Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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I closed my eyes. I guess that was going to be my new thing. I couldn't exactly storm away in anger. I'd just have to close my eyes and shut out the universe.
- Ari and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin A. Sánez
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One word: Beautiful.
Aristotle and Dante.
Very different in personality, with the exception that they are both loners.
Of course, they become best friends.
We follow both these boys in becoming men in this spectacular coming of age novel.
When I said beautiful, I was so not kidding! The author's writing style was reaaally nice. It wasn't really 'poetic', in a Markus Zusak sort of way, but it held this very weird sadness throughout the book that set the mood pretty well. You should see my quote book I probably used eight pages for this book hehe. Cassie's Book of Deepness. (Yes that's my actual title *flicks hair*)
Aristotle:
I renamed myself Ari. If I switched the letter, my name was Air. I thought it might be a great thing to be the air. I could be something and nothing at the same time. I could be necessary and also invisible.
That about sums his character up. Wants to be necessary, but also invisible. Since he's our narrator, it's only so that we know more about him than Dante. Ari was a sad character, to be honest.. He can't help it, but he's a sad person! Always more of a 'half empty' sort of guy. But you could relate to him really well because his emotions were raaaww. I loved seeing his development as a person throughout the book :D
Dante:
'He needs a friend. Everybody needs a friend.'
Dante was more confusing. He was more complex, and had loads of different sides to him. Ari too, but it wasn't as brought out. I liked him as well! He was just really innocent and everything.
I have to admit, I didn't particularly see eye to eye with the gay aspect in the book. I wasn't against it, just it felt like it would have matched the book a bit better if it was a sense of 'brotherhood' rather than pointing at a relationship. Eh, just my opinion.
So, the secrets of the universe. Everyone wants to know the secrets of the universe, right? Why are we here, why do we exist. Every teen (and adult) goes through that phase of pondering. In this book, it’s just yet another ordinary teen going through his own phase in life. By the end of the book? he’s figured out more than most people do during their own phase, and that’s something I respect. The message was told across quite strongly as well, instead of lightly insinuating like a lot of books. Fitting but maybe a teeeny bit overdone?
Overall though, it was a sweet, consistent, heartbreaking/warming book about growing up and making your own desicions in life. Perfect if you like really deep and mysterious books with a eery (I don’t know why but it felt like that to me) tone. Recommended!
'I mean, when do we start feeling like the world belongs to us?'
I wanted to tell him that the world would never belong to us.
'I don't know,' I said. 'Tomorrow.'
—MissOddball™ Over and Out.
(If this is not in the fancy new format, apologies. I actually have no idea how to do that xD But it's been soooo long since anyone has posted :/ So busy nowadays. I'll have to finish up my other drafted reviews quite soon.. )
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Frederick Lee Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013.
Saving Raine, the first book in Fred's entirely new series, The Drone Wars, appeared in December, 2013.
A resident of Switzerland, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer. He makes frequent trips back to his native Chicago.
When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella.
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