July 1

Athletic pursuits:

Gymnasts, wrestlers & rowers, oh my!

 

 

With a side of underwear:

Summer Reading List:
Call Me by Your Name
A Novel by André Aciman

Synopsis: 17-year-old Elio Perlman is spending the summer with his family at their vacation villa on the Italian Riviera. When his father, a professor, takes in a handsome 24-year-old doctoral student, the curious youth finds himself developing a growing attraction to their boarder. 

There have been thousands of books and movies about desire, obsession and sexual awakening, but this one transcends the clichés to reach a climax that is unusually gripping and devastating. Although the book has a slow start, reviewers warn that you won’t want to read the ending while in a public place. This is summer reading at its best, made all the more entrancing by being told through the perspective of the 17-year-old.

But the reason you’ll want to read the book right now is that a film version is to be released this autumn. Armie Hammer (b. 1986) portrays the doctoral student (Oliver), and newcomer Thimothée Chalamet (b. 1995 in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC!) plays the youth (Elio) attracted to him. Luca Guadagnino directs. This film premiered at Sundance to rave reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes gives it an astonishing 100% rating from all 32 reviewers. Moreover, this is one of the rare instances in which those who have read the novel champion the film version. Screenplay writers James Ivory (of the former Merchant-Ivory team), Walter Fasano and Luca Guadagnino seem to have gotten everything just about right. Major awards and honors are predicted.

But first, read the book (also available in e-book formats).