Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: Aristotle and Dante are now living their lives as couple fully supported by family and friends, so things should be easier now, right? Little do they know that some of the biggest challenges of their young lives await them — can their relationship survive?
Expectation: An intimate portrayal of young love and learning how to grow as individuals and as a couple.
Reality: A bit scattershot from a plot perspective but just as well-written and affecting as the first book.
Recommended For: A must read for fans of the first novel. And, if you haven’t read it, don’t start here.
Why I Read It: The first book was one of my favorite reads of 2020.
My Take:
While Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s second venture into the Aristotle and Dante universe was at times uneven and often long-winded, he once again shows that when it comes to the young adult genre, his writing is in a league of its own.
It’s not surprising that with main characters named after famous philosophers Sáenz is going to take you on a cerebral journey, but he sometimes lost the balance between personal reflection and the need for a plot that will keep you engaged.
Picking up immediately after the events of “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” we experience how the now out protagonists navigate what it means to be gay, fall in love and plan for a future with, or without, one another.
There is a plot, of course, and Sáenz uses the time (late-1980s) and location (Texas) to introduce internal conflict. First, there’s AIDS and the political, religious, and personal impact it is having on communities around the world. Second, there’s the cultural expectations — Latinx, Catholic and southern U.S. — of how a man should be.
Many of these themes were covered in the first book as well, but Sáenz goes much deeper here, primarily through letters and conversations Aristotle and Dante share with one another.
I found several of these discussions relatable — especially navigating how to allow people fully in after you purposely kept them away — and it’s these moments made me remember why I was so taken with how Sáenz presented these characters originally. Still, the story at times felt bigger and less intimate than in the first book.
For finishing that book in April 2020, I had surprisingly little recall for many of the details, so the first several chapters were a mixture of “oh, yeah, that” and “was that even brought up in the first book?” If it’s been a few years since you read book one, I’d highly recommend a brief refresher before diving in here.
There were also extended sections of talking and processing between Aristotle and Dante that began to feel repetitive and forced in the way that only happens when adults don’t know how teenagers really behave. Then Sáenz slowly starts to introduce additional characters and plot points that felt a little forced and distracting.
He never quite struck the balance of thought-provoking introspection and the need for our characters to actually live. All that to say, while the core story is about Aristotle accepting and embracing this new season of life, the whole book could’ve been about a third shorter.
Still, he pulled at my heartstrings so completely that I was wiping away tears at the end. This is a story about loving yourself, loving your family and experiencing the joy and fear in loving someone else.
It was refreshing to once again read a young adult novel that was rooted more in real life rather than manufactured drama and soon-to-be dated pop culture. There is a timelessness to Sáenz’s writing and the story of Aristotle and Dante.
And while I didn’t like the sequel as much as the original, I’d put these two books well above any other queer-themed young adult stories I’ve read.
Once again, Lin Manuel Miranda narrates the audiobook, so you don’t need to question whether it is done well. Easily one of the best of the year, and I’d say the preferred way to experience this “World.”
Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 5/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: November 3 - 7, 2021
Multi-tasking: Good to go, although you may miss some of Sáenz’s more profound statements
Flashback Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: After meeting at the local pool, Aristotle and Dante form a quick friendship that soon blossoms into something unexpected.
Expectation: Typical young adult rom-com fare.
Reality: A surprisingly moving and unexpected love story that felt more authentic than the genre usually allows.
Recommended For: People who usually don’t like young adult stories but love good writing.
Why I Read It: My sister-in-law recommended it.
My Take:
As someone that doesn't usually enjoy young adult stories, I found this one to be a welcome exception. It's a sweet and affecting journey of self-discovery and second chances.
The budding romance between Aristotle and Dante is slow-burn perfection, and the conclusion is exactly what you'd like it to be. While there are some challenging sections of violence against the LGBTQ community, as a whole, this is one "Universe" I'd gladly visit again.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Rating (narration): 5/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (SIL’s library)
Dates read: April 5 - 9, 2020
Multi-tasking: Good to go. I was painting a bedroom while listening and it was the perfect background story.
