Book Review | NEWS OF OUR LOVED ONES by Abigail DeWitt

October 2, 2018
HarperCollins

Set in France and America, News of Our Loved Ones is a haunting and intimate examination of love and loss, beauty and the cost of survival, witnessed through two generations of one French family, whose lives are all touched by the tragic events surrounding the D-Day bombings in Normandy.

What if your family’s fate could be traced back to one indelible summer?

The book club agreed to read historical fiction for the month of September. I decided to read just a couple of books, but, then, this copy came to me fortuitously. I received an email from the publisher, advising me to follow a link. I asked myself, “Do I really need to read another war story, after getting off from the American Civil War?”

I’m glad I did. I don’t regret following that link.

This is a World War II story, revealing the lives of the Delasalle family and those who have crossed their paths before and after the D-Day Landing at the port city of Caen, in France’s Normandy region. It showed many ways war takes its toll and how death can leave irreversible effects, tearing families apart. Remaining family members revisit memories; retell events, desperately trying to chase the ripples of their tragedy down the next generations. The guilt of being alive, while many have perished, followed them. They acutely cling to every life tangible to keep them afloat.

NEWS OF OUR LOVED ONES is handsomely imagined, with engaging characters and stirring events. Ms. DeWitt managed to bring together a generational family story from individual narratives, creating a mosaic of love, death, estrangement, resilience, and remembrance.

This striking book is perfect for historical fiction lovers.

Book Details:

Title: News Of Our Loved Ones

Author: Abigail DeWitt

Publication: October 2, 2018, HarperCollins

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating:★★★★

*Thank you HarperCollins for this Flash Giveaway.

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THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro

THE REMAINS OF THE DAY – AN OPEN LETTER

Dearest James,

I know that introduction is a must, polite even, but on this one, I do suggest that we skip that. It is you who matters, and no one else.

Foremost, how was the end of your motoring trip? Was it pleasant on your return? I do hope that none of the inconveniences you encountered on leaving crossed your path on the way home. It was a good thing Mr. Farraday suggested this motoring trip. You’ve been cooked up in that hall for a very long time. Different scenery gave you a new perspective, indeed. Suddenly you grew up in a span of one week.

Ah, yes, I did read your travelogue and musings. I am quite taken by them. It’s very difficult not to be. Although, I did notice that you often answer your own questions. I boldly assume that those are signs not of confusion but of hesitation to acknowledge the truth. It was a bit alarming -hesitation and advancing age. Don’t make a good match, do they?

It was not difficult, as well, to notice the ever-present topic of greatness and dignity throughout your entries. It is apparent that justification is what you seek. Then, yes James, you are a great and dignified butler. But does that account for all the mistakes you’ve made? No, of course not, old chap. Your dignity lies in your ability not to abandon your professional being (as a butler) during trying times. Always the epitome of restraint, calmness, and placidness. Thus by achieving your goal of greatness, and by withholding your inner feelings and belief, you have forgone a most vital aspect of life –relationships. For you see, dignity and greatness will lose its luster and usefulness, like your father before you. Great butlers will come and go, but a good friend, husband, or father will be cherished for all time.

Oh, but James, if only you had taken the leap… 

Alas and alack, regret is not something we should dwell in. It has already pervaded your thoughts for many years. Bless Ms. Kenton for choosing a different path merely to spite you; but fate has spoken, she’s happily married now. She did say all is well, right? Move on; for her sake, James. As for Lord Darlington, his folly is his; they are not yours to suffer. Loyalty is not measured by how much you've tolerated your employer, but by how well you’ve serve them. You should know that by now. Then let the case rest. Correcting the past is a miserable business, after all. I know you’ve already dwelled along this line for a day, since you made no entry on your fifth day on the road. 

The man at the marina was right, there’s nothing fruitful by dwelling in the past. The day is not yet over. There is much to be gained and done still. You are right, work on your bantering. Make light of life by humor. Women do enjoy men with humor. Well, in any case, humor will make you feel younger.

Farewell, James. Bless you on your new endeavor. Do send news of your improvements, if you can.

Yours,

Louize

PS: Just in case you are wondering, I am not someone older. Just someone who enjoys good bantering.

