choice to make him younger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
mals_library's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, and Death of parent
logenthielke's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
The book could’ve been perfectly normal, had the Elio been 20 or 21 years old instead of 17. I guess this book shows how easily someone can be groomed, but I truly don’t think the “age gap” was a necessary contribution to the story. A 17 year old boy being preyed on by a 24 year old man is not an age gap, it’s grooming and pedophilia. Hard pass.dorhi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I'm not sure I've ever read a book that has left me so baffled as to what I felt about it. I couldn't tell you if I enjoyed this book or not, and I'm not sure if it's good or not.
In 'Call Me By Your Name' we follow 17 year old Elio as he comes to terms with his attraction towards 24 year old Oliver, who is an American staying in his family home in Italy for the summer as he works on his manuscript.
Elio is a very mature character, to the point of pretentiousness often if we're to be very honest. All the characters are kind of along these lines: incredibly intellectual professors and philosophers and academics, poets. At first I really enjoyed the wordiness of the story as it seemed to partner the hot Italian summer atmosphere of the beginning of the novel. Long, hot summer days where there was nothing better to do than go for a swim or play some tennis and make sure you get a lot of rest and midafternoon naps. It was slow in the story, and it was a slow paced novel. It worked well, gelling with the slow build in tension between Elio and Oliver and their feelings for each other that they refused to confess to one another.
Then as we move on in the novel it remains verbose and slow paced when things should, in my opinion, be moving along. We're still spending a lot of time introspectively wondering if anything
has changed between Elio and Oliver until the peach scene (which is gross, and I don't find any deep meaning in it personally) and things suddenly ramp up quite a bit. This may be a norm of the romance genre and I'll confess to not having read much of it, but I found the pacing overall unsatisfactory.
Oliver as a character I found mostly unlikeable. I do think Aciman does a good job of describing people though Elio's perspective so I'm not sure I even have a good grasp on Oliver as a character because I'm not sure Elio ever truly gets him. But he read as frustrating to me, and fake. I didn't believe in anything he said or did and so never really cared about him. Personally, I don't think he really ever felt anything for Elio anyway so I wasn't really surprised when he just left and didn't remember the game of names that Elio is so fixated on at the end.
I think this book is enjoyable if you buy into Elio and Oliver's relationship. If you don't... well, it's just kind of dull and wordy. I don't understand Oliver at all, and I found Elio kind of creepy with his infatuation. I didn't enjoy them together in Rome or otherwise, and so I finished this book and thought 'huh, well that was a book I read'.
3/5 stars is a fair review from my personal opinion, I think. I cannot deny that Aciman is a talented author and I'd maybe be interested in looking into some of his other works, but this one just wasn't really for me.
In 'Call Me By Your Name' we follow 17 year old Elio as he comes to terms with his attraction towards 24 year old Oliver, who is an American staying in his family home in Italy for the summer as he works on his manuscript.
Elio is a very mature character, to the point of pretentiousness often if we're to be very honest. All the characters are kind of along these lines: incredibly intellectual professors and philosophers and academics, poets. At first I really enjoyed the wordiness of the story as it seemed to partner the hot Italian summer atmosphere of the beginning of the novel. Long, hot summer days where there was nothing better to do than go for a swim or play some tennis and make sure you get a lot of rest and midafternoon naps. It was slow in the story, and it was a slow paced novel. It worked well, gelling with the slow build in tension between Elio and Oliver and their feelings for each other that they refused to confess to one another.
Then as we move on in the novel it remains verbose and slow paced when things should, in my opinion, be moving along. We're still spending a lot of time introspectively wondering if anything
has changed between Elio and Oliver until the peach scene (which is gross, and I don't find any deep meaning in it personally) and things suddenly ramp up quite a bit. This may be a norm of the romance genre and I'll confess to not having read much of it, but I found the pacing overall unsatisfactory.
Oliver as a character I found mostly unlikeable. I do think Aciman does a good job of describing people though Elio's perspective so I'm not sure I even have a good grasp on Oliver as a character because I'm not sure Elio ever truly gets him. But he read as frustrating to me, and fake. I didn't believe in anything he said or did and so never really cared about him. Personally, I don't think he really ever felt anything for Elio anyway so I wasn't really surprised when he just left and didn't remember the game of names that Elio is so fixated on at the end.
I think this book is enjoyable if you buy into Elio and Oliver's relationship. If you don't... well, it's just kind of dull and wordy. I don't understand Oliver at all, and I found Elio kind of creepy with his infatuation. I didn't enjoy them together in Rome or otherwise, and so I finished this book and thought 'huh, well that was a book I read'.
3/5 stars is a fair review from my personal opinion, I think. I cannot deny that Aciman is a talented author and I'd maybe be interested in looking into some of his other works, but this one just wasn't really for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Rape