Reviews

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition

3.0

3.5/5

I really enjoyed the story and the authors writing style but I felt like the book was longer than it seemed to be.

angelo_vossen's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

„Life has a logic all its own. People talk about the highway of life, but I think that's crap. Highways are nice and paved, and they have signs telling you which way to go. Life isn't like that at all. There are days when great things happen and everything is beautiful and perfect, and then, just like that, everything can go straight to hell. It's like getting drunk. At first it feels kinda nice and all relaxed. And all of a sudden the room is spinning and you are throwing up, and, well, maybe life is a little like that.“

In "The Inexplicable Logic of My Life" by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, readers are welcomed into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary through the lens of protagonist Salvador (Sal) Silva. Sáenz masterfully weaves a tapestry of emotions, relationships, and self-discovery that resonate deeply with readers. Set against the backdrop of El Paso, Texas, the novel paints a vivid portrait of Sal's journey through adolescence, exploring themes of family, friendship, and the search for identity.

At the heart of the story is Sal's relationship with his adoptive father, Vicente, a bond forged not by blood but by love and mutual respect. Their dynamic is tender and nuanced, reflecting the complexities of fatherhood and the enduring power of unconditional love. Through Vicente's guidance and wisdom, Sal navigates the challenges of growing up with a sense of grace and resilience.

Alongside his father, Sal is supported by his best friend, Samantha, whose unwavering loyalty and strength serve as a pillar of support throughout the narrative. Their friendship is a testament to the transformative power of human connection, offering solace and companionship in the face of life's uncertainties.

As Sal grapples with questions of identity and belonging, he finds himself drawn to Fito, a classmate who enriches Sal‘s life strongly. Through their friendship, Sáenz explores the beauty of self-acceptance, challenging societal norms and expectations along the way. In my personal opinion Fito is one of the most lovable characters I have been introduced to in a very long time. His character added a lot of depth to the story and his lines caused the most tears to drop during this reading experience - not to say that not the entirety of the characters, especially when they interacted with each other as a group, made me feel very emotional (mostly in a rather happy than sad way).

What sets "The Inexplicable Logic of My Life" apart is its richly drawn characters, each imbued with depth, complexity, and authenticity. From Sal's introspective nature to Vicente's quiet strength, every character feels alive and fully realized, adding layers of nuance and depth to the narrative. As I have now read multiple of the author‘s masterpieces, I feel safe to say: Sáenz is simply great with words and always finds a way to depict every feeling and though beautifully. Therefore: wftd = felicity - since Sáenz introduced me to this word in a way that made me feel like I had not properly met this word yet.

In the end, Sáenz delivers a powerful meditation on the human experience, reminding readers of the profound connections that bind us all together. Through Sal's journey of self-discovery, we are invited to reflect on our own lives, our own struggles, and our own capacity for growth and transformation. With its lyrical prose and heartfelt storytelling, "The Inexplicable Logic of My Life" is a captivating exploration of love, loss, and the inexplicable forces that shape our lives.

Content Warnings

rinorsomething's review against another edition

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5.0

Absolutely gorgeous in every way.

jvela's review against another edition

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emotional sad 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

4.25

lcecream's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow, what a beautiful and emotional coming of age story.

I had high hopes reading this because I absolutely loved Sáenz’s “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe”. This book did not fail to impress.

The story follows Salvadore, a boy adopted into a Mexican American family, going through life trying to figure out who is. Many topics covered such as faith, homophobia, addiction and death. It was lovely to read about the compelling relationships that Salvadore had with everyone and the impact they had in his life. I loved all the characters but more importantly the relationships they had with each other.

sonialusiveira's review against another edition

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3.0

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is a good book covering multiple themes; from friendship, to parents, death, survival, and self-discovery. Unfortunately, as a reader, I don’t feel very connected to the characters. The story also feels like it lacks a plot and read more as a fictional biography with pieces of thoughts and happenings here and there. The characters felt kinda flat except maybe Sally and Sam, but then Sally also keeps reminding me of Ari/ Dante; only difference is Sally’s not gay. The only ‘enjoyable’ character is Vicente. All in all, it is a nice read still because it touches upon important topics: lgbt, adopted family, race, loss, friendship and love between friends.

“Anger is an emotion. But there’s always something behind anger. Something stronger. You know what that is?”
“Is that a trick question?”
“It comes from fear, son. That’s where it comes from. All you have to do is figure out what you’re afraid of.”

“There was nothing wrong with getting angry. It was what you did with that anger that mattered.”

martapsalvado's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

I can't give this book less than 5 stars.
Although the Aristotle and Dante books are some of my favorite books of all time, I put off reading more from Sáenz for a long time and my expectations weren't very high. I'm not sure why, maybe because of the title of the book. It seemed very "juvenile", if that makes sense. Or maybe I just didn't think it could live up to Aristotle and Dante
But oh I loved it SO much. I love the characters. I love the writing. Do I think most teenagers talk like Sal and Sam and Fito? No. Do I think that most fathers talk to their sons like Sal's father does? No. But I like to think that some of them do. That relationships like that exist.
It's emotional, it's funny and it's beautiful.

ec_pope's review against another edition

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5.0

If Benjamin Alire Sáenz wrote it, I’m going to read it and I have NEVER regretted it.

linreadsagain's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

cheyannets's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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