Book Review | Artistotle 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
Published by Simon & Schuster Books on February 21, 2012
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Pages: 370
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased
Goodreads: ★★★★★

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. 

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.

REVIEW

I've heard amazing things about Aristotle and Dante for months now, and decided to pick up the Kindle book when it was the Teen Daily Deal a few months back. I knew nothing about the story going into it, besides the fact that Ari and Dante were best friends. I am so glad I picked up this beautiful book, and highly recommend you do the same! 

Aristotle and Dante is told from the first person in Ari's point of view and takes place over the course of two years beginning in 1987. Readers follow Ari as he meets Dante for the first time, and how their unique friendship blossoms as the two teens experience the trials and times of growing up. Ari is a unique narrator, with an easy-to-read voice that has an air of mystery. Just as Ari and Dante are trying to discover the secrets of the universe, I was seeking the secrets surrounding Ari and Dante. 

Sáenz does an extraordinary job in this book when it comes to revealing secrets to the reader. Very early on in the book I had a theory about the ending that turned out the be correct. Yet despite the predictability of the story, I find that the end was not the most important message. Instead, Ari and Dante's journey to the end is extremely meaningful, and I know it will help young readers grapple with their own coming of age. 

As I mentioned above, I entered Aristotle and Dante blind, and I think that is a wonderful way to experience this story. I am purposefully vague in this review, but know that I think this is an amazing book, and I can't think of one thing to criticize. If you're looking for a great, young adult contemporary to pick up, this is the perfect choice.

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Broadway | Honeymoon in Vegas

Honeymoon in Vegas starring Tony Danza officially opened on Broadway this month, so I wanted to share my thoughts on the show with all of you. I attended a preview performance of this musical on the second day of previews, so keep in mind that the show may have changed a little, and I'm sure it will be more polished now that the actors are familiar with it. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed Honeymoon in Vegas and am highly recommending it!

Honeymoon in Vegas is a musical comedy centering on Jack and Betsy, a young couple living in New York. They've been dating for a while, and despite wanting to tie the knot, Jack is haunted by a curse put on him by his late mother telling him never to get married. In an effort to save his relationship, Jack decides that he and Betsy should travel to Vegas to finally become husband and wife. Of course, things go wrong along the way, and casino owner Tommy Korman, played by Tony Danza, tries to steal Betsy away from Jack. Despite this somewhat-complicated plot, Honeymoon in Vegas is downright hilarious. It has surprise elements, and always kept me wanting more.

My only disappointment with the show is that the vocals are not very strong. As I mentioned before, I saw Honeymoon in Vegas on the second day of previews, but several of the lead actors were struggling to hit their notes in many of the songs. I hope this improved at the time of opening, but even though the vocals were a bit lacking, I still had a great time during the performance.

I also want to mention that Honeymoon in Vegas is playing at the Nederlander Theatre. My friend and I rushed the show, and got tickets in the Front Mezzanine for $32.00. The seating is extremely squished, with no leg room whatsoever. I was uncomfortable during the show, but this is an old theatre and unfortunately bound to happen more often than not when attending a Broadway performance. I point it out because if you need space or have a bad back, you will want to contact the box office to see if they can accommodate you.

Finally, if you want to rush Honeymoon in Vegas, I recommend getting there about an hour before the box office opens. We were there an hour and half early, and no one else showed up until closer to opening time. However, that may have changed now that the show is officially open! Rush tickets are cash only, so run to the ATM before getting in line.

In the end, if you are looking for a super fun musical to attend on Broadway, I think Honeymoon in Vegas is a perfect choice. It's great for families or date night, as it includes elements that everyone will love. You can visit the show's official website HERE for more information. As always, if you've seen this show please let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Snapshot Sunday | Book Stack Edition

I'm back with a new Snapshot Sunday after being away for a few weeks on winter break! This week I'm showcasing my current TBR ("to be read") pile instead of a city snapshot since I'm spending my weekend in my apartment and not the frozen tundra that is Manhattan. I've already finished The Giver and have moved on to An Italian Wife. It's so great to be reading in the New Year! Tell me what you're currently reading in the comments! 

