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A review by ezrasupremacy
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
2.0
2.5 ⭐️
look, i really wanted to enjoy this, i went in *expecting* to enjoy this because i know i loved book one when i read it some time between six and eight years ago, and i’m sure i would’ve liked this book too had i read it when i was a teenager, but reading this at 21 felt like torture.
the only part i liked was the information about the aids pandemic, because as someone who’s far removed from that time it’s very interesting to read the perspective of someone who was there.
that aside i have to admit that my tastes just changed, and my first hurdle was that i hate the writing style and i hate first person narrators. my second hurdle was that every single comment made about growing up and mental health (related) stuff made me roll my eyes. if i had read this when i was a depressed teen on tumblr i’m sure i would’ve gained something from it, but as someone who’s been through years of therapy and healing it all just fell very flat. literally not a single one of the emotional scenes made me feel anything other than detachment.
and that aside, the plot - why the fuck did we have the first like 40% be about their summer break and then in the last 30 pages they break up and get back together? i was actually shaking my head at that point because i was like, how the fuck is this happening now.
sorry to everyone who loved this book i’m glad you enjoyed it, i genuinely wish i had too
look, i really wanted to enjoy this, i went in *expecting* to enjoy this because i know i loved book one when i read it some time between six and eight years ago, and i’m sure i would’ve liked this book too had i read it when i was a teenager, but reading this at 21 felt like torture.
the only part i liked was the information about the aids pandemic, because as someone who’s far removed from that time it’s very interesting to read the perspective of someone who was there.
that aside i have to admit that my tastes just changed, and my first hurdle was that i hate the writing style and i hate first person narrators. my second hurdle was that every single comment made about growing up and mental health (related) stuff made me roll my eyes. if i had read this when i was a depressed teen on tumblr i’m sure i would’ve gained something from it, but as someone who’s been through years of therapy and healing it all just fell very flat. literally not a single one of the emotional scenes made me feel anything other than detachment.
and that aside, the plot - why the fuck did we have the first like 40% be about their summer break and then in the last 30 pages they break up and get back together? i was actually shaking my head at that point because i was like, how the fuck is this happening now.
sorry to everyone who loved this book i’m glad you enjoyed it, i genuinely wish i had too