Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Universe
Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Language: English
Genres: Young-adult, Romance, Fiction
359 pages


  "I bet you could sometimes find all the secret of the universe in someone's hand"

  Have you ever read a book and scream out loud because the emotions is too much or put the book down for a while just because you can't read through your tears?
This book will definitely makes you.
Aristotle and and Dante is a total perfection.  I know i've been reading too much m/m fiction lately, well forgive me i can't help it.  :')
     From the title you might assume this book is about historical story beetween the two philosophers, but no it's not, I'm telling you. this is a young-adult novel about two sixteen years old boys named Dante and Ari. Aristotle Mendoza, a confused Mexican teenager is the one who's telling the story from his point of view. Ari is kind of melancholy boy, he's angry and sad all the time because of the burden of his brother who is in prison and because he can't always answer some questions like why his father never speak a word to him about the war he went through in Vietnam. Ari considers himself unknowable and lil bit antisocial, he never had a real friend. Not until he met Dante Quintana one summer.       Dante is like the opposite of Ari because he's always happy and affectionate most of the time. From Ari POV, Dante is good looking and perfect in every way, he's like a walking sun who will burn everything around him. Dante talks alot and Ari is a good listener, in no time the became best friend, together they discover the secret of the universe (literally). This story is more than about friendship, but also about parenthood, young to adult transition, and queer relationships back in 90's.
     The story is beautifully written, every chapter has it's own surprise and the way Benjamin Alire Saenz deliver every point and thought is wonderful and easy to read. I fall in love with most of the character in this book because they're beautifully described, like they're a real living person who has feelings and anxiety of their own.
      Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Universe had been in the top of my reading list since i finished The Song of Achilles, but never found the actual book (or because the price is too damn high) i must be satisfied enough with the e-book version.
     Despite of that, i'm totally in love with this book, every chapters and words. I can't put it down.

“To get what you want, you have to know exactly how much you are willing to give up."

― C.S. Pacat, Captive Prince: Volume Two

Judul: The Song of Achilles
Penulis: Madeline Miller
Tebal: 269 halaman (e-book)
Bahasa: Inggris
Penerbit: HarperCollins

"Name one hero who was happy."
"..."
"You can't."
"I can't."
"I know, they never let you be famous and happy. I'll tell you a secret."
"Tell me."
"I'm going to be the first, swear it."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the reason, swear it."
"I swear."

       Siapa yang nggak kenal dengan nama pahlawan mitologi dari yunani kuno ini: Achilles. Nama hero yang baru- baru ini ada di lagu 'Something Just Like This'-nya Coldplay, dan terkenal karena kekuatannya yang dibilang lebih dari Hercules/Heracles, beberapa mungkin tau dari film Troy (2004). Siapapun yang tertarik dengan cerita tentang dewa- dewi yunani dan perang- perangan pasti bakal suka dengan cerita ini. Eitss, tapi ada warning buat yang nggak tertarik dengan cerita romance terutama karena yang satu ini agak beda dari yang lain.
     Alur ceritanya sendiri diceritakan melalui sudut pandang Patroclus, pangeran dari Opus, yang di umur 10 tahun diasingkan oleh ayahnya sendiri karena sudah membunuh anak seumurannya (accidentally). Patroclus diasingkan ke kerajaan tetangga, Phthia. Nah, di situ semunya berawal. Patroclus di-bully oleh anak-anak lain karena statusnya sebagai pembunuh. Dan di situ juga Patroclus bertemu dengan putra mahkota Phthia, siapa lagi kalau bukan Achilles. Awalnya Patroclus agak minder dan bisa dibilang iri ke Achilles yang serba 'perfect', punya segala karakter pangeran yang nggak bercela, ramah, cakep, jadi kesanyangan dan panutan semua orang di kerajaan itu, dibandingkan Patroclus yang bukan siapa- siapa lagi melainkan pangeran buangan, pembunuh, lemah, dan ceroboh.
    But unexpectedly, kayak disamber geledek, Achilles menghadap langsung ke ayahnya, Peleus (Raja Phthia) untuk jadiin Patroclus sebagai Heteroi-nya, atau bisa dibilang penasihat, pelindung, saudara, partner, dan sahabat terdekat yang pernah dimiliki seorang pangeran.
Imagine how great it would goes.
    Secara teknik, novel ini adalah 'fanfiction' dari "The Iliad" of Homer, asal mula dari cerita ini ini sendiri. Bedanya, Iliad adalah literatur dari yunani kuno umurnya sudah berabad- abad yang lalu, alur ceritanya (mungkin, soalnya belum pernah baca) lebih fokus ke perperangan di Troy dan sebab akibat perang itu terjadi, dengan salah satu tokoh utamanya tetap Achilles sendiri. Sedangkan di TSoA, Madelline Miller punya cara sendiri untuk menceritakan kisah hidup tokoh paling penting si The Iliad selain Achilles, yaitu Patroclus dengan cara yang bisa bikin siapapun yang bacanya jadi senyum kegirangan di awal, dan nangis sampai kejang- kejang di akhir cerita (oops!).
     Baru- baru ini aku komplain tentang All the Bright Places yang sedihnya minta ampun. tapi aku berani bilang kali ini, bahwa The Song of Achilles punya efek yang berjuta- juta kali lipat sakitnya dibandingkan novel- novel lain.
TFiOS? lewat!
A Walk to Remember? lebih lagi!
     Walaupun cerita antara Achilles dan Patroclus sudah ada sejak ratusan tahun yang lalu dan kebanyakan orang sudah tau gimana endingnya. tetap. setiap chapter di buku ini kayak mata pisau yang siap menyayat- nyayat hati siapapun yang bacanya (lebay? i know.)
Siapapun.
TSoA.
Read it.