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1. The opening word of the novel, "Later!"
becomes one of Oliver’s common refrains, meaning "in the future" or "not
yet," "just a sec," and "goodbye," but also "a way of avoiding saying
goodbye." How do these multiple interpretations of this word play out
thematically in the novel? Why try to encapsulate so many underlying
meanings in one word?
2. Though the novel is intimately narrated from Elio’s perspective, much
of the focus is on Oliver and Elio’s perception of him. Imagine that the
narration is switched—that the story is framed through Oliver’s
perspective instead. How do you think he would describe Elio?
3. At one point when Oliver is being standoffish, Elio wonders, "How is
it that some people go through hell trying to get close to you, while
you haven’t the haziest notion and don’t even give them a thought when
two weeks go by and you haven’t so much as exchanged a single word
between you?" Do you think Elio’s initial desire is heightened by
Oliver’s lack of acknowledgment? How would you describe the relationship
between desire and attention? 4. Would you consider Elio an unreliable
narrator? Why or why not?
5. Throughout the novel Elio relates his physical desire for Oliver to
different tropes and traditions in Judaism that connote bonding,
homecoming, and community. What do you make of Elio’s marriage of
romantic desire and religious tradition? How do you think the fact that
Oliver is also Jewish impacts Elio’s view of him?
6. The communication between Oliver and Elio in the beginning of the
novel is notably nebulous, almost evasive. Elio is constantly trying to
parse the meaning behind their encounters, and he’s frustrated by his
inability to be forthright about what he wants from Oliver. Contrast
that to Elio’s interactions with Marzia. He notes, "I loved her
simplicity, her candor. It was in every word she’d spoken to me that
night—untrammeled, frank, human." Why do you think their communications
are so different? In what ways might the homosexual nature of Elio and
Oliver’s relationship make it less "speakable?"
7. When Oliver first kisses Elio, Elio notes, "I was not so sure our
kiss had convinced me of anything about myself." In what ways do you
think connecting with others is a way of learning about ourselves?
8. Why do you think the author chooses to leave the names of the Italian
towns ambiguous, denoting them only with a single letter?
9. Discuss the role of shame in the novel. How do shame, desire, and
sexuality interplay?
10. After making love to Oliver for the second time, Elio wonders,
"Would I always experience such solitary guilt in the wake of our
intoxicating moments together? Why didn’t I experience the same thing
after Marzia?" Why do you think Elio feels so differently with Oliver
and Marzia? Is it only because of their genders or do you think there
are other factors at play?
11. Discuss the significance of the title, Call Me By Your Name. In what
ways does it speak to how Elio views his relationship with Oliver?
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