Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman - Book Review

I admit, bibliophiles, I committed that mortal sin of which we are all guilty, and that almost always leaves me full of regret and ploughing through a perfectly good book like its compulsory reading because the wonder has been unceremoniously sucked out by knowing what is going to happen (see Good Omens and many more - although I would not take back David Tennant and Michael Sheen’s bromance back for anything) - I saw the film first. I was taken in by the beautiful landscapes and atmosphere of the film (and nothing else beautiful and atmospheric, I swear) and had put Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman on my ever-expanding “Books To Read” list after the third uncontrollable sigh had ungracefully left my body.

I couldn’t fully imagine how a film so reliant on atmosphere and visual beauty was going to look on the black and white page. How could words capture the knowing looks of uncertainty that had been so expertly transmitted between Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet on screen? In the end, I sort of never had to find out as I decided to use André Aciman’s words as my first experiment with Audible. Instead of my own dry internal monologue repeating his words, I had the dulcet tones of Oliver himself to transport me to teenage love in 1980’s Italy. 

I was initially unsure about the book being read by Armie Hammer (who played Oliver in the Luca Guadaginino’s film adaptation) as the book is all from Elio’s perspective (Timothée Chalamet’s character for the film lovers, I mean, film buffs). However, I was happily corrected by his deep, primal tones which acted rather than simply told the story. He wasn’t a god-like narrator, over-explaining the events of the book to the reader, he was Elio in all his uncertain, youthful, loving, passionate, scared glory. This particular reading makes a good case for the majesty of hearing rather than reading books that take place solely from the perspective from and within the mind of a single character. 

The descriptions were lush, the depictions of a first love true and vivid and the second-guessing, stumbling nature of youth accurately presented. It was, for me at least, pure escapism to some degree. The setting was ridiculously idyllic and the characters confidence-shatteringly overly talented. Each could converse in multiple languages with ease, were experts in a cornucopia of subjects including music, philosophy, history and literature. At one point they have a hilarious time translating ancient poetry in and out of several languages- a classic third date activity.

But despite the sense of inadequacy, it may have watered inside me as I read, sorry- listened, each time I sat down to devour another chapter (I haven’t quite worked out what you are meant to do with your hands while you listen to audiobooks yet). I entered a state of peaceful breathlessness that can only be likened to hanging precariously over an uncertain abyss you haven’t quite decided if you want to dive into yet. 

Each afternoon I pressed play, I listened and I rose. It curled me so perfectly, so excruciatingly that I had to have more. It made me think that even though it is fiction, if I never felt what he described in reality then somehow I will have not lived. Not live through the richness, the decadence, the lushness, the restlessness of that unrelenting tension that pins me in place so all I can do is listen, and feel, and wish. 

I concluded that my only choice was to explore other books by André Aciman (which include Enigma Variations and Out of Egypt as well as the sequel to Call Me By Your Name entitled Find Me) so stay tuned for more overly personal accounts of my readings (or listenings)!

And yes, the infamous peach scene was just as toe-curling (in every way) as promised.