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amaralh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Stalking
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Grief, and Hate crime
Minor: Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, and Child death
gabi_sud's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I thought it was very beautifully written, the raw and real emotions Elio felt, I could very much relate to things he was going through. However, even putting the age gap aside, the relationship between Elio and Oliver was very predatory from both sides?? The amount of times Elio had thoughts about SA’ing Oliver? And many time he acted on those thoughts, touching him without consent. The time he thought about disabling him so he could be his master?? And obviously Oliver is no better even through we don’t know his thoughts but the peach scene alone was a good indicator of how sick in the head he is as well.
I wonder how people that view this as a beautiful love story would feel if one of them was a woman?
Also what the fuck was that bathroom scene. I get loving someone that much you want to be one with them, but looking at each others fecal matter is surely not the way to do it?
I truly don’t get Elio’s fascination with Oliver who might as well been a cardboard cutout cause he has just as much personality. Elio truly only desired Oliver because he was hot cause let’s be honest here, he didn’t even know him.
I’m not gonna say I didn’t enjoy the book at all, cause I’d be lying. There were parts I absolutely loved, could totally relate to Elio and his yearning for someone he can’t have but all the good parts were overshadowed by the weird and creepy stuff. Like there was truly no need for it.
And the foot fetish was driving me absolutely insane. Like not all of us are Quentin Tarantino.
The ending, however, absolutely crushed me , it was heart wrenching and really did things for me. Not sure how I feel about there being another book though. I feel like it defeats the whole point of this one.
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Stalking
Minor: Terminal illness, Ableism, Child death, Racism, and Vomit
dianadelacruisin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Sexual content
joeykills's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Cancer, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Chronic illness
jelliestars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Grief, Racism, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Excrement, Rape, Drug use, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Ableism, Cursing, Vomit, Xenophobia, Body shaming, Stalking, and Sexism
lindasoderlundd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism, Child death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Transphobia, Vomit, Cancer, Dementia, Stalking, Biphobia, Cursing, and Excrement
alice_hesse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent
emmaoline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Stalking, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
cgibson25's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Cursing, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Stalking, Cancer, and Classism
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Vomit, Antisemitism, Child death, and Death
mariakureads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's a detailed look at two people over a summer holiday from the viewpoint of Elio, the young man whose thoughts, fantasies, worries, and fears are highlighted through a first-person narrative that is detailed and revealing.
It felt like the idea was about first love, and in thinking about it, this book felt like a punch to the gut. Through Elio's eyes, the intensity and longing, the highlights and exchanges both in public and in secret, the rush of it all reminded me of all of those feelings, so kudos to Aciman for that.
But there were some scenes that, for me, went too far, were unneeded, or dragged on. I listened to this book, and so I wasn't prepared for some of the more graphics moments or the descriptions of them, which frankly made me feel ick and made me stop listening for days.
I give the author kudos for his detailing in building this story and in creating depth, but I found the relationship between Elio and Oliver to be off-putting. I can't put my finger on the exacts; maybe it's the way they talk to each other, their dialogue in itself, the off-putting age difference, the nature of Oliver creeping into Elio's room... There are different moments throughout that I didn't connect with and I can agree I won't.
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Stalking