Scan barcode
A review by book_mark_shelf
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
5.0
I picked up this book because of all the reviews and recommendations that I have been seeing and I have to admit, I’m really glad I did! I would be telling a lie if the cover wasn’t involved either.
The book is about two teenagers, Ari and Dante. They are, in most ways, opposite to each other but there is a similarity that starts a friendship. Ari is a loner with little to no friends and feels that he doesn’t fit in with his peers – and he doesn’t care. He also hold onto a lot of anger because of the secrets that his family hold back from him and the way his father doesn’t have an open conversation with him because of the Vietnam war, making it hard to become close with him. Dante on the other hand is very artistic, loves reading and has a keen interest in philosophy. He also has a great relationship with his parents but questions his heritage a lot. But when they meet at the swimming pool (Ari is learning to swim), Dante offers to teach him to swim, and thus, a friendship was born. Ari found himself reading more, seeking peace in stargazing and laughing a lot more. They were fifteen at this point and both questioning…everything. Their bodies, their relationship with family, the stars and sexual attraction.
Dante knows that he is gay because he has only envisaged himself married to a man, but even though Ari is also gay, he doesn’t come across this until the end of the book. Ari puts himself into certain situations where he cannot explain his actions but towards the end of the book, his parents help him realise why he put himself in the situations and helping him come to terms with his sexuality.
This is a fantastic coming-of-age book that must be read. The book is set in the late 80’s and spans over a couple of years. Ari was the narrator throughout the book and the writing techniques shows his growth throughout the book as he get older and wiser.
The book is about two teenagers, Ari and Dante. They are, in most ways, opposite to each other but there is a similarity that starts a friendship. Ari is a loner with little to no friends and feels that he doesn’t fit in with his peers – and he doesn’t care. He also hold onto a lot of anger because of the secrets that his family hold back from him and the way his father doesn’t have an open conversation with him because of the Vietnam war, making it hard to become close with him. Dante on the other hand is very artistic, loves reading and has a keen interest in philosophy. He also has a great relationship with his parents but questions his heritage a lot. But when they meet at the swimming pool (Ari is learning to swim), Dante offers to teach him to swim, and thus, a friendship was born. Ari found himself reading more, seeking peace in stargazing and laughing a lot more. They were fifteen at this point and both questioning…everything. Their bodies, their relationship with family, the stars and sexual attraction.
Dante knows that he is gay because he has only envisaged himself married to a man, but even though Ari is also gay, he doesn’t come across this until the end of the book. Ari puts himself into certain situations where he cannot explain his actions but towards the end of the book, his parents help him realise why he put himself in the situations and helping him come to terms with his sexuality.
This is a fantastic coming-of-age book that must be read. The book is set in the late 80’s and spans over a couple of years. Ari was the narrator throughout the book and the writing techniques shows his growth throughout the book as he get older and wiser.