Aristotle is a Mexican-American teenager living in El Paso. He has never had a friend. His father has closed off emotionally after coming back from the war in Vietnam. His brother is in prison. His mother won’t talk about it. And then he meets Dante.
Aristotle and Dante is all about communication: every single character we meet is fighting inner demons and struggling to say what they really mean. Aristotle is full of anger and confusion: on the one hand he is a loner who does not feel comfortable talking about his feelings, but on the other hand he is desperate to connect to his parents and to Dante. It is like there is a forcefield following him around wherever he goes, preventing him from truly getting close to someone. Meeting Dante is the first crack that slowly spreads as Aristotle frantically tries to figure out whether he wants to tear down that wall or keep it up at all cost.
1st book ari: *tearing up* i only have like 2 friends and one of them is my mom
sequel ari, sorrounded by supporting parents and parents in law, amazing girl friends and a lovely boyfriend: *slightly trembling* i can’t believe that i’m actually loved
“Sometimes, you do things and you do them not because you’re thinking but because you’re feeling. Because you’re feeling too much. And you can’t always control the things you do when you’re feeling too much.”
— Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.
You know those books that just sit forever on your shelves, because every month (even though you promise yourself that you’re going to read them) a different book catches your eye? Theseeeeee are a few of mine, this is one of my worse book-related habits, but I know that I’ll get to them eventually! Which books are long term residents on your tbr lists?
Tell me what I️ should read next! I’m moving along pretty quickly with The Night Circus and hopefully should be done by the time thanksgiving gets here, so what should I️ read next? The other books on my list for the month are Ari and Dante, Turtles All the Way Down, and Eliza and Her Monsters
I come bearing books and good news!! First off, I’m sorry I’ve been so mia (again) BUT I recently accepted a position at barnes and noble which is honestly like such a dream job??? Plus I’d get a discount on books which like??? I already decided the first thing I’m gonna use my paycheck for is to go to ikea and buy more bookshelves (and that is….100% a lie, I’m totally jjust gonna buy more books…oops) - I’m hoping this will get me out of the book slump I’ve been in, cause guys you have no idea how behind I am on my goal for the year. Thanks for sticking around while I’ve been gone y’all and I promise to try super hard to be more present
I adored Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I read it in about 3 hours at my desk at work and cried. The ending was one of the BEST I’ve read in a while!
Find me on other platforms! twitter: @lisa_iki Instagram: @lisa.iki
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With all the news coming out regarding the casting for the Ari and Dante movie (which is filming…literally,right now as I make this post), I wanted to make a rough compilation of (roughly) who seems to be playing what characters from what I’ve been able to discern:
(Tumblr crop is being annoying so idk you may have to tap on the image to get the full thing)
Veronica Falcón and Eugenio Derbez as Ari’s parents - Liliana and Jaime Mendoza
Kevin Alejandro and Eva Longoria as Dante’s parents - Soledad and Sam Quintana
Isabella Gomez as Gina Navarro and Hanani Taylor as Susie Byrd; plus Luna BlaiseasIlleana
And finally, Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales as our Ari and Dante, here’s one of our first looks at them together ✨
“And I thought that maybe there were ghosts inside of me that I hadn’t even met yet.” - Benjamin Sáenz ( Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe)
Strike it off the page but not your mind? Or cause an international scandal? Or mentally fault the public transport? Or confirm with your nymph mom whether she can see you in the forest? Or touch hands unchaparoned? Or gently graze your bruised knuckles on bear backs while dancing? Or get your 3 bandmates to sing about your deeds?
