Goddamn if it isn’t harrowing.
It starts off slow, with not much going on besides Aristotle's slowly budding friendship with Dante and the ever-present mystery of the missing brother. Aristotle spends much of the book lost and confused; many tragic events pile on to him like the fever, the car crash, Dante's trip, and the Ileana crush. Despite that, Ari never gives up, and he slowly gets to understand his place in the world.
I like the short, realistic dialogue, even if it's a bit hard to read sometimes. The letters remind me a lot of the Color Purple, in fact a lot of the book has similarities to it. There's a lot of slice-of-life type fluff and filler, but they all contribute to the story and help to enhance the mood.
One thing that's especially notable is the depiction of loneliness and solitude; I find it especially strong. A lot of time is simply spent with Aristotle's feelings, and while his character takes a while to get fleshed out, it's worth it in the end. I like how both Aristotle and Dante are strange and weird in different ways, but they still understand each other. I also love how the two kids' families are weaved together and become friends as well.
I mean, it’s not just a gay romance. That’s really what I’m putting down. Aristotle And Dante has really interesting things going own, no matter who you are; check it out!
by Kaenu_Reeves