'Call Me By Your Name' is a tender and intense love story between seventeen-year-old Elio and the older graduate student Oliver, set against the backdrop of a lazy Italian summer. The book beautifully captures the nuances of desire, fear, and illogical emotions experienced during first love. The narrative delves into Elio's deep-seated infatuation with Oliver, their mutual attraction, and the emotional turmoil of unrequited love, culminating in a bittersweet reflection on their relationship years later. Aciman's writing style is described as poetic, artfully artless, and masterful in portraying the emotions and thoughts of the characters.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, embodying the emotional struggles and complexities of young love and self-discovery.

Writing/Prose:

Aciman's writing style is characterized by a rich, immersive prose that beautifully encapsulates the emotional complexities faced by the protagonist.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative intricately explores a summer romance between two young men, detailing the nuances of their relationship and internal struggles.

Setting:

The idyllic Italian setting plays a crucial role, adding a rich backdrop to the unfolding love story.

Pacing:

The pacing steadily evolves, allowing a deep emotional buildup before the climax of the romance.

I shut my eyes, say the word, and I’m back in Italy, so many years ago, walking down the tree-lined driveway, watching him step out of the cab, billowy blue shirt, wide-open collar, sunglasses, straw ...

Notes:

The book is primarily about the intense emotions of first love, particularly between Elio and Oliver.

Elio is a 17-year-old son of Italian academics who spends his summers in Italy. He develops feelings for Oliver, a 24-year-old visiting graduate student.

The novel explores themes of desire, obsession, and the complexities of queer relationships.

The setting plays a crucial role, with the idyllic Italian summer acting as the backdrop for their romance.

Aciman's writing style is often described as lyrical and poetic, immersing readers in the characters' feelings.

The story heavily emphasizes the inner thoughts and struggles of Elio, capturing the confusion and turmoil of young love.

There's a notable age gap between the characters, which has sparked discussions about appropriateness and representation in literature.

The book deals with topics like self-loathing and societal expectations regarding sexuality.

A significant scene involves a peach, which has sparked both intrigue and controversy among readers.

The novel's ending contrasts with the film adaptation, offering a more nuanced resolution to Elio's journey.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include explicit sexual content, age gap themes, potential emotional distress related to first love and heartbreak, as well as internalized homophobia.

Has Romance?

The romance in Call Me By Your Name is highly significant and central to the narrative.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Now a Major Motion Picture from Director Luca Guadagnino, Starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet, and Written by Three-Time Oscar™ Nominee James Ivory

The Basis of the Oscar-Winning Best Adapted Screenplay

A New York Times Bestseller

A USA Today Bestseller

A Los Angeles Times Bestseller

A Vulture Book Club Pick

An Instant Classic and One of the Great Love Stories of Our Time

Andre Aciman's Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. Each is unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, when, during the restless summer weeks, unrelenting currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion and test the charged ground between them. Recklessly, the two verge toward the one thing both fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy. It is an instant classic and one of the great love stories of our time.

Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Fiction

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Publishers Weekly and The Washington Post Best Book of the Year

A New York Magazine "Future Canon" Selection

A Chicago Tribune and Seattle Times (Michael Upchurch's) Favorite Favorite Book of the Year

Ratings (99)

Incredible (25)
Loved It (38)
Liked It (20)
It Was OK (8)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (5)

Reader Stats (189):

Read It (100)
Currently Reading (4)
Want To Read (48)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (33)

What can you read after
Call Me By Your Name?

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About the Author:

André Aciman is the author of Eight White Nights, Out of Egypt, False Papers, Alibis, and Harvard Square, and the editor of The Proust Project (all published by FSG). He teaches comparative literature at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and lives with his wife in Manhattan.

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Call Me By Your Name

Andre Aciman

Book 1 in the series:Call Me By Your Name