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A review by ruthypoo2
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe 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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Really fantastic coming-of-age YA book. The author, Benjamin Alire Saenz does an excellent job writing this story in what felt like the genuine voice of 15-year-old Aristotle (Ari) Mendoza. The book is primarily about the formation and development of Ari's relationship with his best friend, Dante Quintana, who enters his life one summer. The book is not only about the deep bond that develops between the two young men, but also the family and social dynamics experienced by each of them, though the story does have only one narrator, Ari.
Though this story is mostly just random conversations between Ari and Dante, the depth of their life experiences is exposed, showing how relationships with parents can mature organically as a child grows up and parents learn to accept their child's new and stronger emotional capacity. For most of the story, Ari is dealt with more personal challenges than Dante, but eventually his comparatively comfortable world takes a hit. The story explores how life challenges can stretch and test the friendships of our youth and responses to hard times reflect the environment in which we're raised, as well as the temperament with which we're born.
The story is a lot of Ari's internal dialogue and interaction with his parents, Dante, Dante's parents, friends, and other characters in the story. Sometimes internal dialogue can be tiresome, but in this case, it's done so well and feels authentic. For adults, especially those who grew up in the eighties, the content of the book is quite relatable.
This was a lovely story and I'm excited to continue reading about these two in Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World. I found the characters and their parents so enjoyable, with all their wounds and optimism only making them feel more human. There's lots of humor in the casual observations of life throughout the story. This is one of my favorites, made by a character who is injured and staying in hospital:
I learned that nurses liked to make small talk and were in love with taking your vitals. That's what they did. They gave you a pill to help you sleep, then they woke you up all night.
I listened to the audiobook with narration by Lin-Manuel Miranda whose voice and reading fit the characters of this book incredibly well. I also read the digital version which includes a preview of two other books by Benjamin Alire Saenz - Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World AND He Forgot to Say Goodbye.
Though this story is mostly just random conversations between Ari and Dante, the depth of their life experiences is exposed, showing how relationships with parents can mature organically as a child grows up and parents learn to accept their child's new and stronger emotional capacity. For most of the story, Ari is dealt with more personal challenges than Dante, but eventually his comparatively comfortable world takes a hit. The story explores how life challenges can stretch and test the friendships of our youth and responses to hard times reflect the environment in which we're raised, as well as the temperament with which we're born.
The story is a lot of Ari's internal dialogue and interaction with his parents, Dante, Dante's parents, friends, and other characters in the story. Sometimes internal dialogue can be tiresome, but in this case, it's done so well and feels authentic. For adults, especially those who grew up in the eighties, the content of the book is quite relatable.
This was a lovely story and I'm excited to continue reading about these two in Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World. I found the characters and their parents so enjoyable, with all their wounds and optimism only making them feel more human. There's lots of humor in the casual observations of life throughout the story. This is one of my favorites, made by a character who is injured and staying in hospital:
I learned that nurses liked to make small talk and were in love with taking your vitals. That's what they did. They gave you a pill to help you sleep, then they woke you up all night.
I listened to the audiobook with narration by Lin-Manuel Miranda whose voice and reading fit the characters of this book incredibly well. I also read the digital version which includes a preview of two other books by Benjamin Alire Saenz - Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World AND He Forgot to Say Goodbye.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Injury/Injury detail