Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was first published in February 2012 by Simon & Schuster and is 392 pages long.
The Plot
Set in 1980s El Paso, Texas, the story follows two teenage boys, Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza and Dante Quintana, as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, grappling with questions about their place in the world and the meaning of their lives.
Characters
Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza is one of the two primary protagonists of the book. He is a fifteen-year-old Mexican-American struggling to understand and come to terms with his emotions and identity. He is intelligent and introspective yet reserved and closed off, traits he shares with his father.
Ari forms a close friendship with Dante after they meet at a swimming pool, and their friendship slowly develops into something more. Ari is resistant to this, and even when his legs are run over while saving Dante from being hit by a car, he insists he only saved Dante out of instinct, while the truth is probably a lot deeper.
Throughout the novel, the two grow ever closer, and Ari winds up learning a lot from Dante, not least of which is acceptance of himself and his feelings.
Dante Quintana
Dante is also Mexican-American and is more outgoing and free-spirited than Ari. Dante loves to read, is always eager to learn, and has a passion for art. He is open about his homosexuality and is unafraid to express his emotions.
At one point, after seeing an injured bird, he tries to rescue it and is almost hit by a car. Ari manages to push him out of the way but is badly hurt himself.
Later on in the book, Dante is attacked for kissing another boy and hospitalised. Ari tells Dante’s dad that the reason he was beaten up is because he is gay, and his dad tells Ari that he and his wife guessed as much from the way Dante looks at Ari.
Mr and Mr Mendoza
The Mendoza’s are Ari’s parents and are both significant characters in the book.
Mr Mendoza is a Vietnam War veteran, though he never discusses his experiences of war, nor does he speak about Ari’s imprisoned brother, Bernado. He clearly experiences PTSD and has some difficulty connecting with his son. He is a kind and decent man and loves his son no matter what.
Mrs Mendoza is loving and supportive of her family. She is a teacher who worked hard for her own education, waiting the same for Ari so that he can get a good job. When her eldest son, Bernado, was sentenced and imprisoned a decade ago, Mrs Mendoza had a mental breakdown and is still fragile when it comes to discussing him. She is a fiercely loyal person, being the only one who stayed in touch with her sister when she came out as a lesbian.
Both of Ari’s parents want the very best for him and are both very accepting of his sexual orientation.
Cecelia and Sylvia
Cecelia and Sylvia are Ari’s siblings. They are twins and are older than him by twelve years. In being older than him, they tend to treat him more like their child than their brother.
Susie and Gina
Susie and Gina are Ari’s classmates. He is sometimes irritated by them, thinking they are interfering when they quiz him about his accident. However, throughout the novel, he realises that they’re his friends. He spends much of his time with the two of them while Dante is living in Chicago.
Bernardo Mendoza
Bernardo is Ari’s older brother, and he has been in prison since Ari was very small, meaning that Ari doesn’t really know who he is or how he ended up locked away. All he really knows about Bernardo is that he had anger issues, though later in the novel, it is revealed that Bernardo picked up a sex worker when he was fifteen, who just happened to be trans and killed her.
The Quintanas
Sam Quintana is Dante’s father and an English professor. He is open and affectionate with Dante, which is a contrast with the relationship Ari has with his own father. Ari finds Sam easy to talk to, and when Danta is badly beaten for kissing another boy, Ari ends up telling Sam about Dante being gay. Sam feels hurt that Dante was worried about upsetting or disappointing him.
Mrs Quintana is Dante’s mother. She’s a therapist, though she isn’t as forthcoming with her thoughts and emotions as her husband and son. Mrs Quintana is a loyal, loving and protective mother. She is insightful and often irritates Dante by seeming to know some of his thoughts and feelings. When she finds out that Dante is gay, she promises to continue to love him unconditionally.
Writing Style
Saenz’s writing is immersive, and he builds an authentic and emotional atmosphere. Every page of the novel is characterised by excellent writing, with well-crafted dialogue and crisp pacing, which helped to bring the 1980s back to life in my mind.
One of the things I found most striking about this book is Saenz’s ability to capture the complexities and nuances of what it means to be human.
The novel deals with many themes and issues, from family relationships and social expectations to identity and sexuality. Saenz handles these topics with sensitivity and grace, never shying away from difficult conversations while, at the same time, never resorting to overly simplistic or preachy messages, which I appreciate.
As for the characters listed above, I feel they were very well-rounded, fully developed and given full and deep personalities, complete with flaws and quirks.
Through his vivid descriptions and engaging style, Saenz created a rich, immersive world in which I got completely lost.
Final Thoughts
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an exceptional book that will leave you feeling moved, contemplative, and grateful for the power of literature. The novel is an easy read and was hard to put down. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes reading captivating, emotional, and inspiring stories.
I am giving this book a solid 8/10.
Have you read this novel or watched its recent film adaptation? I’m yet to see the film, so if you’ve seen it, let me know what it’s like.
Thank you, as ever, for spending your time reading my review. It means the world.
Until next time,
George
© 2024 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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