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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This book is quiet. For having such a long title, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe says so much in few words, says so much in gestures and moments and long silences. It speaks without needing to say anything. And I think that is remarkable.
I read this book in maybe two hours on the PSAT morning (as a senior, school started at 11 for me). Once I started, I couldn't stop. It captivated me in everything that it is. As the title suggests, it's a story about discovery, both of the self and the outer world. It is a story about summers, spent talking and not talking. It is a story about love, but to have that love, both boys have to discover themselves first; they have to discover the secrets of their own worlds before they discover the entire universe's secrets. For Ari, this means learning about his brother, for Dante, this means exploring what it means to be himself.
"Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.”
I will admit that I cried (which, given how often I mention this, makes me sound as though I cry a lot reading, but I swear I don't), excessively. This book just...means a lot to me. It's hard to truly express how much a book means to me without 1. giving away the ending and 2. becoming a blubbering mess. I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it.
On the level of technicalities, this book plays off of subtleties. It covers a long period of time, there isn't a lot of actual plot, and some of the scenes felt unnecessary (I got the point of the arm breaking scene, but it felt weirdly placed). However, these are all technicalities, as I said, and at the end of the day, this book's reliance on subtleties and between-the-lines writing saves it. Everything felt under the surface and I love that so much in a piece of literature.
I don't enjoy reading things and having all the answers.
Aristotle and Dante lives up to its name. I think somewhere in this book I too discovered some of the secrets of the universe.
-Book Hugger
I read this book in maybe two hours on the PSAT morning (as a senior, school started at 11 for me). Once I started, I couldn't stop. It captivated me in everything that it is. As the title suggests, it's a story about discovery, both of the self and the outer world. It is a story about summers, spent talking and not talking. It is a story about love, but to have that love, both boys have to discover themselves first; they have to discover the secrets of their own worlds before they discover the entire universe's secrets. For Ari, this means learning about his brother, for Dante, this means exploring what it means to be himself.
"Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.”
I will admit that I cried (which, given how often I mention this, makes me sound as though I cry a lot reading, but I swear I don't), excessively. This book just...means a lot to me. It's hard to truly express how much a book means to me without 1. giving away the ending and 2. becoming a blubbering mess. I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it.
On the level of technicalities, this book plays off of subtleties. It covers a long period of time, there isn't a lot of actual plot, and some of the scenes felt unnecessary (I got the point of the arm breaking scene, but it felt weirdly placed). However, these are all technicalities, as I said, and at the end of the day, this book's reliance on subtleties and between-the-lines writing saves it. Everything felt under the surface and I love that so much in a piece of literature.
I don't enjoy reading things and having all the answers.
Aristotle and Dante lives up to its name. I think somewhere in this book I too discovered some of the secrets of the universe.
-Book Hugger