Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
- by Benjamin Alire Sáenze

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I'm ashamed to admit that I bought the book simply for the cover. Normally I'm all for the don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover principle, but judge this book by its cover! The story is as beautiful as the book is on the out.

We're taken to 1987, to the life of Aristotle as he tells it; as a 15 year old American-Mexican, he lets us into his head where we hear all the thoughts that he keeps bottled up. He fills us in on his dark musings and his inner battles with solidarity, the feeling of not belonging, and the secrets of his family that threaten to tear him apart.

Enter Dante; the polar opposite of Aristotle, with a laid-back attitude and a string of wise-ass remarks that make you love him from the go. He's not afraid of expressing what he feels and when he feels it. Yet they hit it off. It's reminiscent of that friendship we're all too familiar with, the rare clicking with someone which just happens, no explanation needed, and you're left wondering where the hell they've been your whole life. This is it. Their friendship doesn't need explaining; it's an unconditional thing that leaves them inseparable. And so the story focuses on their friendship as they struggle with their identity, teenage angst, and love as they reach the brink of adulthood. It's about discovering themselves and discovering life.

The plot isn't a story as such. It's more of a string of events, mirrored in the short and simple writing style, that hold meaning and significance to Ari and Dante in that uncertain phase of "growing up". The delicately woven themes, the portrayal of broken characters, and the writing craft is executed to perfection. There's a certain beauty in the way that it's written. There are poetic snippets and quotes that I wanted to write down in a little journal because they're that profound. And yet, it's not pretentious. It's simple, and raw, and honest. Just as a fifteen year old would be. There are moments where the thoughts that are streaming through Aristotle's mind are shocking, almost cruel. I kind of wanted to hate him...yet, I could relate. Frustration, anger, the need to be left alone with your own space - I understood it. I've felt the conflict when feeling what's not supposed to be felt. The conflict of thinking what shouldn't be thought. And it's this accurate representation of human nature that made me love it so much.

It takes skill to evoke such powerful emotions through a simple string of words. It's an art if you can do it from start to finish. Throughout all 368 pages. And this book is a work of art.