While it’s been a relatively short time since I’ve read André Aciman’s novel Call Me By Your Name, I couldn’t get my hands on its sequel, Find Me, fast enough! Written in as beautiful a prose as the initial outing from twelve years ago, this read was smooth as butter.
This novel is carried by the love of music, as well as love itself (obviously), but the music is what drives this story forward; therefore, it makes sense that it’s broken up into four sections, or movements rather.
The first movement, “Tempo,” is told from Elio’s father, Sami’s perspective and takes place ten years after the events in Call Me By Your Name. We find Sami divorced and on his way to meet Elio in Rome. While on the train he encounters a beautiful stranger, and from there a whirlwind romance takes hold.
The second movement, “Cadenza,” is told from Elio’s perspective fifteen years after Call Me By Your Name. Elio is living in Paris when he meets an older man by the name of Michel. While their romance is quick and strong like that of Sami’s in “Tempo,” you know that Elio’s heart still belongs with someone else.
The third movement, “Capriccio,” is told from Oliver’s perspective twenty years after the events in Call Me By Your Name. Rather than an extended length of time, Oliver’s story is told over the course of an evening at a party in New England with many flashbacks to his time in Rome with the Perlman’s, and specifically, Elio.
The fourth and final movement, “Da Capo,” is told again from Elio’s perspective not long after the events described by Oliver in “Capriccio.” It details all of the characters lives once again intertwined.
While this story was beautifully written, and I enjoyed the focus on Sami’s life, everything just seemed so vague and too quick. I suppose that may have been Aciman’s purpose, but I didn’t feel as strong of a connection to the story or characters as I did with the original novel. And I know Aciman did a service to fans by finally bringing this original love back together, but the reunion was too brief and glossed-over. Despite all that, it was a very quick read, as the page count comes in under 300, so it’s definitely not a waste of your time. I have my fingers crossed for a movie sequel, but I’d like to see some creative liberties taken.