Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World
Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Publication Date: October 12, 2021
★★★★☆
You matter more to the universe than you will ever know.
Ari and Dante continue their relationship after the events of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. They begin to navigate the world as a couple in love and they must learn how to hold on to each other despite growing fears of discrimination, hate, racism and illness.
While learning together, they both start a journey to discover their inner self in the midst of grief and adversity.
In short, this book was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. It deals with so many big topics in such an elegant and touching way that it actually made me cry - and I rarely ever cry while reading (film is another story...)
I will preface that this review will have spoilers, so if you don't want to ruin your experience, just know that this read is truly enjoyable. Please ensure you review trigger/content warnings before taking the leap.
This book is a continuation of Ari and Dante's relationship; however, it ultimately focuses on Ari. I read the first book earlier this year, and when I realized the second was available, I immediately requested it.
There is a strong overtone of finding oneself in the mess of life, especially while dealing not only with the stresses and anxieties of a teenager in high school, but also with the constant social adversity when facing hate and discrimination for who you choose to love as well as dealing with a deluge of grief.
Where I cannot directly relate to the experience of being fully part of the LGBTQ community (I am bisexual, but I've had predominantly heterosexual relationships), I fully appreciate some of the difficult topics and discoveries dealt with when speaking against adversity during the era this book was based. The 1980s was rife with hate and judgement - coupled with the AIDS epidemic (originally called GRID, or gay-related immune deficiency) this did not bode well for those who stepped outside of the expected. Homophobia ran rampant as the epidemic continued, and those who identified with the LGBTQ community got the short end of the stick when dealing with these sometimes radical views.
The largest piece that resonated with me was the discussion of grief throughout the novel. I lost my dad just shy of 4 years ago, and as Ari was coming to terms with his loss I could feel that well of emotion rise in my throat. This ultimately made me cry - which, if you know me, I rarely do when reading. From a cultural perspective, I was extremely touched by the traditions of Ari's community as they banded together to grieve - to the point where previous points of contention were dismissed in an attempt to provide support for the bereaved family. For the most part, my matriarchal culture was much the same, however through immigration and distance of family, we didn't feel the same level of support when my dad passed - and, honestly, that was the hardest part in my grief journey.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read and a well-rounded conclusion to Ari and Dante's story.
Review Note: I originally gave it 5 stars, but I brought that down when I discovered some of the issues with trans- and bi-phobic themes. I will acknowledge that there has been some controversy about the way that the transgender and bisexual narratives were portrayed. When I first read the book, it didn't immediately jump out at me, but upon reading reviews and concerns presented by others, I do feel that some of the representation of trans- and biphobia could have been improved as it is problematic. Every concern I've read is valid and it is not anyone's place to say otherwise.
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