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Reviews tagging 'Grief'
Arystoteles i Dante przepadają w toni życia by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
158 reviews
chris_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, and Racism
Minor: Terminal illness, Deadnaming, and Religious bigotry
bookwormbi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.5
I'm so amazed by the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda is probably the worst audiobook reader I've ever experienced, and yet the beauty and passion of this work still shined through. I cried reading this so many times. I loved all of the characters so much. Ari's character development from the beginning of Secrets of the Universe to this is truly such a marvel to behold. Saenz is a gift to this world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Racism, and Homophobia
Minor: Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Cursing, and Misogyny
nomoneyallcowboy's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Grief, and Transphobia
Minor: Drug use
vanessa_v'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
2.0
i had such high expectations from this book and it just disappointed me, even the writing was off. i liked the story and the development of all the characters but the book was slow and really hard to get into and i think this sequel was a bit unnecessary
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Transphobia
Minor: Deadnaming
sparkinspace's review against another edition
emotional
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 book is magical and so good. It makes me happy and sad and joyful and scared all at the same time. The writing is definitely the best part, I had to sit with a pencil so I could underline all of the beautiful words and there were many!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Violence
meleac07's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
One of the absolute books I’ve ever read. This book makes me so full of peace and it comforted me in every moment I read it. This is one of those books that makes me think differently. One of those books that has a lasting impact on me. Everything from the characters to the setting to the plot was so gorgeously done. Absolutely magnificent in every way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Grief
Minor: War, Sexual content, and Deadnaming
diana_raquel's review against another edition
emotional
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
2.75
*2.75 stars*
"I thought he was only going to teach me how to swim in the waters of this swimming pool. Instead, he taught me how to dive into the waters of life"
I really wanted to like this. When I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I knew I was going to love that book from the first paragraph. This one? Not so much.
Thematically speaking, this book follows the same themes that its predecessor, which makes sense, since this is a sequel. We continue to see the internal struggles of the characters regarding heritage, friendship, their relationship with family, the future, and their sexuality. In a few ways, this book, just like its predecessor, challenges the notions that society has about ethnicity, family, friendship, and love but, most importantly, it challenges the idea of what makes and means to be a man.
So, if this is a continuation of a story that I absolutely adored, why this rating? Well, this is why coming-of-age stories shouldn't have a sequel. At least, in my opinion. Because, how do you follow that? With another coming-of-age story? Haven't the characters come of age, yet? Look, I understand, the first book left enough space for more character development. And, for the most part, there's strong character development in this book. The problem? If the first book was the most perfect movie ever made in Hollywood, this was the cheap Walmart version. It's boring. I only enjoyed the last 30% of the book. And, honestly, I didn't like the ending. I think that Ari and Dante shouldn't have gotten together in Paris. I think it would make more sense, within the setting of a coming-of-age story, when the character is clearly entering a new phase in their life. Yes, it's cute and romantic! And also predictable. And boring.
I absolutely recommend the first book. This one not so much. It's boring. It tries to capture the essence of the first one but it fails. I'm only giving a 2.75-star rating because I do recognize the strong character development.
"I thought he was only going to teach me how to swim in the waters of this swimming pool. Instead, he taught me how to dive into the waters of life"
I really wanted to like this. When I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I knew I was going to love that book from the first paragraph. This one? Not so much.
Thematically speaking, this book follows the same themes that its predecessor, which makes sense, since this is a sequel. We continue to see the internal struggles of the characters regarding heritage, friendship, their relationship with family, the future, and their sexuality. In a few ways, this book, just like its predecessor, challenges the notions that society has about ethnicity, family, friendship, and love but, most importantly, it challenges the idea of what makes and means to be a man.
So, if this is a continuation of a story that I absolutely adored, why this rating? Well, this is why coming-of-age stories shouldn't have a sequel. At least, in my opinion. Because, how do you follow that? With another coming-of-age story? Haven't the characters come of age, yet? Look, I understand, the first book left enough space for more character development. And, for the most part, there's strong character development in this book. The problem? If the first book was the most perfect movie ever made in Hollywood, this was the cheap Walmart version. It's boring. I only enjoyed the last 30% of the book. And, honestly, I didn't like the ending. I think that Ari and Dante shouldn't have gotten together in Paris. I think it would make more sense, within the setting of a coming-of-age story, when the character is clearly entering a new phase in their life. Yes, it's cute and romantic! And also predictable. And boring.
I absolutely recommend the first book. This one not so much. It's boring. It tries to capture the essence of the first one but it fails. I'm only giving a 2.75-star rating because I do recognize the strong character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Hate crime, Outing, Transphobia, War, and Mental illness
forrestalexander'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Homophobia, Grief, and Transphobia
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Deadnaming
heavenssnat'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
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe has been my favourite book and my comfort book for so long. I absolutely loved the story and the flawed way the main character was thinking and I loved the focus on the characters.
