Towers of Books Come Tumbling Down!
I love all kinds of books! For all my friends, I am known on GR as Alicja. I don't stick with a genre, that's boring. Instead you'll get reviews from the most random assortment of fiction and non-fiction works. It's probably due to my interests being as eclectic as my book tastes.
I'm a girlfriend-loving bisexual, science fiction geek, PC gamer, historical fiction devourer, hiker, atheist, history buff, opera lover, vegetarian, kayaker, metal and hard rock concert goer, science nerd, politics debater, world traveler, M/M romance fan, and I have the ability to transform from an adult-like hard-working professional into a screaming fangirl in five seconds flat.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: Aristotle (Ari), a Mexican-American teen, lives in a secretive family with a distant father and sisters, a brother is prison, and an odd relationship with his mother. Feeling lonely, different and without any friends, he drifted through life until one day at the pool a boy named Dante asked Ari if he wanted to learn how to swim. The relationship they would develop will change their lives.
Review: This highly introspective, melancholy, and beautiful tale delves deep inside Ari's mind as his life moves through summers and school, friendship with Dante, family relationships, and unlocking family secrets.
The story is very well written, although a bit repetitive. The style of writing is simple but had a poetic feel to it. It is an easy and enjoyable read through teen boys' discovery and themselves, their lives, and their sexuality.
However, I didn't like the ending much (fine, I like the last chapter but not the preceding chapters). The ending was too short and it would have been more satisfying if it had been given the opportunity to develop like the rest of the story, and if Ari had been given the opportunity to discover it himself.
That said, it was still a very good read and it only took about five hours to get through. I'd still recommend it, especially to younger teens that may be struggling with finding themselves and questioning their sexual orientation.