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez

When I saw the cover of When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez on NetGalley I immediately hit the "Request" button. Okay, so maybe I looked at the synopsis first to make sure it was something I was interested in, and when the first line read that it was 13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson, I was intrigued to say the least. I sat down to read When Reason Breaks on a chilly Saturday and finished it that day.

When Reason Breaks follows two sixteen-year-old girls as they begin their sophomore year of high school. The story opens with a chilling suicide scene that takes place in March. The cryptic scene is a startling yet captivating way to begin the book, as the next chapter jumps back eight months so the reader can come to understand the backstory.

Emily and Emily Elizabeth (known as Elizabeth in the story) are the two protagonists. When Reason Breaks is told in the third person, and for the first 40 or so pages I was extremely confused because I didn't realize the book was following two characters. It wasn't until Elizabeth flicks off Emily on the school bus that it finally clicked. This was a bit frustrating to me, as in hindsight I understand why the author chose for the girls to have such similar names, but for me as a reader it was not a great way to start the book.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy much of When Reason Breaks. Throughout the book, readers can never be 100% sure what exactly is going on in both Emily and Elizabeth's lives. The third person narrative helps to keep the mystery surrounding their stories alive, and I kept turning pages to find out which details would be revealed next. For instance, Emily seems to have it all together – she's perfect and popular, has great friends and a caring boyfriend, but something is lurking beneath that haunts her. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is the stereotypical "bad girl" who is always getting into trouble. It's only logical that their English teacher Ms. Diaz pairs the two together for a project, and that they slowly start opening up to one another.

On the other hand, there were several things in When Reason Breaks that led me to give the book a 3 out of 5 star rating on Goodreads. First, the author incorporates the Spanish language into the story, as Emily is Latina. I thought it was great to include some diversity in the book, but unfortunately the phrases used were not translated, and it was not easy to detect their meanings from the surrounding language. I say this because I do speak Spanish, and while I could understand the phrases she used, I know that non-Spanish speakers would have trouble with those sections. Furthermore, some of the Spanish grammar was incorrect, which very much surprised me. Thus, the lack of translations and incorrect usage detracted from the overall story for me.

In the same way, Rodriguez mentions geographic location only passively in When Reason Breaks. I know that the story must take place in New England, because Emily's brother Austin attends Amherst College and Ms. Diaz notes that Emily Dickinson lived nearby. However, it is never stated exactly where the high school is located, and that was annoying to me. I'm assuming that the book is set in Connecticut, as there was a Red Sox–Yankees split between characters, and because Rodriguez herself is from Connecticut. However, the book would be much stronger with a written setting, as it wouldn't leave the reader wondering exactly where the characters are.

My last main criticism of the story deals with the issue of suicide. I think it is great that When Reason Breaks sheds light on a controversial issue that affects too many teenagers each year. Mental illness and suicide are so stigmatized that the more literature about it the better. However, I think Rodriguez did not take the issue far enough. What I mean is, it was not clear in the story why the character was suicidal. We don't get to see what's going on in her head, and we don't get to read her journal (that we know exists). It would be extremely helpful to know more about what the character was going through in order to help spot the signs of suicide, and so readers can begin to recognize these signs in real life. Suicide is a very serious topic, and When Reason Breaks only scratched the surface of it.

In the end, I am glad I read When Reason Breaks. It is a good young adult contemporary, and a promising debut for Rodriguez. I thought the incorporation of Emily Dickinson's work and life into the story was quite interesting, and made for something unique. I do recommend this book for contemporary lovers, but want to mention this is on the younger side of young adult. When Reason Breaks is available for pre-order on Amazon HERE and will be released on February 10, 2015.

I received this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | Soulprint by Megan Miranda

I've always been interested in the idea of reincarnation, so when I discovered Soulprint by Megan Miranda on NetGalley I knew I had to request this title for review! Plus, check out how awesome this cover is! If that doesn't scream intriguing I don't know what does.

