“Why do we smile? Why do we laugh? Why do we feel alone? Why are we sad and confused? Why do we read poetry? Why do we cry when we see a painting? Why is there a riot in the heart when we love? Why do we feel shame? What is that thing in the pit of your stomach called desire?”
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is a beautiful coming-of-age novel. Aristotle ‘Ari’ Mendoza is a 15-year-old Mexican-American boy. His father is a veteran of the Vietnam War, with both physical and mental scars. His brother is not discussed among his family, for he has done something very wrong. Ari is angry and lonely. He’s bored and hurting, but nonetheless surviving. When he meets Dante Quintana, the two boys have almost nothing in common. Dante is an enthusiastic know-it-all who loves swimming. Ari is not, but over the course of two years, these two opposite boys become so, so important to each other, an immutable fact to each other. By knowing Dante and letting himself be known by Dante, Ari starts living.
“How could I have ever been ashamed of loving Dante Quintana?”
The writing style is enchanting in its simplicity. The delicate prose and blunt statements reel you in and make you experience everything Ari experiences. You feel sadness, pain, and loss. You feel happiness, comfort, and love. You view Ari’s two-year growing-up journey with him and fully feel how his relationships with his parents, his friends, and with Dante change. Ari’s loneliness, his words, his choices can be held in your hands, cradled and understood.
“I wondered what that was like, to hold someone’s hand. I bet you could sometimes find all the mysteries of the universe in someone’s hand.”
Available for purchase at:
- https://www.amazon.ca/Aristotle-Dante-Discover-Secrets-Universe/dp/1442408936
- https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/aristotle-and-dante-discover-the/9781442408937-item.html
- https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Aristotle-and-Dante-Discover-the-Secrets-of-the-Universe/Benjamin-Alire-Saenz/Aristotle-and-Dante/9781442408937
Lovely, plain & simple!
Brilliant style of writing….lovely!
Wow, this sounds like a fantastic novel! I love the use of the quotes and how it ties into what you’re trying to portray. You’ve persuaded me to want to read this book.
This is really nice, good work
Nicely explained … will surely read the book ..good work