Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Saenz
3.5 out of 5 stars
I'm definitely reading out of my comfort zone here.
This is probably my first legit LGBTQ novel ever.
It's a really fluffy book that brought me lots and lots of smiles.
If you're into smiles, regardless of your sexual orientation, this book is for you.
SYNOPSIS
Aristotle's life sucks. He's stuck in a world that's both mundane yet "inscrutable". He is surrounded, and hampered, by the mystery of his jailed brother - the family's skeleton-in-the-closet. The story starts in the last summer of Ari's childhood where he meets Dante, a member of the intellegencia. Because Ari's family is stoutly middle class, Dante's eccentricities offered Ari a glimpse into a world he had never known. Somehow, he couldn't escape being drawn into Dante's world. It's the book's greatest mystery and we spend 90% of the book trying to figure out why Dante appeals so much Ari, when we already really know but it's so much better to drag it on.
WRITING STYLE
The story is all about self-exploration. And no one does it better than Latin American authors. I suspect that their flair for expression is from their already colorful language. It almost makes me want to learn Spanish/Mexican.
Being a YA book, it's understandable that the style is very light and easy to read. It's clear that the book wanted to stay true to its theme of self-awareness and its message that "you are NOT alone". Of course, there's the undertones of "the struggle is real", because not enough of the world understands how it is to be LGBTQ.
CHARACTERS
Fortunately, this book was never preachy. Instead, it gives you an ample amount of scenes to smile about. Both Ari and Dante are nice boys. Ari can be volatile at times, while Dante is flamboyant. Between the two, Dante comes off as the more mature of the two. He had known about his own orientation for a while. On the other hand, Ari is having to come to terms with his feelings or lack thereof.
Through Ari, several misconceptions about being gay was discussed. For example, gays don't kiss girls ever. Or that all gays want to be girls, e.g. dress in girl's clothing. I understand that there is a spectrum for this and I am in no position to discuss it. Being straight, I aim to understand but I also know that I will never fully understand it unless I walk in their shoes (which I would never be able to do fully).
OVERALL
This book was received very well by critiques and readers alike. It has won a list of awards from the LGBTQ community and other literary bodies. I know I should have given this higher rating, at least 4 stars out of 5. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it leaves me hanging. It's like Ari's life has actually just begun. Dante's life took a big turn. Their parents are coming to terms with the boys. There are so many things left to the imagination. I suppose that's part of the charm of the book. Unfortunately, for me, there was just too much of it.
No, I do not need a sequel. What I needed was a richer storyline. I have no doubt that Saenz would still have done the emotional aspects justice even if the storyline was adjusted or lengthened.
He had written in the acknowledgements that this was a difficult book to write. I can imagine how conflicted he must have felt writing this. The book reads like a fairy tale, complete with the happy ending all around. At time, it even reads like a primer for the parents. But there are bad things in the world. Scary things, more than what Ari and Dante had experienced. It must have been heartbreaking to chose the plots/events that would be included in the book.
RECOMMENDATION
I highly recommend this book, especially for teens. Regardless of sexual orientation, they need to read this book in order to understand what others feel. They may not necessarily relate to the characters, but it will give them an idea that people have feelings.
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