This sequel is wonderful. Most of the book is Ari coming into himself, learning to accept love and parts of himself and getting to know his parents, really knowing them. He learns to love more openly, to let people in and to grow up. After reading three fourths of it I knew there was something incredibly heartbreaking coming. It was a bit predictable, I guessed what could've happened even just reading the synopsis, even though I hoped for the best. I cried a lot and was so sad, but the way it was handled was so beautiful. The author has a way of describing what it's like to deal with loss, in all it's different ways, and it's beautiful.
The ending was heartbreaking. Not in the way that I cried, but in a way that that was and still is the reality for people of the LGBTQ+ community. The uncertainty of our futures never really goes away.
I kind of hoped for an ending that wasn't left open like that, I kind of wanted it to be a closed and happy ending. But I know that that's just not the way this author writes. None of his books that I've read so far have had a very closed and specific ending. It's more like a "everything will be ok, life is scary, let's see where it takes us and enjoy it while we can".
I know that some of my thoughts on this book will change with time, just like they always do. But even though I was terrified of reading this, scared of it ruining the happiness the first book gave me, I am really happy that I read it.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz writes stories that are just so heartbreakingly beautiful.
This sequel is wonderful. Most of the book is Ari coming into himself, learning to accept love and parts of himself and getting to know his parents, really knowing them. He learns to love more openly, to let people in and to grow up. After reading three fourths of it I knew there was something incredibly heartbreaking coming. It was a bit predictable, I guessed what could've happened even just reading the synopsis, even though I hoped for the best. I cried a lot and was so sad, but the way it was handled was so beautiful. The author has a way of describing what it's like to deal with loss, in all it's different ways, and it's beautiful.
The ending was heartbreaking. Not in the way that I cried, but in a way that that was and still is the reality for people of the LGBTQ+ community. The uncertainty of our futures never really goes away.
I kind of hoped for an ending that wasn't left open like that, I kind of wanted it to be a closed and happy ending. But I know that that's just not the way this author writes. None of his books that I've read so far have had a very closed and specific ending. It's more like a "everything will be ok, life is scary, let's see where it takes us and enjoy it while we can".
I know that some of my thoughts on this book will change with time, just like they always do. But even though I was terrified of reading this, scared of it ruining the happiness the first book gave me, I am really happy that I read it.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz writes stories that are just so heartbreakingly beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Minor: Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Bullying
Transphobia:shoni's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I have so many emotions and thoughts going through me that I can’t even put them into words. I was taken away by the first book but this sequel just took it to a whole new level. It brought in a new perspective of how important it is to surround yourself with people who love and understand you. How important it is to be your true self because otherwise, you are just living a life that’s a lie, a life that is making both you and others around you unhappy.
In the book, I already knew that I related to Ari. That his struggles were essentially my own struggles that I’ve been aware of over the last few months/years. Yet in this book, we really saw Ari’s character development and just how hard it is to grow up in a world that has so much hatred in it. While I was reading I just kept taking pictures and underlining so many passages because it felt like a direct look into my life. Like so much that one of the conversations Ari had with his friends I had with a friend a day before I got to the part. So I realized that we are essentially living the same life. But his character development was just written so beautifully. It wasn’t just him getting better and better, he had his moments where we went back down. And that’s how life is. High moments are followed by low moments and low moments are followed by high. I also love how it was shown that trauma can cause you to forget things at times. To not remember things but in bits and pieces.
It also made me realize in said low moments, shutting myself out from everyone I know isn’t helping anyone. That being surrounded by love and reminders of how these moments will pass makes the biggest difference. This story does such a wonderful job of reminding you that teenagers are stupid but also they are the only ones who can do anything. Even when you don’t agree, it’s around that time when you discover who you are and what you want to be. And no one excepts that to be easy. Also seeing how Ari dealt with the loss of his father and how that shaped him meant so much to me as I just experienced so much loss in my life. And seeing how he dealt with it, the words he used, and how he realized that living in the past and being consumed by sadness isn't helping anyone. That we have to keep moving forward and live for them instead was so personal to me and I loved it.
The friendships shown here also show that you cannot always know what’s going on in others' minds, but they will be there in times of need. That your friends will know what you need even if you don’t know it. Just seeing Ari take control of his life and seeing his friendship with Cassandra was also one of my favorites as it showed that she was the friend who never pushed and cared. She understood him on a deeper level without having to talk and physically say something so special and I want that.
I just really love seeing this and made me realize how much my friends actually mean to me and how much of a difference they made in my life.
I just really love seeing this and made me realize how much my friends actually mean to me and how much of a difference they made in my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Transphobia and Racism
Minor: Deadnaming