Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
245 reviews
sweetrosegirl76's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I go back and forth with how I wanna rate this. 3.5? 4? I lean towards 4 bc I liked it, and it was really poetic and beautiful in so many parts, but then I compare to other books I've gives 4 stars too and I wouldn't say I like this more than those... Idk I'm really torn on my analysis of the book which is why I'm hiding it under the spoiler tag in goodreads lol
Some parts made me cry, esp the teacher letter. Wow. It was so beautiful. This book feels like a love letter I think that's why I rounded to a 4 on goodreads
Idk about you, but you know how you can tell a book was written during covid? 😂 after the awakening of america? Idk how to explain this; my only other example coming to mind is The Extraordinaries book 1 and 2, but I think I did read another that gave those vibes. I don't know how to explain this because it's such a weird vibe, but what I mean by this is that the we talk about race, social issues, racism in books taking place in America is such a different way pre and post 2020. I don't think it's a bad thing because these are conversations that we should be having. I can just tell when the author realizes it should have been a part of the book from jump and that they want to suddenly include this in their work bc it does feel forced or too much when i read it after the fact. I can't tell when the author themselves has changed, which is, of course, a great thing. It's just something I notice, and I noticed it here. This book is supposed to take place in 1986? 88? If it wasn't included in the first book, so it's presence is very much noticed. Again, it's not a bad thing to include, I'm purely speaking of a technical writing perspective.
There was a lot of wisdom in this book reguarding the topics I just mentioned and honestly about life too, which is why I want to give this book a little bit of a higher rating, but then when I think about the plot I'm kind of like was there one? I didn't really know the direction where this book was going VS I felt like with the first one. There was a little bit more of a journey, but at the same time there is a journey that's happening here, I guess it was just kind of harder to see? I feel so conflicted because I feel like even this is not a good or fair thing to say because Aristotle went through such a journey when it came coming out of a shell and allowing himself to be loved like there is definitely some great character development here, all because of Dante and Aristotle's love for him. That is beautiful.
There are beautiful and poetic lines, its a soft book, its a loving book, with loving characters, and loving relationships. There is so much wisdom, love, heart, and soul in this book which is why I wanna give it a 4, but then I think about just the story itself and I think about doing a 3 bc of previously mentioned points about post 2020 writing and what is the plot. The running metaphor and theme about the cartographers of the world was kind of overplayed and tired imo it was getting SLIGHTLY annoying bc it's just not how teens talk.
Some parts made me cry, esp the teacher letter. Wow. It was so beautiful. This book feels like a love letter I think that's why I rounded to a 4 on goodreads
Idk about you, but you know how you can tell a book was written during covid? 😂 after the awakening of america? Idk how to explain this; my only other example coming to mind is The Extraordinaries book 1 and 2, but I think I did read another that gave those vibes. I don't know how to explain this because it's such a weird vibe, but what I mean by this is that the we talk about race, social issues, racism in books taking place in America is such a different way pre and post 2020. I don't think it's a bad thing because these are conversations that we should be having. I can just tell when the author realizes it should have been a part of the book from jump and that they want to suddenly include this in their work bc it does feel forced or too much when i read it after the fact. I can't tell when the author themselves has changed, which is, of course, a great thing. It's just something I notice, and I noticed it here. This book is supposed to take place in 1986? 88? If it wasn't included in the first book, so it's presence is very much noticed. Again, it's not a bad thing to include, I'm purely speaking of a technical writing perspective.
There was a lot of wisdom in this book reguarding the topics I just mentioned and honestly about life too, which is why I want to give this book a little bit of a higher rating, but then when I think about the plot I'm kind of like was there one? I didn't really know the direction where this book was going VS I felt like with the first one. There was a little bit more of a journey, but at the same time there is a journey that's happening here, I guess it was just kind of harder to see? I feel so conflicted because I feel like even this is not a good or fair thing to say because Aristotle went through such a journey when it came coming out of a shell and allowing himself to be loved like there is definitely some great character development here, all because of Dante and Aristotle's love for him. That is beautiful.
