Andre Aciman: Call Me by your Name

Will be an interesting comparison with the recently-seen film.

Sunday:

Well, first thoughts on this...

More sexually explicit. The physical & sexual side came over as just as strong as the emotional feelings and turmoil in Elio's mind.

As the book is narrated by Elio, the mercurial variety of his emotions comes across very strongly and convincingly In the film it was all much more dreamily calm. ( did this make it more sentimental...?). His feelings change at times from second to second and as the situation progresses this is indicated by the extreme changes...one moment utterly devoted and wanting lifetime commitment, the next admitting that its almost certainly just very tempoprary and so just enjoy it then move on. He is constantly questioning every little emotion and mood that he feels...which can be tiring and is perhaps why some critics complained of him being self-absorbed. (Well, DUH! Teenager experiencing and trying to come to terms with his feelings...and a situation where the location and age difference and the social situation all combine to.make it even more complicated and baffling....what would you expect?!)

Oliver is much more enigmatic...predictably, as we only see him through Elio's eyes and so I did not feel I knew him in the way I (somewhat) did from the film.

Comments from anyone who has both seen and read this welcomed.