Thomas's Reviews > Call Me by Your Name

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
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2018505
's review

it was ok
bookshelves: lgbtq, romance

2.5 stars

As a gay man, I feel happy seeing queer intimacies receive more acceptance and popularity, as evidenced by this book's film adaptation this year. I appreciate the pulsating emotions of lust and desire in Call Me by Your Name, even if my own first crushes did not manifest into much of anything. However, I struggled to get into this book. The writing felt too distant, intellectual, and heavy for me to immerse myself in Elio and Oliver's world. The book contained so much introspection and I wanted more scenes, to get us into these present moments with the two lovers. And while I understand that the book aims to portray infatuation, I found myself bored at times with Elio's obsession with Oliver. Could he have thought some more about the healthfulness or unhealthfulness of his feelings for Oliver? Or could Andre Aciman have included more details about these characters other than their feelings for one another, to make them both more three-dimensional? I wish we had received more from these characters: more dialogue, more development, and more insight into their desire for one another.

Overall, an okay book that I am curious to see as a film, as I predict the movie may better portray the emotions of the book through lush and/or lustful visuals. If you want a high-quality gay romance this holiday season, check out A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz , and Imagine Me Gone and You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett. Still, yay for a gay romance garnering attention, even if it does feature two white leads and conventionally attractive characters.
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Reading Progress

August 18, 2013 – Shelved
December 22, 2017 – Started Reading
December 22, 2017 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-43 of 43 (43 new)

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Nick Pageant Excellent review as always, Thomas.


message 2: by alittlelifeofmel (last edited Dec 24, 2017 11:59PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

alittlelifeofmel I left this book really wanting to get a bit of insight into Oliver's character and the development of his feelings for Elio. Great Review Thomas!


Kenny Wonderful review.


Michelle Curie Great review! I've done it the other way around in terms of watching the film first before reading the book, which has definitely influenced my opinion. Will be interesting to see what kind of impact the book will have on your film viewing!


Roof Beam Reader (Adam) I loved this book, partly b cause of the writing. I thought it was beautiful and, because of the subject matter (not the same-sex romance, but the age difference) felt it was appropriate. I was given the book by a queer scholar, a former professor of mine, who gave up on it half-way in, though. She said, “I hated it. You’ll love it.” 🤣


Thomas Roof Beam Reader (Adam) wrote: "I loved this book, partly b cause of the writing. I thought it was beautiful and, because of the subject matter (not the same-sex romance, but the age difference) felt it was appropriate. I was giv..."

Aw, I'm glad you enjoyed it and that your professor recommended it to you! It is cool that she was able to recommend it to you and discern that you'd like it even if she herself did not.

Michelle wrote: "Great review! I've done it the other way around in terms of watching the film first before reading the book, which has definitely influenced my opinion. Will be interesting to see what kind of impa..."

Thanks, Michelle! Yes, I am curious to see how the film goes, I feel like it may be one of the rare times the movie actually has an edge on the book. Glad you liked the book enough to give it four stars.

Kenny wrote: "Wonderful review."

Thank you, Kenny!

Mel wrote: "I left this book really wanting to get a bit of insight into Oliver's character and the development of his feelings for Esio. Great Review Thomas!"

Agreed! More insight into Oliver's feelings for Elio would have been nice, even if the story was told from Elio's perspective. Glad you liked it enough to give it four stars, though.

Nick wrote: "Excellent review as always, Thomas."

Thank you, Nick! I appreciate your reviews as well.


Adrian Fulneczek My feelings exactly!


Anders Demitz-Helin Agree on your reservations about the book. Way to intellectual and introspective. But to write interesting dialogue is very difficult. Most writers fall into the trap of making one character in different versions.


Frank Phillips you know, I completely agree with several of your points. Especially that there was too much introspective dialogue going on and not enough actual scenes. I also felt like it was written very intellectually, making the seventeen-year-old character very real. I know at that age I most certainly did not think that way, much less act that way. Only in my dreams. I confess that I also used the audiobook format to read this book, narrated by none other than Armie Hamer, making the story much more stimulating for me. I'll let my pie didn't know if I would be able to finish the book just by reading it, but the audiobook change my world. A little disappointed by the end and lack of a resolution, so I will make my own conclusions on how things ended between the two. I hear that there is already a sequel for the movie (which was simply amazing) being spoken of!


Robyn My feelings exactly. I had to force myself to finish.


message 11: by Stacey (new)

Stacey Also, I feel like "Openly Straight" and "Honestly Ben" are highly underappreciated gay romances. If you haven't read them, please check them out. My 18 year old son is gay and he is not a reader and I never wanted him to read any books as badly as I wished he would read these.


message 12: by Iphios (new)

Iphios I haven't read this book. I have people tell me to read this book and I've been hesitating. I've seen this in book store, saw the film trailer, read and re-read synopsis of it and still haven't read this book. I'm glad i read your review it sort of made me realize why i never really jumped into reading this. I think none of its characters, setting, etc calls to me. If it's not any closer to Aristotle and Dante...I'll probably wait it out and see if I ever come to reading this book.


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Great review! I agree with everything you say and I thank you for the book suggestions :D


message 14: by Amy (new) - rated it 1 star

Amy Thank you for this review. It's totally on point! :) Will check out the other books you recommended.


message 15: by Dee (new) - rated it 2 stars

Dee Thank you for your review. I felt the same way and kept waiting for this book to get better. I found it boring and kept pushing myself to finish because it has so many great reviews I kept waiting for it to get better. Alas, it never did.


