Call Me by Your Name
discussion
Little Tortie Thoughts - call me by your name
date
newest »
newest »
I finished the book on Saturday, and until now I can't help but cry every time I remember any scene in Part 4. As devastating as that ending was (I cried for four hours), I felt it was ultimately perfect for the book. Elio and Oliver knew they were perfect for each other. They were soulmates, but it just wasn't at the right time. I take solace in the fact that they managed to still keep in touch and vowed to talk about their feelings for each other until their deathbed.I wasn't really expecting to be moved this way, and to be this invested emotionally over these characters. Can't wait for the movie.
Anyway, what did you think about the book event in Part 3? Because I saw other reviewers who were a bit apprehensive over it, saying that it was kind of "unnecessary" because we didn't see much of oliver and elio. Personally, I thought it was a pivotal part (in a section full of pivotal parts) in the book because Elio was starting to realize what he wanted to do in life, which environment he wanted to devote his life in. When he started to imagine his life with those poets and publishers, that's when I knew that Elio was starting to grow up.
Daniel wrote: "I finished the book on Saturday, and until now I can't help but cry every time I remember any scene in Part 4. As devastating as that ending was (I cried for four hours), I felt it was ultimately p..."Hi! I finally have my copy again after being away and am prepared to answer your question! :D
Part 3, in my opinion, is just as important as any other part of the book. What others might not see is that this entire book is the world as Elio saw it. Before it is the story of Elio and Oliver, it is the story of Elio himself. Part 3 while not being a pivotal moment for Oliver and Elio, was a very important event for Elio. Like you said, he was understanding the world around him and realizing where he wanted to be, what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be around. To discount this potion of the book as unnecessary is, in my own opinion, not right because then that discounts the moment Elio decides what to do with his life and consequently would effect the dynamic for the rest of his and Oliver's life.
We find out later that Oliver follows Elio's academic successes and his career for the rest of his life and he is proud to see that Elio has built upon what Oliver fell in love with so many years ago. Although we might not have needed to see the pre-academic Elio in the book stores, it would have been a disconnect, I think, between the past and the present that Elio is telling us about. Sure, we didn't necessarily need to know about these moments, but then that would have taken from Elio's story. And although Oliver is a huge part of Elio's life, this book, at its core, is first and foremost Elio's story and then that of Oliver as a person and then ghost in it.
It is key for character development and also might add to the reality that although Oliver is Elio's passionate, first love, he is the not the infinite and only to Elio. He has balance, which might also be why Oliver is not as hesitant to give in and pursue something with Elio, as he was with others that might attach themselves to him. It's real, balanced, and although not as exciting as other parts of the story, extremely important.
Sorry for the long response. :) What do you think?
Is Aciman poking fun at people in his book? The two academics from Chicago. The fan that jumps to his feet and proclaims, Vive il San Clemente Syndromo! Vive! The lady talking to herself during the poetry reading,"Strordinario!"I love Part III and all parts really.
I have a question though. A lot of people cry at the end, thinking how Oliver will step into the taxi the next day and leave Elio, so that Elio only asks for one thing, to hear Oliver one more time to "call me by your name. " Aciman admitted he was surprised at that effect the ending had and also surprised we assume Oliver is really going to leave Elio. But how can we not assume that? Aciman believes in the subtle approach but was he too subtle at the end. So I guess my question is do you believe Oliver is really going to leave in the morning and do you believe at some point the two will live in the same house, exactly as Elio daydreamed about back in Rome.
TheReadingTortie wrote: "Daniel wrote: "I finished the book on Saturday, and until now I can't help but cry every time I remember any scene in Part 4. As devastating as that ending was (I cried for four hours), I felt it w..."Absolutely agree to everything. It's a perfect book.
Marc wrote: "Is Aciman poking fun at people in his book? The two academics from Chicago. The fan that jumps to his feet and proclaims, Vive il San Clemente Syndromo! Vive! The lady talking to herself during the..."I think for sure Aciman is having a bit of fun satirizing various types throughout the novel - he seems particularly pointed with those in the book reading scenes, as if he's experienced some of that personally.;)
I've read the interview in which Aciman expressed surprise at readers telling him they cried at the end, and I have to say...I'm surprised that HE was surprised. I think the sorrow many readers feel at the end is not just about Elio and Oliver, but also what we learn about the way life has gone for Elio - his losses, the changes that have occurred, the sad fates of some characters. I also think having been so deep into Elio's heart and mind, it's hard for some to let him go at the end.
When I first read the novel some time ago, I felt that the ending was quite open and ambiguous, and that any number of scenarios could play out with Oliver and Elio. When I later went seeking discussion of the book online, I was surprised at how many readers seem to feel that the ending was definitively closed, that there was no possibility of Elio and Oliver reuniting. I have been even more surprised to see people who feel that if they DID reunite, it would somehow cheapen what went before. So yes, an argument could be made that Aciman WAS a bit too subtle with his open ending.
As for whether Oliver stayed...some days I can absolutely imagine that he did, and that they reconnected. Other days I can see them letting it slip away once more, and just continuing on with their lives as they've been living them. I do think there's significance in the fact that having failed in his initial attempt to persuade Elio to come with him and be 'integrated' (to use Aciman's word from an interview) into his family life as an old friend, Oliver in the end has come to Elio, alone, in the place that means so much to them both...and with intentions that can certainly be seen as ambiguous.
Artgroupie wrote: "Marc wrote: "Is Aciman poking fun at people in his book? The two academics from Chicago. The fan that jumps to his feet and proclaims, Vive il San Clemente Syndromo! Vive! The lady talking to herse..."Thank you Artgroupie for shedding some light on things for me. I am one of those that believes Oliver fell for Elio nearly at first sight, that Elio was quite a beautiful young man (Aciman told of his beauty in a round about way), and Elio was so impressive to Oliver. I believe Oliver never stopped loving Elio, and so your comment about his intentions at the end make so much sense to me.
Hey! Awesome discussion we have going! I think I imagine Oliver leaving because I usually default to a negative ending. I don't see a happy ending because I fear it's too good to be true for Elio. After so many discussions, I think that maybe Oliver did stay with Elio. I'm not sure. But I think I agree that sometimes I want to believe he did and other times I fear he didn't.
One of the great pleasures - and frustrations! - of the novel is its ambiguities. So there's absolutely a case to be made for a negative reading of the ending. At the same time Aciman also allows for a more hopeful reading, as he has stated in interviews. He leaves plenty of room for the reader to bring whatever they carry on a personal level to their reading of it. I too am someone who usually defaults to a negative read for something like this. Yet in this instance, I do see the possibility for hope, and I'm glad Aciman put it there.
For me, the ending was sad, and yet it still honored what they had. It's a unique book for sure. Lately, I'm glad to consider the ambiguity, that somewhere in some parallel ending these two lived in the same house! :-)
Yes! Completely! The ending was so sad and emotional! I think the ambiguity is also what has stuck with me. There is no real closure and therefore, I can never really let it go and it eats at me!
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
Please respect each other's opinions and let's engage in an awesome, constructive discussion about a book we all love!
P.S. Little Tortie Thoughts refers to everyone here that is engaging with me. We are all little torties growing in our literary journey!