A review by brookeisbusyreading
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this book. I like the chapter lengths, sectioning, and writing style…most of the time. The things that don’t hit the mark for me are that the pacing just feels disruptive at times and the characters don’t feel 15 to me. The whole time I was reading I kept thinking Ari and Dante were like 10-12. This book also felt like something I’d read in middle school, MAYBE freshmen year of high school.

Then there’s the “romance”. I feel love from Dante to Ari but I couldn’t register Ari’s love for Dante. Of course I get the whole “you wouldn’t risk your life for someone who was just a friend” thing…yet being in Ari’s mind didn’t scream “I’m in love with Dante”. Maybe that’s just my interpretation of their relationship.

The repetition of sentences between the characters and rambling sentences of nothing got tiresome by the end. Again, maybe it’s just me.

This book was still interesting enough for me to finish it, but I wasn’t thrilled about it. It’s kind of disappointing because I’d heard nothing but positive responses to it. Oh well, I’m still glad I gave it a shot.