Angela I completely agree. I kept reading to see how it ended because reviews said that it made people sad. I thought that at least there would be an end that would make me feel closer to the characters. That didn’t happen. So tedious for me.


message 17: by Ilia (new) - rated it 5 stars

Ilia Temelkov Gosh. This is not infatuation, it's exactly the opposite. It's written by almost 40 years old Elio who remembers everything, the passion, the desire, and the love that still keeps burning inside him, even after all these years.


message 18: by GG (new) - rated it 5 stars

GG I just finished reading the book and found it to be something you click with or not. For me I found a strong sense of endearment towards Oliver. One that you can't fabricate in so many words. Their whole relationship wasn't so much a conversation as it was a silent understanding of each other. It is something simple and sweet... the red string of fate if you will. I just wanted to tell you what I thought. :)


Pariseia I saw the book on the New York Times bestseller list and had no idea it was being turned into a movie 'till recently. Didn't watch the Oscars this year. Having put that down; l loved both. The book and the movie are pretty!! I'm partial to coming of age stories, so, maybe that's why I liked them so much.

I can undersyand why you rated it what you did. I got so caught up in the storyline and how tactile the authors verse was that I didn't pay attention to the fact that the dialogue left room to be desired. Good point, there.

The movie is definitely worth seeing if you get a chance. It's a Terrance Mallick film with more than ten minutes of dialogue. Don't get me wrong. I love Terrance but you don't watch his films for the verve.


Gregory I don’t want someone to be turned away from such an incredibly insightful and accurate portrayal of love at its highest caliber because of this low-rated review. Elio is an intellectual; he always was. He grew up an academic, especially being around his father and their annual summer residents. By the time Elio writes the book, he’s middle-aged and even more of an intellectual and an academic than he was at seventeen. The book is very authentic to who Elio is as a person. I think to truly appreciate this story, you have to have gone through exactly what Elio has gone though.


Pariseia I concur! I never refuted the book's brilliance. You should see what I rated the book. I was simply agreeing on the point you made. The dialogue was lackluster. I understand that the book was written in retrospect. I liked your review :)


William I agree wholeheartedly with this review as well as your recommendations, which I also read and really liked. Thanks for articulating so well what bothered me about this book.


LITerally_jerrod 1000% agree. I had to make myself finish it.


message 24: by Σικανός (new)

Σικανός exactly my opinion


Noelani Glad I found your review-- bored senseless by this book and unsure what the hype is. Will take your recommendations into account!


message 26: by Kath (new) - rated it 1 star

Kath B Thank you for your review. I am not really enjoying the book and thought I must be missing something.


message 27: by E (new)

E I agree!


message 28: by Emma (new) - rated it 2 stars

Emma Almost finished this book and sooo agree with this review. Feel like I can’t care about this relationship as I know nothing about the characters other than their desire for each other. I loved the movie so much so wasn’t expecting to feel this way!


message 29: by Alexandra (new) - added it

Alexandra Peter Thank you for this review!! This is exactly how I felt the book as well 😊


message 30: by Sydney (new)

Sydney Clausen Something in this review that stuck out to me and completely off topic on this specific book but, I would be a little careful here marketing A Little Life as a romance novel. It has very triggering subject matter and it is primarily about severe depression leading to physical harm and suicide due to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.


message 31: by TJ (new) - rated it 2 stars

TJ I wish I read your review first before picking this up yesterday! 🥵


Travis I agree with your review.

I decided to read this book after falling in love with the movie. While there are a few things I appreciated more about the book (such as knowing Elio’s feelings during certain scenes), overall I thought the movie was much better, especially the ending.


message 33: by Irma (new) - added it

Irma Thomas I agree. So disappointed with this book. I loved the movie. I couldn’t even finish this book.


Tèkla Exactly how I feel about this book


Derek Driggs I really relate with this review. For me as a gay man myself this book feels almost like a straight man (I believe Aciman is straight?) fantasizing about gay sex and thus includes none of the emotional depth and all of the sexy obsession of a budding relationship.


Mehr'aavar Everything you pointed out as a negative is exactly what worked for me. I stayed for the introspection ❤️


Farhan Soewarno bener sksk


Adriano Barbera I understand what you’re saying about the characters not being fully fleshed-out as characters, but in my view this is a strength of the story and a key reason why I found it so immersive. I didn’t have to see Elio as as a character removed from myself and my experience. I could just be in the presence of his longing and desires, and live inside the story through his eyes, thoughts and feelings, as if they were my own.


Stephen McNulty Very much agree with your review. At times I got so frustrated listening to Elio’s obsession… I felt like screaming “Omg just get a hobby!” at the book several times 😂


Sarah Gardner yes yes yes and yes


message 41: by Rebecca (new) - added it

Rebecca Long Okura 100% yes


message 42: by Zane (new) - rated it 4 stars

Zane White Omg your right, like I have a quarter left of this book and have watched the movie, but at time this book seems too long winded, it just drags on about Eliot desires when they could have included what goes on fay by day a little more, I feel like i don't know these people and I'm just being told about human emotions, like a textbook, it's a good book and very poetic but seems slightly random when little context is given


tilly r.k. So very well said. I'm a CMBYN lover with every bone in my body but I understand this completely. :)


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