Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman was introduced to many people by the well reviewed 2017 film of the same name. When the novel was released in 2007, it landed on many top notable book lists. It's an intense story of love, and the obsessive lengths it can grow to in our hearts and minds.
Seventeen year-old Elio lives in Italy with his educated and well-off parents, spending his time translating music and reading poetry. Each summer they take in a foreign graduate student or writer working on a book or paper, and the door is always open to welcome their return. This summer of 1983, American doctoral student Oliver charms them all with his knowledge and wit. Although over the course of his stay, Elio and Oliver will both date casual girlfriends, Elio feels a strong pull of desire for Oliver, which naturally builds as he thinks over every move, every conversation, every possibility. As his feelings become apparent, Oliver responds.
Beautifully written and authentic, Elio narrates his thoughts over the summer from the first meeting to Oliver's perceived indifference, through heady days sunning by the pool and bike rides into town. What seems a simple story of a summer affair is turned upon itself many times as all angles and future possibilities are examined in Elio's mind before a word is said to Oliver. Although this affair is between two men, it is not limited to being a gay novel, such is the fluidity of their sexuality as they sleep with girls and see futures with women.
Anyone who has been infatuated, or had an all-consuming love will recognize in Elio this yearning - "that someone else in my world might like what I liked, what what I wanted, be who I was".
Highly recommended for it's excellent writing and complete in depth examination of a relationship.
2007 / Tradeback / 248 pages
Comments