Book details:

Title:  The Remains of the Day

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro

Publication:  January 1, 2010; Vintage

Genre:  Literary Fiction

Rating: ★★★★

Originally posted here.

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CALL ME BY YOUR NAME by André Aciman

Every place I am acquainted with is buzzing with excitement because of Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of the book. It was initially released last January 22 of this year. I have not seen the movie, though. I don’t usually watch book adaptations (with only two exceptions: the Harry Potter series and Game of Thrones series). Although, Guadagnino’s peculiarity on shooting the entire movie with a 35 mm lens alone, and his reason for doing so, are really intriguing. So, you may rest assured that this is not a movie promotional review.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME was our TFG book for March of 2016, and it was on my best book list, too. Exploring the internet, you’ll see both accolades and rebukes for the author, the same goes with the book. The aptest description I’ve read so far was “maddening”. This book has the capacity to hurl my emotions into a turbulent sea. My need to resurface for air, every now and then, was acutely palpable.

Adflictus sum et humiliatus sum nimis rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei! -Psalm 37:9 DRA

Reading Elio prompted me to look around me, asking myself if I made the right choices. Mindfully, he allowed me to view choices akin to a tub of boiling water, jumping in will not spare me from scars, but it will be absolutely liberating. I will wear those scars proudly because they are intrinsically part of me. Elio made choices by predicting how these choices will affect his feelings, his being, in the future. He, in every sense, provides his future adult self an emotional revelation he befittingly deserves. It astounded me (it still does, I believe) how Elio marries his present and his envisioned self without any sense of insincerity or regret.

Most of us can't help but live as though we've got two lives to live, one is the mockup, the other the finished version, and then there are all those versions in between. -Sam Perlman

As much as people categorized this book as an LGBT novel or romance, it will remain as a coming of age book for me. The greatest magic of this book is that it shows people, and I mean everyone, will transform. This space we occupy now, though necessary, is evanescent. We will, in essence, continue laboring for our envisioned future selves. In his purity, Elio created a portrait of a love fated to last lifetimes, even when that love is no longer with him. Since every human is driven by desire, we choose to love someone that will aid us to project the kind of person we want to be, into a full-bodied being the world will see. Every desire, present or absent, will help ferry us into that envisioned being.

Instead, I squirreled away small things so that in the lean days ahead glimmers from the past might bring back the warmth. I began, reluctantly, to steal from the present to pay off debts I knew I’d incur in the future. -Elio

SPOILER ALERT. The best part of this book for me was the father and son's reserved scene. It bespoke of a father’s unparalleled love for his son. It squeezed my heart, because, truly, in our pursuit of that envisioned self, we will need all the people who love us.

If there is pain, nurse it, and if there is a flame, don't snuff it out, don't be brutal with it. Withdrawal can be a terrible thing when it keeps us awake at night, and watching others forget us sooner than we'd want to be forgotten is no better. We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster than we should that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste! -Sam Perlman

Title:  Call Me By Your Name

Author:  André Aciman

Publication:  January 22nd, 2008; Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Genre:  Fiction / Coming of Age

Rating: ★★★★★

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THE 3-DAY LATE YEAR-END POST

Happy 2017, Everyone!

This is our annual welcome post, where I get to show you my year of reading, my top list for the previous year, and my wishes and perspective for this glorious year ahead of us. On top of that, The Page Walker’s 4th birthday is just around the corner. So, I bid you greet me a Happy Bloggy Birthday. Go ahead, don’t be shy.

Goodreads was good enough (pun not intended), to compile our yearly reading for us. So, simply click on the photo above and you’ll be electronically transported to that beautiful cover collage.  According to Goodreads, I read 62 books last 2016 (rereads not included). Pretty good job for a lazy sloth like me, I guess. The thing is I don’t regret reading any of these books. In fact, I’ve had some very satisfying reads. Most of them were real tearjerkers, some were bloody murder, and some were as scary as hell.

Last July 2016, I’ve already posted half of my best list, so, I’ll just add the rest here.

1. Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis – This is a philosophical challenge. I chose it for my TFG Bingo card because it posed a very intriguing storyline. I had a huge take from this story because it tells the story of a therapist struggling with his own priorities.
2. Leave Me by Gayle Forman – I connected with this book. The main character voiced every exhausted mother’s plea and call for validation.
3. The Sinner by Amanda Stevens – This is the 5^th installment of the Graveyard Queen. And I admit to loving this series too much because it scared me out of my pants (and out of my bed, too).
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows – Another book for the TFG Bingo. This is a sweetheart. I dearly love all the exchanges.
5. All In  (The Naturals #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
6. Bad Blood (The Naturals #4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – The Naturals is one freakin’ psyched series. I love it.
7. Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne – The same guy who wrote The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas wrote this book, so, I don’t need to tell you to grab a huge roll of tissue when you read this.
8. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino – This book is deceptive, I tell you. It lulled me into believing that it’d be the perfect murder. Then, the ending happened, and I totally lost it. Bloody murder and a tearjerker, rolled into one. What a punch!
9. A List of Cages by Robin Roe – This debut novel crushed my heart most assuredly. It made me cry, it made me angry – I felt absolutely helpless. The roll of tissue failed to rescue me from this one. I highly recommend this.

I’m proud of my TFG Bingo Challenge, even though I’m 4 books shy of completing a blackout. I finished 21 books, with 5 patterns.  I had great times exploring books to fit into each category and enjoyed most of my choices. Kudos to the mind who sacrificed both time and effort in creating such challenges. You can click on the pattern below to embiggen.

2016 turned me into a very lousy blogger, averaging to 2 entries a month. There is no excuse, really. Simply, lazy and uninspired. As I said earlier, The Page Walker is turning 4 this January. So, it’s time to seriously put the -ING into ADULTING. I’ll do my best to post something significant every week.

As to my reading, I still aspire to read satisfying books -those books that wounds, scars, and mends; those that will scare the wits out me; and those that will keep me at the edge of my seat (or perch, or wherever). I may even read a lesser number this year, but I want to make sure that all of them are those I've really wanted to read. Like the literary awardees I've been keeping an eye on; those series I've been missing; and those short story collections that have been gathering dust on my shelves. I'd be random and eclectic as always.

Again, thank you for putting up with me all through these times. I appreciate all the emails, the shy people who prefer not leaving a comment, and those who share my links. Sorry for not replying promptly to your emails, or for ignoring most of them. I am an awful, awful blogger, sorry. Yet again, to all the publicists and authors, kindly read my policy thoroughly before sending me an email. And if you could maybe get my name right sometimes, that would be awesome.  😉 Goodspeed!

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Sneak Peek Review | WHAT LIGHT by Jay Asher

  

October 18, 2016;

Penguin Young Readers Group

Click here.

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Say It With A Book #10 | All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

With Guest Book Reviewer | Mawi Lopez

   

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES is the story of how one event joined the lives of Violet Markey and Theodore Finch. I kept on coming across reviews that say this book is The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park, but honestly I don't see the comparison with either of the two. Sure there are similarities with some of the characters but the themes presented between all three books were dissimilar. Nevertheless, I liked all three of them. On with this book's review… Btw, I don't really do book reviews so please bear with me :)

I highly recommend this book to people who have gone through and have coped with loss, to readers who love young adult themes and to everyone who wanted a little glimpse of what it's like to have someone so special change your life forever.

The book tackled issues about teenage suicide, bullying, mental/emotional disorder, the feeling of being alone despite having people around, loss, divorce and the effects of broken families on the children. It was done in a way that, I think, young people would appreciate and relate to. The author’s note at the end even included organizations one can contact if they’re experiencing said problems and needed help, which is a really nice thing. On the bright side, the story of how Violet and Finch touched each other’s lives was lovely (because lovely is a lovely word that should be used more often). I can’t help but root for them and hope that everything will turn out well for them both. I, also, was utterly pained by the ending as I was so hoping for it to end the other way. I’m not saying the ending was bad, it was good, but I just wished it did not end that way.

I will end this review with a really lovely quote from the book: 

You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.

PS. I totally love the part where they did the Before I die I want to _______ thing. Because it was a really lovely scene and because it has some Jimmy Page reference (please pardon this JP fan) in it.