Soulprint is a young adult science fiction book that follows main character Alina Chase who has lived her seventeen years on an island. This island is not a tropical paradise, but a prison. Alina is confined because of her soul, which belonged to notorious criminal June Calahan. New technology has allowed scientists to track the life of souls from one person to another, and it is believed that personality traits transfer with souls. Thus, Alina lives a solitary life to ensure she can't continue what June started before her.

Yet Alina has been planning to escape her island for seven months ever since she received a secret message in her science homework. As the day arrives, she wonders who will help her get out, and if they will be successful. Soulprint follows Alina as she gets off the island and attempts to clear her soul's name before she is captured by authorities.

I thought Soulprint's premise was really interesting. I've never read a book in which the concept focused on the reincarnation of the soul, so I wanted to see how Miranda would develop the story. I thought the book had excellent pacing, as there was enough detail in each scene to fully play out the story but at the same time I was compelled to keep turning pages at a fast rate.

However, there were a few things that fell totally flat for me. First, there is a huge plot hole in the early half of the book that really takes a lot of creditability out of the story. In one scene, a car is pushed into the water so that it cannot be found. Yet later the characters retrieve the vehicle, which is miraculously out of the water. This seems to be an editing mistake. Second, there is major insta-love in Soulprint. In fact, I've never read a book with such instantaneous insta-love before, and it really annoyed me. Finally, the ending to the book was not believable at all. Thus, these three factors together led me to give the book a 3 out of 5 on Goodreads.

All in all, Soulprint is a fun read that I think is really unique. I do wish Miranda focused more on the main plot of discovering June's past life and left the romance behind, but I would recommend this book if you enjoy science fiction or if you're interested in exploring reincarnation in fiction. Soulprint will be released on February 3, 2015 and is available for preorder on Amazon HERE.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Broadway | Side Show (+ 2 for 1 Coupon Code!)

Today I am very excited to share my thoughts on the Broadway musical Side Show with all of you. I had the amazing opportunity to attend the show yesterday specifically so I could review it. I honestly had no idea what to expect from this show. All I knew was that it chronicled the life of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. I had no idea how incredible the performance would be!

Side Show is, in fact, based on the real lives of the Hilton sisters. As the show opens, the sisters are performing in a side show run by Sir, their abusive legal guardian. The opening number, Come Look at the Freaks, is haunting and mystical, and I was captivated right away. I have to give a major shout out to the makeup artists and costume designers for Side Show. They do an amazing job transforming the performers into their characters.

Side Show continues with the sisters being discovered by Terry Connor and his friend, Buddy Foster. They convince Daisy and Violet to leave the side show life behind so they can become Vaudeville performers. The story chronicles what that transition is like, and the trials and tribulations the twins must face on a daily basis. The audience also learns of the girls' horrific past, and their desire to just be normal. Side Show is thus emotionally charged, and lives up to its tagline of "It will never leave you."

I highly recommend Side Show, especially if you are looking for a different kind of Broadway musical. Side Show is truly unlike any other show I've ever seen, which is quite refreshing. I was blown away by the talented cast, and even got choked up several times by the beyond incredible vocals behind each song. (Honestly, every time Jake sang I got a bit watery-eyed.) However, Side Show  is inspiring and definitely has scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny. It is a delightful combination of elements that builds up to a powerful Broadway production.

If you live in New York or will be visiting soon, I am excited to announce that I have a coupon code to share with you! From now until January 4, 2015, use the code SS241RSH on the Telecharge website HERE and you will receive two tickets for the price of one! That is an amazing deal, and I highly recommend you take advantage of the savings while you can. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed Side Show, and I think it is a must see. In fact, this is a show I would see again in a heartbeat!

I am also really excited for the Cast Album! Feel free to preorder it on Amazon HERE. Of course, if you've seen Side Show, please share your thoughts in the comments!

I received a free ticket to Side Show in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Snapshot Sunday | The Holiday Season

It's officially the Christmas season here in NYC. A couple weeks back I visited Rockefeller Center and had to take a picture of the beautiful angels lined up. At the time, the tree was still covered up with a huge tarp. Hopefully I will one day see the tree in all its glory! It's such a shame I have final exams when the tree goes up – maybe next year!