Reviews

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

sarahern29's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

This was the sequel I did not know I needed. I am very glad that I chose to finish at home because I went through a TON of tissues after

Ari’s dad died…whew that last 200 pages WRECKED ME

 

simulateblindness's review against another edition

Began to ruin my opinion of the first one.

cowgirlgrace's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

adel_bajzova's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense 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

lotusgreenleaf's review against another edition

5.0

the 2nd half of this book… oh my fucking god i couldn’t stop crying

maddiep0114's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

ritammds's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

edgeofgreatness's review against another edition

4.0

4.5

stefhyena's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I was disappointed because I enjoyed the first one so much and this had potential to add to that (I thought). I wanted to know more about Ari's brother for example and that was one of the disappointing parts. 

This book is too long and tries too hard to be wise and philosophical so that it just ends up dripping with sentiment and repeating itself a lot. To me all the characters now sound the same (I didn't find that so much with the first one). For the first fifth of the book I was trying to say "oh but it's worthwhile, oh but we need queer books) but it was too hard to ignore how bored I was and how much it repeated.

Then also it put women on a pedestal and it tries to call that "feminism" and it really isn't...because all they want to do in the book is cook, be beautiful and emotionally care for people (mainly men). Even though there are a lot of gay men in the book (good) there is not a single queer woman anywhere in it. Characters are so black and white and individual choice is responsible for characters being good or bad. There's a suburban "learn to love your neighbours" theme that is heavily pushed. Just about every character cries because something is supposedly so "meaningful" only as a reader it doesn't feel that way. I feel more show don't tell was needed for some of it, less heavy-handed.

Just....over 500 pages of this? Really??? 

overkill_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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