Call Me By Your Name
written by André Aciman
*Opens book* Ah, I appear to be in the mind of a young man named Elio. Let’s see what’s occupying his thoughts... Oliver, Oliver, Oliver, swimsuits, Oliver, Oliver, peaches. Elio is seventeen years old and living with his parents in Italy. It’s summer which means that the household is joined by that lucky graduate student, selected for the opportunity to study and work abroad, and this year it’s a 24-year-old man named Oliver. Oliver’s presence irks Elio at first as does his habit of saying “later” when parting ways, but his initial annoyance turns quickly to an obsessive, romantic string of thoughts wondering what Oliver might think of him. As Oliver focuses on his work and making friends, Elio’s mind is saturated with continuous analysis of Oliver. He even theorizes about how the color of Oliver’s swimsuit may reveal what demeanor he will adopt that day. It's a simple plot, but the bulk of the substance in this book comes from Elio’s internalization. For, the book may technically take place in Italy, but Elio is the real setting. Everything is told from his perspective; therefore since Elio doesn’t know how Oliver feels, we are just as hopelessly confused. Elio’s obsession can hardly be summed up with the word crush, for it is not cute or tame. Elio’s depth of feeling takes the form of monologues dripping with want, wondering, and philosophy’s. Does Oliver feel the same? This is what us and Elio are wondering. Elio is extraordinarily calculated as he tries to cover his feelings, but incredibly reckless as his emotions break through. He avoids Oliver or shows up late for their bike rides to prove his indifference then enters Oliver’s room and wears his swimsuit to feel closer to him. A story like this should have been insufferable. The frustration over Elio’s shyness and the “does he love me or love me not” should have been exhausting, but it wasn’t at all. There was something in Elio’s intelligence and the deconstruction and desperation of his situation was intriguing especially since no outside forces were keeping Elio from Oliver except for his own self. Do tread lightly when entering this book. It is for mature audiences only and contains explicit, sexual material and apricots. Though if you are prepared to read an excellent tale, then proceed and learn for yourself if the sexual material exists only in Elio’s mind or if both men share the incredible love affair.
