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angelo_vossen's review against another edition
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
Moderate: Cancer, Bullying, Homophobia, Alcohol, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, Pregnancy, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Alcohol, Cancer, Terminal illness, Violence, Addiction, and Sexism
apricothopeful's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Homophobia, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness
dying_raptor's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
Anything written by benjamin alire sáenz is automatically a 5/5 in my book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer
sim1blanket's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
bebidocrimes's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
This writing style is kinda choppy, like it's mostly simple sentences, but I guess that's what makes the 450 pages feel like an easy read. Not sure the author really knows any teenagers in real life, but they don't text like that. Who shortens don't to dn't keeping the apostrophe? Besides minor nitpicky things like that, this really was a beautiful book. It was light and heartfelt, but what really hit me was being reminded of last April and everything me and my family went through while my Meemaw was in hospice. Grief really is love with nowhere to go.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Homophobia
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
papercraftalex's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
If you like coming of age novels wrought with emotion and metaphors, you'll love this. Benjamin Alire Saenz has a magical way with words and his characters are always so real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Violence
raesengele's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As much as I enjoyed this book and Benjamin Alire Sáenz's writing, I'm not entirely sure what happened with this one. His writing seems to have taken a bit of a dip compared to his adult novels/short stories. Not that it's bad, don't get me wrong, just not what I'm used to seeing from him. The language is very simplistic with some unnecessary repetition. For instance, on page 5:
And her shoes? Sandals. Sandals? I waited all this time for a pair of sandals she bought at Target?
"Great day," she said, all smiles and enthusiasm.
"Sandals?" I said. "That's what I was waiting for?"
It would have come across just the same if the first bit had simply been, "And her shoes? Sandals." then moved into the dialogue from there. It's nitpicky, I know, but with how simple the language was little things like that just kept standing out.
Other than that, it's beautifully written the way Sáenz's books always are. Quiet and contemplative, exploring human nature through the small mundane moments of life. So, great book, just linguistically not his best.
And her shoes? Sandals. Sandals? I waited all this time for a pair of sandals she bought at Target?
"Great day," she said, all smiles and enthusiasm.
"Sandals?" I said. "That's what I was waiting for?"
It would have come across just the same if the first bit had simply been, "And her shoes? Sandals." then moved into the dialogue from there. It's nitpicky, I know, but with how simple the language was little things like that just kept standing out.
Other than that, it's beautifully written the way Sáenz's books always are. Quiet and contemplative, exploring human nature through the small mundane moments of life. So, great book, just linguistically not his best.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Violence, Terminal illness, Death, and Cancer
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, and Addiction
This is absolutely a book about loss and grief even if the characters are each in a better place by the end.dystopiceyre's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, Homophobia, and Cancer
alylentz's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
2021 reread: I still think this is lovely and warm, but I did realize how slowly it moved this time and maybe wished there was a little more plot driving things along. I don't think I loved it quite as much as the first time, but still found it beautiful and an enjoyable reread.
I probably read this in a little over 24 hours. His style is just so readable and his stories always hook me immediately and I can't put them down. I enjoyed seeing a different kind of plot than Aristotle and Dante (which I loved so much I still think about it probably like every day) but with a lot of similar coming of age and community themes. I couldn't help comparing them, and while I do think that one was probably a better novel overall, this one is still extremely strong. At times things seem to fall into place too easily or there was something about the narration that seemed like it wasn't as natural as A&D, but overall, I got completely sucked in and couldn't predict what was going to happen. And of course, I cried at the end! Anyway, I loved this--it's a quick read that still manages to feel soulful, fresh, and honest.
I probably read this in a little over 24 hours. His style is just so readable and his stories always hook me immediately and I can't put them down. I enjoyed seeing a different kind of plot than Aristotle and Dante (which I loved so much I still think about it probably like every day) but with a lot of similar coming of age and community themes. I couldn't help comparing them, and while I do think that one was probably a better novel overall, this one is still extremely strong. At times things seem to fall into place too easily or there was something about the narration that seemed like it wasn't as natural as A&D, but overall, I got completely sucked in and couldn't predict what was going to happen. And of course, I cried at the end! Anyway, I loved this--it's a quick read that still manages to feel soulful, fresh, and honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
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