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A review by sparky_young_upstart
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a really good read. It's rare that I come across a book that has so much raw emotion inside it. I think part of that is because this book...it kind of feels like a poem (which makes sense, since the author has a background in poetry). Shorter chapters, a lot of them consisting only of dialogue between Ari and Dante, really gives you the full effect of the impact the two have on each others lives.
It also helps keep the pace, which is good; in the hands of a less talented writer this book would have stagnated around the middle where Dante leaves for Chicago. But Sáenz is able to keep Dante's spirit in the story through his letters and through Ari's own personal conflicts.
I loved the relationships between Ari and his parents, and Dante and his parents, and the two families with each other. They were real and honest and helped keep the characters feeling alive in the story.
One thing I will say is that this book is written with a Mexican audience in mind - plenty of untranslated Spanish, and a lot of discussions between Dante and Ari about Mexican identity and whether the former could even consider himself Mexican because of his upbringing and lighter skin (Dante says no, Ari says yes). This didn't detract from my reading at all, even though I am a white guy. Sure, some of the stuff went over my head because it's simply not my culture, but those conversations still helped develop the bonds between Ari and Dante, or Ari and his parents, or Ari and any of the other Mexican members of the neighbourhood. That other readers can get more out of this book than I can is simply icing on an already awesome cake.
It also helps keep the pace, which is good; in the hands of a less talented writer this book would have stagnated around the middle where Dante leaves for Chicago. But Sáenz is able to keep Dante's spirit in the story through his letters and through Ari's own personal conflicts.
I loved the relationships between Ari and his parents, and Dante and his parents, and the two families with each other. They were real and honest and helped keep the characters feeling alive in the story.
One thing I will say is that this book is written with a Mexican audience in mind - plenty of untranslated Spanish, and a lot of discussions between Dante and Ari about Mexican identity and whether the former could even consider himself Mexican because of his upbringing and lighter skin (Dante says no, Ari says yes). This didn't detract from my reading at all, even though I am a white guy. Sure, some of the stuff went over my head because it's simply not my culture, but those conversations still helped develop the bonds between Ari and Dante, or Ari and his parents, or Ari and any of the other Mexican members of the neighbourhood. That other readers can get more out of this book than I can is simply icing on an already awesome cake.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia