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A review by acxjkc
Aristote et Dante découvrent les secrets de l'Univers by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I first read this book at 14, when the French translation was published. I was a lost teen who didn't have any friends, didn't know who I was, didn't how to be a man and didn't how to fit in in this world. Suffice to say, I devoured the book in one setting. I adored it. It made me feel less alone, like there was someone out there who would understand me. And it made me feel hopeful, which I desperately needed at that time.
I am now 20 and I decided to read this book once more. I'm an emotional mess now that I've finished it. I don't know if I love the book purely for what it is, or because it's opened a window to the child that I was. Probably both. Every few pages I got emotional because I remembered my younger self relating to the characters, their struggles, their relationships. In a lot of ways, I was very similar to Aristotle and Dante, and when I wanted to give them a hug I also wanted to hug 14-year-old me and tell him it'd get better.
I'm very sensible to poetic imagery, and I think this book was full of it. Maybe the philosophical reflections aren't that deep, but they're from a 15-year-old character, and they felt very real to me at that same age. Thinking about your place in the universe, your body, your family, your future, your friends... it's paramount in the life of a teenager, and I feel like the author transcribed that well.
It may not be the book of the century, it may not have the best writing I'll ever read, but it's definitely a touching, sincere book that will stick with me forever.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of the transphobic attack that is mentioned, which I feel was completely useless and violent for no good reason.
I am now 20 and I decided to read this book once more. I'm an emotional mess now that I've finished it. I don't know if I love the book purely for what it is, or because it's opened a window to the child that I was. Probably both. Every few pages I got emotional because I remembered my younger self relating to the characters, their struggles, their relationships. In a lot of ways, I was very similar to Aristotle and Dante, and when I wanted to give them a hug I also wanted to hug 14-year-old me and tell him it'd get better.
I'm very sensible to poetic imagery, and I think this book was full of it. Maybe the philosophical reflections aren't that deep, but they're from a 15-year-old character, and they felt very real to me at that same age. Thinking about your place in the universe, your body, your family, your future, your friends... it's paramount in the life of a teenager, and I feel like the author transcribed that well.
It may not be the book of the century, it may not have the best writing I'll ever read, but it's definitely a touching, sincere book that will stick with me forever.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of the transphobic attack that is mentioned, which I feel was completely useless and violent for no good reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Car accident
Moderate: Transphobia