Oliver's last name?

[Ten]

Does anyone know if Oliver has a last name in the book? I've seen the movie and listened to the audio book (more than once) and don't recall a last name. If he doesn't, any suggestions and why?

[Alex]

Ulliva. It is mentioned briefly in the book

[Artgroupie]

'Ulliva' is the way 'Oliver' sounds as spoken by some of the Italian characters in the book. It's not his last name, just his first pronounced with their accent.:)

Oliver isn't given a last name in the book. I've wondered why myself...all I've come up with is that much as Elio always refers to the town as B., it is either for reasons of privacy or simply a form of shorthand - he himself knows Oliver's last name (and the name of the town) and feels no need to reiterate it to himself as he's relating the story.

[Marc]

The closest they came may have been looking at the applications. Elio concluded his parents chose Oliver because he was Jewish. So perhaps his last name was the source of that conclusion. That's a stretch though isn't it, and not too important.

Aciman actually claims he chose B. because he couldn't decide himself which town near the Riviera to choose. There were two that started with B.

[Artgroupie]

Yes, I've read Andre Aciman's post here about why he used the town's initial rather than name it. How awesome that he posted here to answer that question! But it still leaves us wondering why ELIO chose to use only the initial, and never used Oliver's full name. It is unclear in what form Elio is relating his story - is he writing it as a memoir, intended for the consumption of others? Is it a diary or journal, something for his eyes only? If so, then that could explain why he doesn't feel the need to use Oliver's last name or spell out the names of the town - as I said, he already knows, no need to write them out. If he means for the story to be read by others, then maybe he chooses not to use the last name or call the towns by theirs out of discretion.

Elio doesn't mention seeing Oliver's Star of David necklace in the photo accompanying his application - so you may be on to something, Marc, about how the Elio's parents knew Oliver was Jewish.

[Marc]

In Rome Elio imagined the two of them living together in the same house, as if they would remain together in some fashion, like family.