BOOK REVIEW: ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE BY BENJAMIN ALIRE SÁENZ11/10/2020 Drasti JainDrasti Jain is a third year law student at Government Law College, Mumbai. I primarily decided to read this book because of its pretty cover (yes, I judged it by the cover) and because the characters involved the names Aristotle and Dante. While my expectations for the book were vastly different, nevertheless it did not disappoint but rather went over and above what I had envisioned. I first read the book when I was in 11th Grade, and as a teenager who was largely confused about mostly everything, this book was a sweet refuge. I wouldn’t say that it changed my life or opened my eyes to a new reality because it didn’t. Rather, the story reminds you that despite (going through) all the horrible things in this world, human beings always possess the capacity to not just come out of it but also at times fight it. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a book that you savour and read on a rainy day. It follows the story of two boys, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana in the summer of 1987. The two boys form an unlikely friendship and help each other in discovering their true selves. Without being preachy, the book manages to communicate important nuances to readers, especially young readers battling with the ideas of self, what they want or what they like and who and how they are. In a world that is quick to dismiss the thoughts of teenagers because they are “too young” the story of Aristotle and Dante gently holds your hand and tells you that you are valid. Your decisions, identity, thoughts are valid and worthy of existence. I feel that affirmation is necessary and needs to be told to young kids and teenagers whose decisions, ideas and thoughts are often discarded just because they are “too young”.
The plot deals with themes such as sexual orientation and identity, friendship, masculinity, family relationships and racial and ethnic identity through the main protagonists struggles. The reason why the book does not feel forced in either its writing or its story is because most of the themes the author explores either draw inspiration from his own experiences or are something he feels deeply about. Sáenz had difficulties coming to terms with his sexuality and came out when he was in his 50s. The Mexican-American identity of Dante drew inspiration from the fact that the author wanted to challenge the anti-Mexican rhetoric prevalent in the United States. The part of the story dealing with family relationships is so important in making the readers realize that no one family is alike and it is not their fault if their families are not as shiny and problem-free as other families ‘appear’. The themes that the story deals with are contemporary and increasingly relevant in today's day and age. The book is like a warm cup of hot chocolate, and who doesn’t like hot chocolate, right?
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