Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Call Me by Your Name: Ruf mich bei deinem Namen

very poetic, very reflective and human

pros:
- beautiful language, beautiful dialogue that I definitely want to read again. a rawness to the expressions and a lack of concern with moralising.
- elio is much more complicated and contradictory in the book, he wants so badly and doesn't shy from portraying that in the book, even if the character isnt always so brave.
- a poignant reminder about not being afraid of seizing your desires, no matter the difficulty or taboo or opinions of others. that people grow and change and die but some experiences can be so powerful.
- the film had a much less controversial or deep view than the book, which had elio acting hot and cold and cruelly at times, and Oliver somewhat the same, which made me like the characters less perhaps, but also added a much more human element. also, the end is far richer in how it stretches into the future, though it's very sad.
- I liked the exploration of different seasons of life, the burning spark of youth, the deeper, longer burn later on. and the depiction of memory, since elio has moments he remembers better, and Oliver adds details that illuminate bits of the story we weren't originally told. it felt more real and like a diary that way. even if it took a bit of getting used to, and irked slightly at the start when I just wanted all of it, not just the bits older elio remembered.

cons:
- few cons included above
- I did feel less compassion towards the early characters perhaps because of the on and off, the lack of communication. but this is understandable and I didnt hold it against them as the book progressed.
- I didnt agree with how little joy Oliver seemed to get from his future life, nor elio really. to call living with his wife and children a coma seemed cruel.
- the lack of important female characters is a real shame. the women who are there are for sex and to fulfil society's expectations of a picket fence life and little else. even elio's mother really has a very little role compared to his father. the other female characters are just flings, the house keeper or a sick, pre-publescent girl. while I understand the nature of the book is to focus on elio and Oliver's relationship, the lack of value given to relationships with women, platonic or romantic, and the lack of loyalty they seem to inspire was noticeable. although elio does make a throwaway mention that it could have been a man or a woman who caused such a fundamental shift for him.

overall, a strong, poetic, shockingly but refreshingly intimate and raw book with beautiful depictions of lust and love.

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werepsyche's review against another edition

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3.75

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therainbowshelf's review against another edition

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emotional slow-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

4.0

This isn't a so-so read at all, but I didn't enjoy it. It's poetic and highly literary. I don't always love literary fiction, and being neither a teen nor someone who experiences lust, I didn't connect with this whole ode to teenhood lust and first love. It's definitely an interesting read.

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thebookpaiges's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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

2.0

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awrathall's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad medium-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

4.25

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hhwanghyunjin's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-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? No

4.75

"Call Me by Your Name" is a novel that speaks to me on many levels. I found the book to be a beautifully written exploration of the complexities of desire and identity, and was impressed by the skillful way in which the author wove together themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

One of the things that stood out to me about "Call Me by Your Name" was the strength of its character development. The novel's protagonist, Elio, is a rich and multifaceted character whose emotional and sexual awakening is both relatable and deeply affecting. I appreciated the way in which the author allowed Elio's flaws and insecurities to be an integral part of his journey towards self-acceptance, and found his journey to be both poignant and thought-provoking.

In addition to its strong character development, I was also impressed by the book's lyrical and poetic prose style. The author has a gift for vividly evoking the sensory details of the Italian countryside, and her descriptions of Elio's inner thoughts and emotions are both powerful and deeply felt.

Overall, I found "Call Me by Your Name" to be a beautifully crafted novel that explores complex themes of love, desire, and self-discovery with empathy and nuance. It is a book that rewards close reading and careful attention to detail, and is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to understand their own feelings or find their place in the world.

Content Warnings

up2nogood's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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