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Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
290 reviews
gimmedcookie69's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Transphobia, and Death
minervacerridwen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was a fast read and I enjoyed most of it. It was interesting to follow the experiences of two queer Mexican-American teenagers in the eighties. However, the ending seriously dropped the rating for me.
The whole book had built up to the discovery of who Ari's brother was and how he had ended up in prison. The big reveal was that the brother had killed a prostitute he'd picked up as a 15-year-old because she turned out to be a transvestite. In the same breath, Ari and his parents decide to put up framed pictures of this bigoted brother Because He Is Family After All, and not another thought is spent on that (while thus far, the whole book had been all about Ari's thought processes, so it definitely wouldn't have been out of character or slowing the story down).
I also didn't like the intervention of the parents telling Ari that he Had To Be In Love with Dante for a number of Logical Reasons that would perfectly have been explained by friendship. I'm sorry the author didn't have close friends he would have jumped in front of a car for. If Ari had been ace, that type of amatonormativity would have been confusing as hell (and so it may be for young aromantic or asexual readers who pick this up). I wish Ari would have gotten a chance in the story to figure out his identity in his own time. It really is a beautiful example of boys loving boys, but in terms of specifically romantic love, it had definitely felt one-sided up to that point. Surely you don't want the message of a coming-of-age book to be that your parents are right about everything and need to point everything out to you, including your own very personal feelings that you might not even be ready yet to study closely?
I also didn't like the intervention of the parents telling Ari that he Had To Be In Love with Dante for a number of Logical Reasons that would perfectly have been explained by friendship. I'm sorry the author didn't have close friends he would have jumped in front of a car for. If Ari had been ace, that type of amatonormativity would have been confusing as hell (and so it may be for young aromantic or asexual readers who pick this up). I wish Ari would have gotten a chance in the story to figure out his identity in his own time. It really is a beautiful example of boys loving boys, but in terms of specifically romantic love, it had definitely felt one-sided up to that point. Surely you don't want the message of a coming-of-age book to be that your parents are right about everything and need to point everything out to you, including your own very personal feelings that you might not even be ready yet to study closely?
I learned there is a sequel, so I could only hope some of these issues are resolved in that, but I don't think I have enough faith in it to pick it up.
Coming-of-age stories set in the real world are not my preferred genre, but if a little more thought had been put into the ending, I'd really have appreciated this one.
Coming-of-age stories set in the real world are not my preferred genre, but if a little more thought had been put into the ending, I'd really have appreciated this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Alcohol, Death, Hate crime, Outing, Transphobia, Drug use, and Murder
jerrysaywhaaa's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Phenomenal book, I understand now why it’s won so many awards. It was such a cute coming of age story and constantly had me in tears while I was reading it. It reminded me of Perks of Being a Wallflower in a way, but maybe that’s just me. I would say this is one of my favorite books that I have read and I can’t wait to read the sequel and watch the movie! I would highly recommend reading this and I’ll probably read more from the author because of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Hate crime
Minor: Murder
juliaaaaaa's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, War, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical content, Hate crime, Bullying, Car accident, and Death
agchalle's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Murder, and Homophobia
viselik's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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 adored every aspect of this book; it had me completely engrossed, making it a challenge to put down. The way the author crafted Aristotle's character and his growth felt incredibly genuine and organic. It was heartening to witness him mature and embrace his true self, especially in the touching plotline about discovering the truth about his brother. The way Ari's family came to terms with it and supported him throughout was truly heartwarming and endearing.
Dante's character was equally captivating, with his aloof and humorous demeanour, balanced by the love and care shown by his family. Throughout the book, Dante's development took some unexpected turns, which added to the depth of his character.
The gradual progression of their relationship from being so different to becoming close friends was undeniably heartwarming. Witnessing their individual growth and the way they supported each other was truly delightful. I couldn't help but adore how Dante fell for Ari first, while Ari himself was initially unaware of his feelings and even denied them. Watching him come to accept himself and embrace his emotions, with the help of his loving family, was incredibly sweet and made the eventual coming together of Dante and Aristotle all the more heartwarming. This book is a beautiful journey of self-discovery and love that left me with a warm and satisfied feeling by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content
hotbitch's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, War, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
nickitaylor915's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz is a beautiful coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, family, and friendship. The book follows the relationship between two young boys, Aristotle and Dante, as they navigate the complexities of growing up in 1980s Texas. The writing is poetic and the emotions are raw, making for a truly impactful reading experience. My only criticism is that the pacing is slow at times, but overall I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and touching read.
4.5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Car accident
Moderate: Violence and Transphobia
Minor: Murder
vr_alyssa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
2017 review:
Those five stars relate to plot. It really got to me. Just a story of two teenagers, best friends, and life in 1987. It's heartbreaking because it's easy to relate to (no matter your gender, race or sexual preference). I really loved this book.
2023 review:
I decided to re-read this book on a whim. I honestly don't know why. I mean, I already had a pile of books I'm currently reading. Simultaneously, I had forgotten how much I love this book. Not because it's eventful, or fast-paced and action packed (like most books I read these days), but because it's so incredibly human. I don't know if I appreciated how beautifully it depicts the teenage condition last time I read this novel, or how it demonstrates how complicated unconditional love can be. But man. I ugly cried a couple times near the end, which caught me off guard. Because I honestly did not remember how much I love this book, just that I loved it.
Those five stars relate to plot. It really got to me. Just a story of two teenagers, best friends, and life in 1987. It's heartbreaking because it's easy to relate to (no matter your gender, race or sexual preference). I really loved this book.
2023 review:
I decided to re-read this book on a whim. I honestly don't know why. I mean, I already had a pile of books I'm currently reading. Simultaneously, I had forgotten how much I love this book. Not because it's eventful, or fast-paced and action packed (like most books I read these days), but because it's so incredibly human. I don't know if I appreciated how beautifully it depicts the teenage condition last time I read this novel, or how it demonstrates how complicated unconditional love can be. But man. I ugly cried a couple times near the end, which caught me off guard. Because I honestly did not remember how much I love this book, just that I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Homophobia, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Murder and Death
redheadorganist's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia, Outing, Pregnancy, Transphobia, War, Animal death, Death, Homophobia, and Sexual content