Book details: 

Title: All the Bright Places 

Author:  Jennifer Niven

Publication: January 6, 2015; Penguin Random House

Genre:  YA Fiction

Rating: ★★★★

...

About Mawi:

Born as Maridon Lopez, but we lovingly call her Mawi. We share a common love for dogs, and we both adored the above-reviewed book. Remembering how she felt when she first joined our TFG activity, back in January 2015, she thought that she'd be an oddball. Little did she know that we're all oddballs in our own little ways. She belongs!

TPW:  What is your favorite genre?

Mawi: I will have to say historical fiction and YA, depending on the theme though, nothing too mawkish please.

TPW:  How would you define yourself as a reader?

Mawi:  I always make it a point to read for pleasure alone. If someone asks me to read a book and at some point found it unbearable, I will put it down and find something better to read. Although, sometimes, I find myself finishing just for the sake of finishing, but that happens very rarely. And I never read two books at any given period, as in I have to finish one first before starting another. 

TPW:  Thank you very much, Mawi!

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Say It With A Book #9 | UNWIND by Neal Shusterman

With Guest Blogger | Dr. Rehana V. Pallingayan, M.D.

  

There are stories which can scare the shits out of little kids when the lights are turned off but only effective for a few years because they realize these are not real when they reach their teens. There are lesser stories that can scare a teenager but its effects are more brutal, the scars won't go away even when they crossed their 20th year of life, even if they are in their deathbeds at age 80. Unwind is one such story that could scare these teens, not just because of the act itself but because it roots in their inner fear of being unwanted. As an adult reading this, I have but one fear that fiction may become real. The line is thin, so thin that a Heartland war may just be in its way.

My job makes me witness the effects of transplantation. We have good success rates when it comes to Corneal transplants and Kidney transplants. We also had successful liver and intestine transplants. We had dealt with heart transplants and lung transplants in the past. You see the effects of a second chance to these people- they try to live their lives fuller; that little kid could now dream for his future; a parent's wish could come true; and a wife is ensured of not being a widow. There is this satisfaction when one says the phrase- "A life well spent". But the other side of the story is as real as these stories of hope. The queue on the triage of who gets a kidney first is long and every day the end just gets farther. We do have a national organ donation program focused not only in the aim of delivering organs to these transplant patients but also in caring for the donors, making sure they are not victims of organ trafficking and that they are well aware that even if they still have a kidney, their lives have changed, same way that one can learn to ride a unicycle after learning to use a bicycle. A bicycle will always be stable.

What I loved about this book is the strength of its character development, these teens presenting their own stories merging into one central plot- the right to exist, to experience firsthand on how it is to live. You are drawn in their sadness, frustrate about what is lacking and cheer them further to reach greatness. The books also let you go back to the basic morals you carry within or without the topic of one's religious doctrines. Even minor characters have served their purpose, may it be the dead ones or a portion of their brain. As a young adult book, I hope the teenager gets the point of how stupid and at the same time beautiful it is to be an adult. I hope they understand how one's choices could shape the world, that it is easy to commit mistakes and harder to swallow its repercussions. But hopefully the message the kid gets is this- it is always the better option to choose life. 

Transplantation is not a bad thing. Organ trafficking however is a different structure. The concept of unwinding is the most ridiculous type of organ trafficking that I hope will never come to existence. It is not the question of a soul, a religious belief or a scientific know-how but of one's integrity as a human. We are allowed to save lives but never to be above anything to be allowed to take another's life.

Book details:

Title:  Unwind

Author:  Neal Shusterman

Publication:  June 2nd 2009; Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

Genre:  YA, Sci-fi

Rating:  ★★★★★

About Ranee:

  Ranee is TFG's in-house surgeon, probably one of the wittiest and sweetest doctors you'll get to meet She is very keen on volunteering in numerous medical missions nationwide.  When I asked Ranee's permission to feature one of her reviews here, I told her I was desperate. I was, really. I have it in mind to introduce her here for a long time now, and I am really glad that she finally agreed this time. 

Friends, “the Doctor is IN.”

TPW:  What is your favorite genre?

Ranee:  No particular favorite, I do not know if I do have a favorite genre but most likely it would be lit-fic. 

TPW:  How would you define yourself as a reader?