There are beautiful and poetic lines, its a soft book, its a loving book, with loving characters, and loving relationships. There is so much wisdom, love, heart, and soul in this book which is why I wanna give it a 4, but then I think about just the story itself and I think about doing a 3 bc of previously mentioned points about post 2020 writing and what is the plot. The running metaphor and theme about the cartographers of the world was kind of overplayed and tired imo it was getting SLIGHTLY annoying bc it's just not how teens talk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Minor: Hate crime, Racism, Cursing, and Transphobia
eveofthestars's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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'm so sad I finished this book and yet I didn't want to put it down. I flew through this book, I read it in one weekend and throughout it I thought: "I want to read this book forever, I don't want to do anything else and above all I don't want it to end." I don't think I'll ever find books as beautiful as these, that speak to me in such a way. I could praise the writing for days — you can feel the poet in Sáenz and it's part of what makes these books so gorgeous. I'm so happy to see the journey Ari went through, with all its hardships, and the person he's becoming. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go grieve the fact that there're no more books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: War, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
heidipretzel's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia, Violence, and Deadnaming
d00rframe's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
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? No
4.5
I love this book!! its so sad yet comforting? highly recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Grief, Cursing, Abandonment, Death of parent, Homophobia, Dysphoria, and Bullying
Moderate: Violence, Transphobia, Murder, Hate crime, Chronic illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Gun violence
kjm9773's review
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Cursing, Homophobia, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Murder, Suicide, and Transphobia
sammymilfort's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Vomit, Bullying, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Medical content, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Car accident
I love Ari and Dante so much! I am conflicted how I feel because this series and story means so much to me, and it felt like a 5 star to me. Ari’s growth was so beautiful to see. Benjamin’s writing will always tug at my heartrings At the same time, I understand there is a nuance and problematic aspects to these characters that make it questionable and uncomfortable for people to read To me Ari and Dante are imperfect people who can learn from their views and our curious about the world I wish Saènez took from a note of compassion and love that he imposed on his characters into his own world view. The hate he has shown towards the trans/gender nonconforming community is honestly unacceptable and goes against many of the themes he writes about in his book. I am not part of this community but I stand with the community, who has given this author many chances to change or apologize and learn from his behavior, but he has shown no heart to some of the harmful damage he has has done After this I am no longer reading any books by this authoryasidiaz's review
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
Ari and Dante are another pair that has made a permanent home in my heart, and I can't be mad about it.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe will forever be my favorite one between both books, but this sequel is so much more than I could have asked for. I cried so much with this book, perhaps more than the first one. Seeing the internal struggles of Ari, especially while being a gay teen at the height of the AIDS pandemic, broke me but felt necessary.
I love the way we see Ari grow, how he matures as a person, and how he learns to love himself and be loved. I love the emphasis that just because he and Dante love each other, doesn't mean they are or have to be perfect, that they will always be learning and growing as men. And as much as I love romance, I love a story that puts as much emphasis on the friendships and familial relationships, as much or more than the romantic ones.
Most importantly, the love their parents had for Ari and Dante will always be dear to me. I am glad this never turned into a story where the gay kids had to deal with homophobic parents. Those things happen and we have many stories touching those lived experiences. But the reminder that not every parent, even in the 80's, is going to turn their back on their children is revolutionary. And as a Latine person, who had to grow up with media portraying Latine parents as unsupportive and downright abusive, representation like this is even more needed.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe will forever be my favorite one between both books, but this sequel is so much more than I could have asked for. I cried so much with this book, perhaps more than the first one. Seeing the internal struggles of Ari, especially while being a gay teen at the height of the AIDS pandemic, broke me but felt necessary.
I love the way we see Ari grow, how he matures as a person, and how he learns to love himself and be loved. I love the emphasis that just because he and Dante love each other, doesn't mean they are or have to be perfect, that they will always be learning and growing as men. And as much as I love romance, I love a story that puts as much emphasis on the friendships and familial relationships, as much or more than the romantic ones.
Most importantly, the love their parents had for Ari and Dante will always be dear to me. I am glad this never turned into a story where the gay kids had to deal with homophobic parents. Those things happen and we have many stories touching those lived experiences. But the reminder that not every parent, even in the 80's, is going to turn their back on their children is revolutionary. And as a Latine person, who had to grow up with media portraying Latine parents as unsupportive and downright abusive, representation like this is even more needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent
Moderate: Transphobia
jnreads's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Death of parent
Moderate: Transphobia
delisouseyelids's review
emotional
inspiring
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: Death, Medical content, Misogyny, Violence, War, Alcohol, Car accident, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Child death, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Transphobia, and Cursing
kristin_kk05's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia