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A review by armandulac
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
4.0
EDIT: REREAD 2/12/17
I will say, I'm not always a huge fan of Saenz's writing style. I think it leaves out a lot of important deatails about how the characters are feeling in important parts. I also understand that his style makes the book easy to fly through, but I also feel like the first time I read this book, I missed out on a lot of the meaning behind Saenz's words because of his style. All in all, a fantastic book with fantastic commentaries on homophobia in the '80s.
It is one of my all time favorites, for I often still feels it's impact, but Saenz's writing style made me dock this one star than I did before. My actual rating would probably be 4.5, though.
ORIGINAL READING (WITH A COUPLE EDITS OKAY)
This book messed me up in the most beautiful way possible. I finished it in two days.
When I started the book, I adored Dante and Ari's friendship. However, I wasn't always a huge fan of Ari's atitude towards himself. I get that that is part of his coming-of-age story, however it made me uncomforatable and sad when he did hate on himself. That is also how I feel when my friends hate on themselves, so maybe it speaks to Saenz's writing style that I cared so much for how his characters felt about themselves. I found it beautiful that this book deals with growing up in all its gross but totally normal ways and how it delt with homophobia.
I was sobbing in this book. And not just like little cries, it was full on ugly crying and snot was dripping down my face.
But, I was also smiling and fangirling. I totally ship Ari and Dante. For all the tears you shed, it is worth it in the amount of LGBT representation there is and especially POC LGBT representation (also in the ship factor it's worth it)
This book will be one of my favorites. Any book that can make me ugly cry deserves credit. Recommend it to everyone (even the homophobic aunts).
ALSO SEQUEL IN WORKS WOOOOOOOOOOO
I will say, I'm not always a huge fan of Saenz's writing style. I think it leaves out a lot of important deatails about how the characters are feeling in important parts.
Spoiler
For example, when Dante and Ari test out kissing on each other, it would leave out a lot of my confusion on how Ari actually felt during that moment. But, Saenz's style skips over it, partly to leave us in suspense for the end, and to also help Ari's confusion at the end when his parents confront him about loving Dante.It is one of my all time favorites, for I often still feels it's impact, but Saenz's writing style made me dock this one star than I did before. My actual rating would probably be 4.5, though.
ORIGINAL READING (WITH A COUPLE EDITS OKAY)
This book messed me up in the most beautiful way possible. I finished it in two days.
When I started the book, I adored Dante and Ari's friendship. However, I wasn't always a huge fan of Ari's atitude towards himself. I get that that is part of his coming-of-age story, however it made me uncomforatable and sad when he did hate on himself. That is also how I feel when my friends hate on themselves, so maybe it speaks to Saenz's writing style that I cared so much for how his characters felt about themselves. I found it beautiful that this book deals with growing up in all its gross but totally normal ways and how it delt with homophobia.
I was sobbing in this book. And not just like little cries, it was full on ugly crying and snot was dripping down my face.
Spoiler
I am a lesbian, so when Dante gets beat up I was crying so hard at that to imagine so much hate. Also, Dante was my fav and I could connect to him more. I also shed some tears at when Dante's mom tells Ari she loves him and it's such a nice moment that I criedBut, I was also smiling and fangirling. I totally ship Ari and Dante. For all the tears you shed, it is worth it in the amount of LGBT representation there is and especially POC LGBT representation (also in the ship factor it's worth it)
Spoiler
I so knew that Ari was jealous of Daniel at the end because he hated him and thought he could do betterThis book will be one of my favorites. Any book that can make me ugly cry deserves credit. Recommend it to everyone (even the homophobic aunts).
ALSO SEQUEL IN WORKS WOOOOOOOOOOO