Ranee:  Definitely a moody one, oh wait a sniffer! Yes, definitely a sniffer, I smell books before I read or buy them.  

But really, it is my book collection that dictates. After finishing one book, I stare at my book case and just like in a trance, I seem to hear one book trying to catch my attention telling me to read it, so I do read it. Well it does help that I am a book hoarder so I have a vast collection of (unread) books waiting for my attention.

TPW:  Thank you very much, Ranee, for sharing this review. This won't be the last, I hope!

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TFG BINGO

The Oracle is at it again! Our Reading Challenge for 2016 at the book club is called TFG Bingo. Each one of us chose a number (1-75), and each number represents a card. No two cards are alike, I presume. Now, the card is very tricky. Instead of numbers, each box could represent a book genre, topic, setting, or a certain book list found in Goodreads.

Here’s my card:

As you can see, I’ve already marked the set I wanted to pursue. I am posting this here so that I can keep track of the challenges I’ve set upon myself. Each mark will be replaced by a book title if I finish a challenge, so I think I’ll add this to my sidebar for easy access.

There is no strict rule on when each challenge should be accomplished, except that we finish it within the calendar year. But I guess I should add for myself, on this challenge, any Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) does not apply. That would be like hitting two birds with one stone, and it wouldn’t be an honest challenge at all.

TFG had been doing these challenges for years now. It’s not only fun, but a good way to further stretch our reading horizon or step out from our comfort zones. I’m glad that a good number of members still enlist themselves. And, I highly appreciate the people who take time to conceptualize and initiate these challenges (Yay!).

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2015 Reading Challenge | November

A friend, The Book Hooligan, posted his essential reading list for November late last week. It was only then that I realized that I haven't had the chance to post mine. So, here I am, in the middle of the night, typing away, whilst my dog sleeps beside me through my clicking keyboard.

Last October, I was able to finish the following books:

• Monstress by Lysley Tenorio - 4/5 stars -  TFG 's book for the October.
• Nirvana by JR Stewart - 3.5 stars - The story has a great premise based on the extinction of bees and how it affected our future. I had the chance to read both the 1st draft and the final revision, which calls for a new review. 
• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson - 4/5 stars - The book tackled the issue of PTSD from a young adult's point of view. 
• The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - 4/5 stars - I really enjoyed the adventure. Looking forward to reading the next book soon.

For November I've lined up the following:

• Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
• Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
• The Undoing by Averil Dean
• Alternative Alamat  Edited by Paolo Chikiamco

I've put The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd on hold, indefinitely, because the plot is turning tedious for my present state of being. Busy people cannot afford to be dragged down altogether by the plot, speaking from experience. 

Meanwhile, review requests are still suspended until January 2016. And although some requests try to find me in different avenues, the said schedule and the policy still applies. 

Live long and prosper!

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2015 Reading Challenge | October

Aaannnddd we are down to the last quarter! Three more months to go and my reading challenge is down to eleven books. Yes, folks. Eleven more books to conquer my reading challenge for the year. But before I start counting chicks, let me list down what I read last September.

• Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier - 3/5 stars - The premise and prose were undoubtedly good, but for some reason, it can't hold my interest together. It was just probably me, right?
• Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee - 5/5 stars - TFG's book for September, which we discussed with FFP. 
• Family Life by Akhil Sharma - 4/5 stars - A bittersweet story that will stay with me for a while.
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - 5/5 stars - A really sad book with a good, good purpose.
• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill - 3.5/5 stars - An examination of the life and (mostly) of its attachments, leaping from observation to observation.
• Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio - 4/5 stars - A delightful read for all ages. 

And while we're at it, here are the books I chose for the Banned Books Week this year...

• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson - 5/5 stars 
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier - 4/5 stars 
• It's Perfectly Normal by Robbie H. Harris - 5/5 stars

For October,

• Monstress by Lysley Tenorio -  TFG 's book for the month.
• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - A carryover from September, 47% thru the book. 
• Nirvana by JR Stewart - A carryover from September, 57% thru the book.
• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson - From my 2014 to-read-books.
• The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - From my  2015 to-read-books.

I hope to cross these off from my lists before the month is out, so keep your fingers and toes crossed for me. Thanks!

