Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

160 reviews

robinks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.5

I’m so happy there is a sequel haha. And I want to see the movie! It was difficult for me to understand Ari in the first half of the book or so, but maybe it’s because I don’t have the experience of being a teenage boy growing up under the constraints of toxic masculinity/machismo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

Minor: Death, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Murder, and Pregnancy

genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, and Outing

mayorjesterz's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Medical content

Moderate: Car accident

jadencove's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, and Murder

finchthearcher's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, and Car accident

Minor: Murder and Pregnancy

tearoyale's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, War, and Injury/Injury detail

gabriella_'s review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Benjamin Alire Sáenz put so much heart into this book. I wish I read this when I was a kid - I think I would’ve enjoyed it more when I was younger. The way he writes dialogue is fun. The way he writes emotional availability (and unavailability) feels so textured you can almost touch it. The character dynamics - especially Aristotle’s and Dante’s - have a whimsy that makes you feel young while you’re reading. 

This is a quick read if you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up coming-of-age with substance! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and War

natkbailey's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident

spootilious's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

 

Read: August 21, 2023
 Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe 

Series: Aristotle and Dante#1
 Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz
 Genre: Young Adult
 Rating: 3.5/5
 Review: 

The moment I began reading this book all I could think of was how Benjamin Alire Saenz’s writing style reminded me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Of Love and Other Demons is perhaps one of my favorite magical realism novels I have experienced thus far. And as for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe… It is magical realism at its finest! Perhaps not quite Gabriel Garcia Marquez but I’m not surprised it has won so many rewards. 

Obviously, I find the writing absolutely beautiful. The story, although engaging, had no real plot and tended feel a bit forced with some of its dialog but I was never bored. Overall, it was a simple but beautifully written slice of life. 

I will admit, though, it was not what I expected this book to be. The light hearted young adult LGBT romance I expected turned out to be the study and exploration of it is to be human; of the loving and strained relationships between a parent and their child; of the existence of one’s self outside of expectations both imposed and internal; a study of the complexity of emotions; and a simple coming of age story. This book was all of these things and more…. And less. 

I think (and this is just my opinion) that Benhamin Alire Saenz didn’t write this book to be simply read… but rather to be experienced. While, that sounds simple on the surface it can be a very arduous task for the author and for the reader. Experiences are not universal and thus will not always appeal to some individuals, so I cannot recommend this book to just anyone. 

However… 

If you are one that loves poetic verse, the simplicity of a slice of life novel, or simply wish to try to discover the secrets of your own universe…. I cannot recommend this novel enough. 

 Quotes: 

“Words were different when they lived inside of you.” 

"We all fight our own private wars." 

 

TW: Violence, homophobia, transphobia, foul language, injury, Mentions of Murder, Underage drinking, drug abuse 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

juliaaaaaa's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail