Discovering the Universe: A Journey Through 'Aristotle and Dante'
“I got to thinking that poems were like people. Some people you got right off the bat. Some people you just didn’t get–and never would.”
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a mesmerizing journey through friendship, identity, and the different kinds of love we experience as teenagers. Benjamin Alire Sáenz carefully crafted a narrative that unfolds slowly, mirroring the long summers. The story revolves around Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana.
Sáenz's rich, melancholy prose draws readers into Ari's emotional world. The quiet, even mundane, tone perfectly captures his yearning and isolation, creating space for reflection. Ari's voice reveals a desolate boy struggling to find his place. This routine changes when he meets Dante, a catalyst for change in his life. The deliberate pacing balances this shift, mirroring Ari's journey of self-discovery. Sáenz skillfully guides us through Ari's complex feelings.
The dialogue is authentic and heartfelt, capturing the essence of youth, discovery, and blossoming friendship. It resonated deeply, feeling like conversations from my own youth. The evocative language paints realistic pictures of the desert, the characters, and their surroundings—a welcome change from modern work that often sacrifices individuality for "relatability." The descriptions often feel like poetry, creating a safe space to explore both the physical and emotional worlds. This novel is emotionally driven; it’s a coming-of-age story about two boys.
Check out the Aristotle and Dante movie review I did.
The major themes of identity, belonging, and love are seamlessly woven into the story. Ari’s struggle with his sexual identity, his Mexican-American heritage, his difficult relationship with his parents, and his feelings for Dante are nuanced and explored with sensitivity. It's a masterclass in growing up, laying bare the experience of questioning, seeking, and feeling different.
In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Sáenz captures the delicate balance of growing up, with its joy and terror, and discovering your true self. The setting provides space for the characters to explore, giving the reader moments of introspection.
Ari and Dante’s journey is profoundly emotional, both individually and as a duo. Their evolving relationship, from tentative companions to a deep connection, is wonderfully explored. The novel tenderly and honestly portrays their inherently queer relationship—a rare and wonderful thing, especially considering how transformative this novel was for many of us who read it before works like Heartstopper.
The novel explores the quiet moments that shape our lives, the small acts, kind and painful, that form our understanding. It’s a story of self-discovery, of accepting that self-fulfillment isn’t solitary, and that identity is interconnected. It's about the power of seeing yourself in another's eyes, of discovering the universe within shared spaces created through determination and selfless love. Sáenz’s novel is a heartfelt tribute to love, connection, identity, the quest for self-understanding, and the desire for calm.
It is an endearing reminder that the universe expands within the relationships we forge. This mutual connection gives life meaning. This story has lingered with me for years; I've revisited it many times, through the audiobook and recently the movie. Even my partner, who grew up in a different country and time, found solace in Ari and Dante's story. Sáenz created something that will be remembered.