Read Discuss Repeat Virtual Book Club: Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz!!

Today I'm reviewing March's book for my virtual book club, Read Discuss Repeat! I managed to finish it on March 31st, cutting it quite close this time! I couldn't join the chats on Wiggio but I'm hoping I'll be able to for April's book! The best thing about a book club is reading those books you might have wondered about but didn't try before and even some books that are not your usual read.

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

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was March's book for my virtual book club (Read Discuss Repeat) and I was quite pleased when it was selected cause I had thought of reading it, but wasn't sure about it. This was the right push, and boy am I glad that I read it.

This book is a wonderful and lyrical coming of age story. Two boys growing up, discovering who they are, forging a friendship and discovering how to deal with who they are.

This is not only the story that any guy having doubts about his own self and his own sexuality should read, it is also a book anyone that ever wondered who they really are and what defines who they are would want to read.

Both Ari and Dante and fantastic characters, very different, very real and have you rooting for them since page one. I also loved how present their parents are. Their families don't need to be perfect because they all have to work through things, but they are together and want to help each other, and even if it hurts, in the end they find a way to communicate.

Ari is the one that has the hardest road to walk, because he seems to be the one that is harder on himself and has more silence around him at home. His mother is a wonderful character that is always trying to reach his fifteen year old son and that worries about him in a way that he can't fully understand.

Dante might have a different fight ahead of himself, but he seem to accept himself as he is more easily than Ari does. He becomes Ari's best friend and the one that helps him get out of himself for the first time.

A wonderful book that made me cry rivers but also left me with a truly wonderful feeling. Very much recommended and easily a 4.5 to 5 stars read!



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Mark This Book Monday: ARC Review of Over The Rainbow by Brian Rowe!

I have a few reviews for this week's Mark This Book(s) Monday and hopefully I'll manage to work all of them in!

For starters, I'm gonna start with a book that comes out tomorrow, and I think you need to give it a try!


Over the Rainbow by Brian  Rowe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was intrigued by this books blurb and requested and ARC via NetGalley, and I have to say I'm very glad I did. This book has such a quirky, fun and positive story, despite the very tough subjects it touches, that made me smile and root for Zippy from page 1!

The play on the Wizard of Oz story starts with the title, and continues in many small ways, from the finding 3 companions and a dog (named Judy, which I think it's a reference to Judy Garland that played the original Dorothy in the movie) to making their way to the Emerald City, in this case referring to Seattle (apparently is the official nickname for the city) where each one of the travellers expect to find something... The journey is full of strange & wondrous things, and not exempt of danger.

Our Dorothy in this book is Zippy, a sweet & quirky girl from Kansas, full of spirit and about to be sent away to an anti-gay camp by her zealot homophobe of her father. She manages to run away from him at the airport in the most improbable and hilarious way and unconventionally boards a plane to Seattle, so she can finally meet Mira, the girl she's been in love (and talking online) for two years.

Then the first twist happens, with the plane crashing when the pilots and most of the passengers simply dissapear, and Zippy finds her first companion, Frankie. The story progresses with them trying to figure what has happened, how the world is suddenly changing and trying to get to Seattle by land. They encounter the rest of the troupe and quite a few adventures along the way. I will only say one word: DINOSAURS!

We also have a few bits of the narrative from Zippy's father POV, which are quite disturbing, since I could never find myself understanding such anger, such determination to not be able to love his daughter as she is, and such clinging on hate to those who are different.

The end of the journey is one full of hope and a lesson on how we can be the ones to make our world a better place, with our own choices. This book has a very important message, one of positivity, and also is adds more diversity to the YA narrative, with a LGBT main character and secondary characters.

I'd really recommend this book to everyone who wants to enjoy a good book and love quirky & funny bits with dinosaurs in them! Very well deserved 4 stars!



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