English book report
Call me by your name – André Aciman
Summary
It’s the summer of 1984, Elio, a 17-year-old boy, lives in Italy with his mother and
father. Every summer, his father has a student as a house guest, who helps him with
his work as a professor. This year, 24-year-old American Oliver is that house guest.
Elio grows into an obsession with Oliver, he falls in love with him, but doesn’t really
like that. He feels shame and fear.
Even though Elio doesn’t know whether he wants to do something with his feelings or
not, he tries to impress Oliver with several attempts. But it seems not to effect Oliver
at all.
Elio tries to get over Oliver with his almost girlfriend Marzia. But some discoveries
about Oliver, like the part that he is also Jewish, makes him feel even more bonded
with Oliver. His obsession grows even bigger and the desire changes him.
One day, they go to the town B. and Elio confesses his love to Oliver. At first, Oliver
rejects the confession and tells Elio they should never talk about it again. But later,
when they go to a berm, they give in and kiss.
The next few days, Oliver avoids Elio. Elio continues his affair with Marzia. But as
much as he likes Marzia, he can’t stand Oliver’s silence. One night, Elio slips a note
under Oliver’s door. Oliver, surprisingly, reacts to meet at midnight. Elio goes into
Oliver’s room that night and they have sex. They spend the night together and Oliver
says something that seems to confirm Elio’s thoughts: “Call me by your name and I’ll
call you by mine”.
The next morning, even though Oliver confessed his love, Elio seems to regret last
night, but at least his desire would be gone. Later, he realizes that his attraction to
Oliver is far from over. The thought of Oliver having to go home soon, kills him.
Before returning home, Oliver goes to Rome for three days and Elio decides to go
with him. The trip will be the best time Elio and Oliver will ever have. His love for
Oliver is indescribable, and it seems to be that Oliver feels the same. The goodbye is
heartbreaking.
A half year later, around Christmas, Oliver visits Elio and his parents in Italy. He
announces that he is getting married next summer. Elio and Oliver do not
communicate many years after that.
Twenty years later, Elio is still stuck on Oliver, he refuses to meet his new family. Elio
knows Oliver still feels the same, but Oliver knows their love will never become
reality. One more time, Elio tells Oliver that if he remembers everything as he says he
did, he should once more “look me in the face, hold the gaze, and call me by your
name.”
Call me by your name – André Aciman
Summary
It’s the summer of 1984, Elio, a 17-year-old boy, lives in Italy with his mother and
father. Every summer, his father has a student as a house guest, who helps him with
his work as a professor. This year, 24-year-old American Oliver is that house guest.
Elio grows into an obsession with Oliver, he falls in love with him, but doesn’t really
like that. He feels shame and fear.
Even though Elio doesn’t know whether he wants to do something with his feelings or
not, he tries to impress Oliver with several attempts. But it seems not to effect Oliver
at all.
Elio tries to get over Oliver with his almost girlfriend Marzia. But some discoveries
about Oliver, like the part that he is also Jewish, makes him feel even more bonded
with Oliver. His obsession grows even bigger and the desire changes him.
One day, they go to the town B. and Elio confesses his love to Oliver. At first, Oliver
rejects the confession and tells Elio they should never talk about it again. But later,
when they go to a berm, they give in and kiss.
The next few days, Oliver avoids Elio. Elio continues his affair with Marzia. But as
much as he likes Marzia, he can’t stand Oliver’s silence. One night, Elio slips a note
under Oliver’s door. Oliver, surprisingly, reacts to meet at midnight. Elio goes into
Oliver’s room that night and they have sex. They spend the night together and Oliver
says something that seems to confirm Elio’s thoughts: “Call me by your name and I’ll
call you by mine”.
The next morning, even though Oliver confessed his love, Elio seems to regret last
night, but at least his desire would be gone. Later, he realizes that his attraction to
Oliver is far from over. The thought of Oliver having to go home soon, kills him.
Before returning home, Oliver goes to Rome for three days and Elio decides to go
with him. The trip will be the best time Elio and Oliver will ever have. His love for
Oliver is indescribable, and it seems to be that Oliver feels the same. The goodbye is
heartbreaking.
A half year later, around Christmas, Oliver visits Elio and his parents in Italy. He
announces that he is getting married next summer. Elio and Oliver do not
communicate many years after that.
Twenty years later, Elio is still stuck on Oliver, he refuses to meet his new family. Elio
knows Oliver still feels the same, but Oliver knows their love will never become
reality. One more time, Elio tells Oliver that if he remembers everything as he says he
did, he should once more “look me in the face, hold the gaze, and call me by your
name.”
