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Reviews tagging 'Death'
Arystoteles i Dante przepadają w toni życia by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
131 reviews
carrot2025's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. I think I managed to love it more the first one which I didn't think was possible. It was absolutely amazing seeing the journey of these two as they faced their first real gay relationship during the aids pandemic. Watching as they question their love and struggle to find happiness in a world that is too quick to cast them aside. I especially loved the ending. Seeing their relationship tested and them proving that no matter what, they will always be with each other and love and care for each other.
I can not recommend these series enough. It's the absolute perfect story.
I can not recommend these series enough. It's the absolute perfect story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Murder, Death of parent, and Homophobia
I can not stress enough how beautiful this story handles topics that most would fail at. It takes every moment and uses it as a lesson, not just for shock value. Seeing Ari grapple with just what his brother did at the same time as he's watching the world ignore the aids pandemic was just heartbreaking. Adding in the unfortunateannabella's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book and so maybe it was right place right time but I really liked this book. I found it deeply emotional - a critique of the first for me was it was too dialogue heavy, though this was years ago. Here there were beautiful metaphors and I admit I had to just lean into some of the dramatic existential language of Ari but leaning into that made me love it and him, he had such strong character growth. The exploration into AIDS added another element for me and it was refreshing to have a queer love story which gave just as much love and focus to making supportive parents (although this was also heartbreaking at points), and it made me so angry at the world. A book that I was excited to pick up each evening and knew the tears would be flowing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Deadnaming
joisaddler's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Moderate: Death
robinks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.25
The pacing of this book was really strange, as there were parts I didn’t think needed to be drawn out so much and others that I wish could’ve been drawn out more. I liked the new characters and what the book had to show about platonic intimacy. I also liked how we got to see the teens empowered to advocate for themselves and each other. What I didn’t like was how the relationship between Dante & Ari progressed, and I think part of it was due to the fact that Ari seemed to be a totally different person from the first book. If we had seen more of his growth, it would’ve been more believable. Also, I don’t know if I liked Miranda as the narrator of the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Deadnaming, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Cursing
Minor: Murder, Hate crime, Sexual content, Outing, and War
davbat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
Amazing and made me cry on the bus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
Moderate: Transphobia, War, Death of parent, and Death
shirarweiss's review against another edition
challenging
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
This is the most beautiful book I’ve ever read. Ari is so raw and I feel like we share a soul. Ari tells me it is okay to love, to cry, to feel it all. This book is all that it is to be human. This book will live in my heart forever. I am grateful to have read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Transphobia, War, Homophobia, Bullying, and Death of parent
kirsten_marie's review against another edition
2.25
I had so high hopes for this one because I loved the first book so much. It had this special atmosphere to it, and I couldn't keep myself from caring deeply for those boys and their story. sadly, I feel all that is lost after reading the sequel.
From the beginning, the writing felt awkward and as the author has tried to compose some beautiful text, but completely missed the mark in the process. It is an extreme case of tell and not show. It felt like watching a bad play. The characters only play their roles and never feel like fully developed souls. There is little to no emotional build-up in serious scenes either. It lacks subtlety and depth. Only on a number of pages I could count on my fingers did I feel invested in the story. I would also argue that there are several very illogical choices and events. 90% of it's entirety is also direct dialogue, which I find unbearably dull.
Should have DNFed this one, but I'm too f*ing stubborn.
From the beginning, the writing felt awkward and as the author has tried to compose some beautiful text, but completely missed the mark in the process. It is an extreme case of tell and not show. It felt like watching a bad play. The characters only play their roles and never feel like fully developed souls. There is little to no emotional build-up in serious scenes either. It lacks subtlety and depth. Only on a number of pages I could count on my fingers did I feel invested in the story. I would also argue that there are several very illogical choices and events. 90% of it's entirety is also direct dialogue, which I find unbearably dull.
Should have DNFed this one, but I'm too f*ing stubborn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Violence, and Transphobia
carterm00's review against another edition
dark
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Murder, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
tacoshark's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Sigh. I’m mad at this book for existing. I enjoyed the first book but this one - utterly unnecessary and so sentimental that it tipped over into self-indulgence. There were several points where I was literally talking back to the book, usually saying “wtaf?!” It desperately needed editing or at least some sense of purpose. If you liked the first one, maybe stop there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Death
lambclown's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
3.0
Not everything has to be so profound and i found it really unrealistic the way everyone talked to each other. too poetic. but im also a jaded old bitch
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: War
Minor: Murder and Transphobia