Book Review: Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

“One summer night I fell asleep hoping the world would be different when I woke. In the morning, when I opened my eyes, the world was the same.” ― Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Have you ever read a book that completely ruined your reading?

Having survived 2020, I started out this year feeling the need to escape life for a little bit to recharge and feel better again. Writing usually helps me, but I was too tired, so I decided to listen to an audiobook on Storytel. It was quite the challenge to find a book that I liked, but then I saw Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and decided that should be it. I hadn’t even read the blurb, because the title had already convinced me. I mean: Aristotle, Dante, secrets of the universe—it sounded interesting to me!

I lay down on the couch, closed my eyes and started listening. I am not sure how to describe it, but there was something about the way “Aristotle” told the story that sucked me right into it. Summer

“Summer was here again. Summer, summer, summer. I loved and hated summers. Summers had a logic all their own and they always brought something out in me. Summer was supposed to be about freedom and youth and no school and possibilities and adventure and exploration. Summer was a book of hope. That's why I loved and hated summers. Because they made me want to believe.”

Do you remember those long and endless summers when you were little? They were warm—but not too warm—and you could just do whatever you wanted for days and days in a row, without feeling like you should be doing something else (like something “productive”). I remember exploring nature, taking long walks and being amazed at everything I saw around me. On other days, I would just lie on the grass for hours, enjoying the sun shining down on me. It felt good. And at the end of the day, I would feel happy and satisfied.

These days, I still take long walks and lie on the grass, but it’s not the same. Most of the time the weather during summer is too hot and the only thing you can do is stay inside and hope you won’t melt. But more than that, when you are older, you never really have time to do nothing anymore. Of course, you do, but it feels different.

I am trying to regain that feeling though, and I think I am slowly making some progress, but still...

Anyway, hearing Aristotle tell about his summer, it reminded me of that feeling.

Somewhere at the beginning, Ari mentions listening to La Bamba by Los Lobos and talks about Richie Valens, who wrote the song (I will always prefer his version, by the way). To me, this song equals summer. I just love the whole vibe, and I think it was a smart move to start the book this way.

Then, fast forward, Ari meets Dante at the swimming pool and they (eventually) become best friends. As they spend time together, they ponder a lot about life and the things that are on their minds, trying to discover the secrets of the universe together.

The characters I guess in a way both characters reminded me of myself, especially when I was a kid. Dante, because of his unusual way of looking at the world, his sensitivity, his love for (poetry) books and his want to change the world for the better (also, his weird dislike of shoes). Ari, because of his need to make sense of the world and the feeling that he is different and therefore alone most of the time.

Two quotes, for example, that really resonated with me are:

“‘Someday, I’m going to discover all the secrets of the universe.’ That made me smile. ‘What are you going to do with all those secrets, Dante?’ ‘I’ll know what to do with them,’ he said. ‘Maybe change the world.’”

“I didn’t know why I was thinking about all these things—except that’s what I always did.”

I think the first quote describes the child- and/or teenage version of myself very well. I guess it still describes me very well, only now I know that I will probably never discover them all, and even if I do, I will still not know what to do with most of them. The second quote…well, I AM the second quote. Sometimes I think if I would say out loud everything that is on my mind, people would run away really fast. Not so much because of what I am thinking, but because there is so much of it. And since it's difficult for my mouth to keep up with my brain, I usually end up saying nothing at all, because it wouldn't make much sense anyway, for I would start talking about one thing while my brain is already ten thoughts/subjects ahead. Maybe that is why I love writing so much. It gives me time to think about stuff, and write down the things that really matter and/or make sense (and, of course, delete all the things that don't). It keeps things organised.

My review

Last, but not least, the review I wrote after finishing the book:

So…if you are still wondering why it ruined my reading? I LOVED it, but now I can’t seem to like anything else anymore. I have read four other books since, and started reading about 5 more (and put them away after one chapter or so), but everything just seemed meh. I think I will have to take a reading break or something, and just focus on writing and doing other stuff. Hopefully, I will get back into reading after that. If not, then I guess I will just have to reread Ari & Dante for the rest of my life! 😉

If you would like to buy Ari & Dante, or any other book, and support writers, translators, publishers and bookstores (and if you buy a physical copy, then, in a small way also me) while you are at it, you can do it via this link: https://bazarow.com/?a=107&s=136.

Be kind & do good.

Love,

Annabel