Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe 

by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Publisher: 21 February 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Pages: 368

Series: N/A

"Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be."

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

What else can I say other that I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!

I have been hearing quite a bit of talk about this book, especially since it has won a ton of awards! Knowing all of that, I went in with my expectations very high........and this book surpassed even my highest expectations! It's rare that a book does that. 

Aristotle And Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an absolutely beautiful book that I believe everyone must read once in their lifetime. It tells the story of a young, misunderstood boy growing up and trying to discover who he is. Along the way, he makes a lifelong friend who is having just as hard of a time at life as him. Together, these two boys go on an incredible journey. 

I was never disappointed with this book. Yes, it was slightly predictable in the end, but getting there was a roller coaster that I did not mind riding all the way to the very tippy top. It was honest, and raw, and everything that you could want in a novel.

I'm not going to say anything else and let you all just go and read this beautiful, amazing, one of a kind book for yourselves. 

-Shawnee Smith

Library Haul!

I just got a nice little haul from the library today! That's one of the perks of being gone on vacation - when you get back, you have a lot of books to read! 

  

Honey Girl by Lisa Freeman

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton

 

Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu

Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

I can't wait to start reading all of these fabulous books I don't even know which one to start with, my choices are so good!!! <3

-Shawnee Smith

Review: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

Publisher: 17 March 2015 by Dial Books

Pages: 390

Series: N/A

"Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be."

Okay, coming from someone who HATES politics (no, seriously, I hate politics...and my brother is a politician too, so I'm around it all the time), I really enjoyed this book!

There have been quite a few plots lately where someone discovers who their long lost parent is and their world gets turned upside down because of where they come from, and The Wrong Side of Right it sort of like that. Only with a twist. Kate's dad is running to become the President...............of the United States of America. Dang. 

I don't blame Kate for wanting to know her dad, especially since her mom passed away a year earlier, but seriously, sometimes I think Kate made some wrong decisions. Sometimes she needed to get a spine and tell people where they can stick it. I could tell that Kate was a strong person, a strong character, but she just needed some more confidence in herself. 

Let's talk about this star crossed lovers thing that went on. Kate's love interest is none other than the son of the current President running for a second term. If that's not a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, I don't know what is. I really did like Andrew though. He comes off as a playboy prankster in the beginning, but you slowly start to see his true colors. I enjoyed his personality and thought it brought a lot of color to the book.

In my opinion, even if you don't like politics, you will still enjoy this book. There was quite a bit of action and intrigue and I think it is definitely one to read!

-Shawnee Smith

My Vacation!

I had a great time on my vacation to Las Vegas!

I read three books while I was gone...

  

The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass

Love, Lucy by April Lindner

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1) by Sara Raasch

and I bought Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch as a little treat to myself one night.

And I found the most amazing rare books store in the middle of one of the shopping centers! I mean look at these pictures!

 

 

 

There were whole walls covered with rare books and I just wanted to hold all of them! But sadly I wasn't allowed to touch :( Luckily they let me take some pictures!

I also visited some of the cool spots like a real tourist!

 

 

And I ventured outside of the city to The Valley of Fire to look at some Petroglyphs...

  

and to the Hoover Dam where I took the obligitory 'I'm in two places at once' photo! (For those of you who don't know, the Hoover Dam is located on the border of Nevada and Arizona.)

 

So that was my vacation! I'm leaving again for another one in a few days and I'm super excited! I probably won't post while I'm gone on that one either, so I apologize in advance! 

-Shawnee Smith