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eesh25's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I'm going to kick this off by saying that I haven't read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It's sitting on my shelf and I still want to read, but after this book, I'm less certain that I'll like it as much as most people did.
This book tells the story of Sal, who's being raised by a single, gay, adoptive father. He's probably the best father anyone could ask for and has raised Sal to be really nice guy. But lately, Sal has been feeling some not-nice things that have made him wonder if he's more like his birth father (who he's never met). Sal has two friends, both of whom are going through a tough time with their families.
And that's all there is to it. It's about Sal's family, his best friend Samantha's family, and his other friend, Fito's, family. And the writing style is not my favourite.
It's simple prose. It used small sentences, and it states things. There are few other punctuations. Except full-stops, and commas, and maybe conjunctions. That makes feeling emotions difficult. It's hard to immerse yourself in the story, and in the characters. You don't feel much connection to them.
And yes, that was a sample, with me using small sentences. You might notice that it comes off as a little stilted. A combination of this prose and the chosen format of very short chapters, meant that it took me forever to actually care about anyone, or anything that was happening. I'd gotten halfway and I was still having trouble getting into the book. All of this was definitely not helped by the lack of emotion in the writing and the lack of an overarching storyline. For example, there's a paragraph in the book:
Books make sense. People don’t. You know, like life. All these things happen, and they’re not connected. I mean, they are and they’re not, and it’s not as if my life or your life—it’s not as if our lives have this plot, you know?
When I read this, I couldn't help but think that Sal would be very satisfied to know that his book was exactly like real life because it didn't have a plot either. But not because stuff didn't happen. A lot of things did, only the writing didn't put much weight on them so it felt like nothing was happening.
While having said all of that, this is not a bad book. The writing style didn't work that well for me but it might for other people. And I actually enjoyed the last 200 pages. I finally got used to the way things were going to be. This is a novel that wants to show real life, where things just happen and there's not definite plot. It's also a coming-of-age story for both Sal and Sam, maybe even Fito a little bit. It's a good story. I just wish it had been presented in a more lively manner so that maybe I could have enjoyed it.
The characters, which the book relies heavily on, were okay. Sal is mostly neutral and I don't have much to say about him. Fito, I liked. I liked his arc too. Sal's dad was great. Sam, I didn't like. In the beginning, I found her to be judgemental and meddlesome. Not to mention, pushy. She grew up a lot in the novel but she never truly grew on me.
Overall, this is a book for lovers of contemporary and people who don't mind mellow reads. I love contemporaries but I found it to be a bit dull. I think, had I been aware of what I was going into beforehand, I might have enjoyed it more. So if you're someone who loves action and excitement and adventure, if you're not good with a slow pace, then I don't think this is one for you. It's also too nice, something that bothered me. There's a scene about how drug addition is a disease and you shouldn't judge people for it, and it irked me because it's also a choice and if someone's parent choses that addiction over them, then they get to be judged.
So yeah, beautiful thought behind it and a lot of characters development. But also too nice and kinda boring. If that's something you might like, got for it.
sethsparksss's review against another edition
4.0
Such a great book that took me completely by surprise.
karrama's review against another edition
5.0
Watching Benjamin Alire Sáenz grow up by reading his work in order, gives me a great-big feel for who he is/was at each age his books represent. While this book is ostensibly about Sal, the main character, narrator, and son, it is also about his father, Vicente - a fantastic stand-in for our author as he ages. This book is wonderfully straight forward and as complex as life itself.
Sal is a stand-up guy. He stands up for his good friends about his own group and outsiders. he gets along with his dad in a community where not everyone does ad he loves his Grandmother. But these days things are getting rough. Sal's not sure why he's throwing punches at comments his dad would tell him to let go, or how to help Sam, his best friend, his grandmother, or himself. He wants to help, and his father shows him the way.
From the depictions of friendship with friends who have complex lives, to understanding his father's own life as a single-parent gay man, Sal has a lot on his plate. It becomes all the more complex as his grandmother goes back in for another round of cancer treatment. Sometimes the best way to deal with life is to take a deep breath, pet your dog, and talk it out with the family you love, choose, and deserve despite your self-doubt.
Sal is a stand-up guy. He stands up for his good friends about his own group and outsiders. he gets along with his dad in a community where not everyone does ad he loves his Grandmother. But these days things are getting rough. Sal's not sure why he's throwing punches at comments his dad would tell him to let go, or how to help Sam, his best friend, his grandmother, or himself. He wants to help, and his father shows him the way.
From the depictions of friendship with friends who have complex lives, to understanding his father's own life as a single-parent gay man, Sal has a lot on his plate. It becomes all the more complex as his grandmother goes back in for another round of cancer treatment. Sometimes the best way to deal with life is to take a deep breath, pet your dog, and talk it out with the family you love, choose, and deserve despite your self-doubt.
uniimitedskies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
alpakamesi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sáenz books are just free therapy
kater07's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
whatkatiedidread's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
kaikai1618's review against another edition
4.5 stars. What I liked about this book was the flawed character and the writing full of so many wise words and thoughts. It was very well written and the book didn't really have a main plot point, but it was just a story line. And I think that's realistic. That through this book different things happen but it's really just about the things that come with life experiences and how these people need to figure out more about themselves and what to do.
I can see why people wouldn't like this book that much because it doesn't have a very exciting drive, but this book was still very enjoyable for me. This author writes such beautiful and real stories that help me learn more about people in these situations. And Man does he have a way with words with all these beautiful metaphors about whistling in the dark and the amazing wisdom that Sal's dad imparts on everyone like a sage. I mean yes drama(I guess I can just call it that?) did happen to keep the book moving along, (Kinda not really spoilery *********)but it was interesting that this book didn't have some sort of major climax but went on the way life does even when something bad happens.
Life doesn't always have exiting or tragic occorances in the order or way we think it will. I mean you think beginning, middle build up, climax, ending. But this book wasn't like that, and didn't fit the typical format. Instead it when through day to day situations where we get to know characters and their situations along with the "drama" that comes up. Drama is just a substitute because I don't want to give anything away. Or else I would use other words to describe what takes place.
Anyway I just think that it's good when books these days aren't in the same mold and bring something new to the table. I just found that style pretty authentic.
I can see why people wouldn't like this book that much because it doesn't have a very exciting drive, but this book was still very enjoyable for me. This author writes such beautiful and real stories that help me learn more about people in these situations. And Man does he have a way with words with all these beautiful metaphors about whistling in the dark and the amazing wisdom that Sal's dad imparts on everyone like a sage. I mean yes drama(I guess I can just call it that?) did happen to keep the book moving along, (Kinda not really spoilery *********)but it was interesting that this book didn't have some sort of major climax but went on the way life does even when something bad happens.
Life doesn't always have exiting or tragic occorances in the order or way we think it will. I mean you think beginning, middle build up, climax, ending. But this book wasn't like that, and didn't fit the typical format. Instead it when through day to day situations where we get to know characters and their situations along with the "drama" that comes up. Drama is just a substitute because I don't want to give anything away. Or else I would use other words to describe what takes place.
Anyway I just think that it's good when books these days aren't in the same mold and bring something new to the table. I just found that style pretty authentic.