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Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
34 reviews
kayladaila's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Misogyny, Murder, Outing, and Pregnancy
xoodlebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Cursing, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Terminal illness, and Murder
theskyboi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As Ari & Dante mature, so do their concerns. At the forefront of the novel are their familiar, jovial musings, but they uncover new layers of wonder and fear about what the future may hold as they approach the end of the 20th century. While the story centers on two Mexican-American cis gay teens, Sáenz paints a portrait of a decade steeped in quite a number of social-justice concerns that lie beyond the scope of their lived experiences.
Even in the face of the book's saddest moments, I found myself unable to stop smiling throughout my read. Ari & Dante have a story that can warm even the toughest of hearts. It's with great pleasure that I put another five-star read back on my shelf for safe keeping.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites at Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, and Confinement
wordswoods's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
ARISTOTLE AND DANTE <3 <3 <3
This second book follows Ari and Dante. They have just discovered that they're in love with each other, but in 1980s El Paso, Texas, to be gay is not a walk in the park. The reader follows Ari's story of falling in love and navigating his first relationship, finally making friends and surviving his last year of high school against the backdrop of the raging AIDS pandemic that is on the news all the time.
The story builds up slowly and several plot twists make it to be an interesting story to tell, as we see Ari, Dante and their friends growing up from teens to young adults throughout this last year of school.
Ever the romantic, Benjamin Alire Sáenz uses pensive, reflective writing about big topics that are beautiful, but do sound a bit jarring at times coming from a 17-year-old. As you get used to this as a reader, though, it allows the author to delve into important topics such as homosexuality, feminism, death, relationships with lovers, friends and family, and learning to let go.
A love story from beginning to end, this second novel - just as the first one - isn't just a cheesy tale of some teenagers falling in love. It explores deeper topics and shows the reader experiences that greatly impact these young characters, who try to navigate life among heavy and lighter, day-to-day, problems.
I definitely recommend this if you read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol