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A review by v_larr
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
3.0
I bet I would’ve loved this book when I was younger. It feels like it tries very hard to sound pretty sometimes, and have some meaningful lessons, but I couldn’t get the thought of “r/im14andthisisdeep” out of my head.
However, I feel like it is an accurate insight to a teenager’s head. As you grow up you start to question things and overthink and it’s perfectly valid. And going through the things these kids went through…well, yeah it makes a lot of sense.
Easy to read with short paragraphs and chapters. I read it in one sitting. I started listening to the audiobook like three years ago narrated by Lin Manuel Miranda and I think that was the beginning of my hatred for that man. I just don’t like hearing him.
The only big issue I have with the book itself is that I couldn’t get Ari’s love for Dante. And before you come at me with the “man’s jumped into a moving car for him” I know this. But I’m like, yeah but he could’ve just done that as a friend.
Hear me out, I do understand that they love each other and they have this really deep bond. Like, I thought it was really well done in that sense. But I just didn’t see it as romantic. I think what happened was the book was so successful at getting into Ari’s overthinking and oblivious head that even I, as a reader, was oblivious of his feelings. I guess it’s like the author was just too successful in that sense.
I did enjoy reading the book and I may or may not pick up the sequel.
However, I feel like it is an accurate insight to a teenager’s head. As you grow up you start to question things and overthink and it’s perfectly valid. And going through the things these kids went through…well, yeah it makes a lot of sense.
Easy to read with short paragraphs and chapters. I read it in one sitting. I started listening to the audiobook like three years ago narrated by Lin Manuel Miranda and I think that was the beginning of my hatred for that man. I just don’t like hearing him.
The only big issue I have with the book itself is that I couldn’t get Ari’s love for Dante. And before you come at me with the “man’s jumped into a moving car for him” I know this. But I’m like, yeah but he could’ve just done that as a friend.
Hear me out, I do understand that they love each other and they have this really deep bond. Like, I thought it was really well done in that sense. But I just didn’t see it as romantic. I think what happened was the book was so successful at getting into Ari’s overthinking and oblivious head that even I, as a reader, was oblivious of his feelings. I guess it’s like the author was just too successful in that sense.
I did enjoy reading the book and I may or may not pick up the sequel.