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2015 Reading Challenge | September

Hello! Isn't it exciting, the BER months are here? If time indeed flies, it zoomed. I went back to what I've read so far and realized that no matter how fast I read, there'd be more books that I need and want to read. The pile just kept on adding up. Same old story, 'no?

Here are the books I've read last August.

• Everlasting by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - 3/5 stars - The author's last book and this my closure.
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 5/5 stars - A reread. I still love it after so many years.
• A Bottle of Storm Clouds by Eliza Victoria - 3/5 stars - A short story collection from one of our local speculative fiction writers. I breezed thru this.
• The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - 5/5 stars - A heartfelt tale of an extraordinary friendship. In spite of the expected ending, I was still caught off guard and cried. I can't entirely blame it on hormones.
• Slade House by David Mitchell - 5/5 stars - ARC. Releasing this October 27. The whole reading community should be very excited.

To cut off some books from my TBR, I've decided to read a book off my 2014 list and a book off my 2015 list simultaneously, starting this month. Although, I may add more along the way as time permits. This way, I can closely monitor how I'm doing. 

• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill 
• All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I'm currently reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, a book club dare-to-read challenge. I'm terribly slow at it so I may take a while finishing. Meanwhile, TFG is reading and discussing Go Set A Watchman this September with FFP. Listened to it a week ago and Reese Witherspoon did a wonderful narration. 

Unexpected circumstances happened some time ago, and my commitments took a drastic change. It was because of these circumstances that I missed some book club F2F discussions.  Same reason why I have not been replying to most emails and review request lately. Forgive me for cutting down on requests.

Until next time! Meanwhile, have a wonderful September.

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

   

I’d like to start by saying that Aristotle (Ari) is a lonely boy, but it wouldn’t be fair and accurate. At the beginning of the story, he seemed to be content wallowing in his aloneness, bitterness, and own confusion. He rarely speaks with his family, although his mother tries. Ari’s only brother is in prison and his family avoids that story; his sisters are both far too senior from him and already married; and his father is disconnected, not by distance, but by an emotional barrier. Not that Ari himself didn’t have his own wall erected. He’s afraid of emotional attachment or emotional investment that will force him to be responsible for people’s feelings towards him. But he has too many emotions hidden inside, beautiful and sad, waiting to be let out.

I had learned to hide what I felt. No, that's not true.

There was no learning involved. I had been born knowing how to hide what I felt.

Dante, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air. His perspective is nothing but positive. Talk about optimism at its heights here. He is crazy in love with his parents, whose opinions and support he highly values. He has a beautiful mind, emotional, loves reading, and enjoys art. Dante met Ari at the local swimming pool, offered the latter swimming lessons, and they quickly clicked as friends. Throughout the story, Dante spends every effort to breakdown Ari’s wall of fear, uncertainty, and bitterness.

And it seemed to me that Dante's face was a map of the world.

A world without any darkness.Wow, a world without darkness.

How beautiful was that?

This is a slow but steady plot-driven mostly by its characters, whose likeability was a true investment. I love reading the stark difference between these two boys and their families, and how one influenced the other towards dealing with their problems. I love the realness and openness of each character. The breaking down of walls came with moments of self-discovery and life assessments.

This was what was wrong with me. All this time I had been trying to figure out the secrets of the universe, the secrets of my own body, of my own heart. All of the answers had always been so close and yet I'd always fought them without even knowing it.

Sáenz employed lyrical prose and tone that is most appealing to follow. Not everything was humorous, of course; there are plenty of hidden heartbreaks, mostly from Ari’s, but every moment can make the reader believe in the human race once again. There is something miraculous and brave about the ordinary, of friendship being rather liberating, and of discovering sexuality being worthy of some great effort, therefore inspiring.

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE is a charming read -a reflective and insightful journey of two pragmatic boys as they stagger and fight trying to discover who they really are, and was rewarded to know that the secrets of the universe weren’t hard to discover after all.

Book details:

Title:  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author:   Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Publication:  February 2012; Simon & Schuster

Genre:  YA Fiction

Rating:  ★★★★★

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F2F41, @Milkyway Cafe, Makati.
Moderated by the very preggy Maria.
Photo courtesy of Maria Ella.

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