Sáenz,Benjamin Alire--The Inexplicable Logic of My Life informal buddy read starts July 10, 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is open to discuss The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.



Synopsis
The first day of senior year:

Everything is about to change. Until this moment, Sal has always been certain of his place with his adoptive gay father and their loving Mexican-American family. But now his own history unexpectedly haunts him, and life-altering events force him and his best friend, Samantha, to confront issues of faith, loss, and grief.

Suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and discovering that he no longer knows who he really is—but if Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he?

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Res

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

res

[Eldarwen]

I loved Aristotle and Dante and I hope this one will be able to follow in its footsteps!

[Tina ❣]

Ohhhhhh I didn't know he had written Aristotle and Dante! I've been meaning to read that book for a while

(Team Tonks)

[Alanna]

Aristotle and Dante was so good, and I got this book for almost nothing as an ebook a while back. Should probably get it read, so I'm in!

[Alanna]

I started a day early because I finished my last book early but without enough time to read something else. And y'all, my heart. Aristotle and Dante was primarily about the two MCs and their relationship, but this one is a lot wider, I think. I'm a bit over 25% done and I have feels.

[Eldarwen]

Sounds promising! :-)

I'm going to be late in reading this as I have another two books to finish up.

[Alanna]

Eldarwen wrote: "Sounds promising! :-)

I'm going to be late in reading this as I have another two books to finish up."

I, uh...it's 3 in the morning here and I just finished. I cried so hard I have a headache.

[Eldarwen]

Ooooh noooo o.O

Ok, I will read it in peace and quiet then hehe, and not drag it along to work to read in public ;-)
Thanks for the warning!

[Eldarwen]

Sorry, sorry, it took me a while but will start this tomorrow! Aaaand, if it goes well, I might get a good chunk read so we can talk a little :-)

I hope your tears have dried in the meantime! ;-)

[Eldarwen]

I'm up to page 66 in my edition, about to start the chapter called "Fito".

Doing a BR makes me realise that not having chapter numbers is going to make this a little difficult haha but I generally like that the chapters don't have numbers but actual titles.

So far, I'm enjoying this. Salvador is an interesting character and I really like the relationship he has with his father. Sam is a bit of an oddball but their friendship seems to work pretty well.

It's already shaping up to be an interesting ride with just the first handful of chapters!

[Tina ❣]

I'm not sure that I can read this soon! I'll let you know if I can join in. I have quite a few books to catch up on for buddy reads and I'm back at university. D:

[Eldarwen]

I'll read this at the same time as the current BOM and the previous BOM so I'll take it slow so you can try and catch up - depending on how things go for you :-)

I know the problem of having to catch up on BRs all too well haha.

[Eldarwen]

Very fast read this - I can see why you got through it so quickly, Alanna!

I finished up the first two parts. No chapter numbers but parts, so that's helpful hehe.

A lot is going on now and (view spoiler)[not all of it is good, while also being part of life. Both Sal and Sam will have a lot to deal with and it's going to be great to see how they'll handle it all, especially since they're already struggling with finding their way in this world.

I can't help but wonder when Salvador is finally going to talk to Vicente about his thoughts on his biological father. Sooner or later, those thoughts are going to become even more of an issue for him than they are now. (hide spoiler)]

I love all the characters. They are all great in their own ways. I think my favourite might be Vicente.

[Alanna]

Eldarwen wrote: "Very fast read this - I can see why you got through it so quickly, Alanna!

I finished up the first two parts. No chapter numbers but parts, so that's helpful hehe.

A lot is going on now and not a..."

Vicente is definitely one of my two favorite characters.

One of the things I like most about Saenz's writing is how in-the-moment it feels. Like, from my new shiny adult perspective I can see how teenagery Sal is being, but I also remember having these same existential crisis feelings for what must have seemed from the outside to be no reason. Sal is starting the grieving process, but other than that Saenz isn't giving him false reasons for his feelings and I love that.

[Eldarwen]

Mmhh, you're right. I love that about the way Sal is written, or the way Ari was written even. You're just right there with him, inside his head while he is wondering what on earth is going on with himself and the world/life.

I like that he is a teenager, acts like one, thinks like one, but at the same time, even though there are no particular reasons for some of his behaviour or thought process ((view spoiler)[the punching for example (hide spoiler)]), he doesn't feel like these annoying teenagers in some other YA novels. He has things to process, to figure out but he isn't a whiny git about it and throwing tantrums. Instead, he is there for the people who need him despite the inner turmoil.

In short, I like him :-)

I've finished part three now.

[Eldarwen]

What is your other favourite character? Since you said Vicente was one of them. Is the second one Sal or someone else?

[Tina ❣]

I started this tonight. It’s 1:31am now and I should be getting enough sleep for work tomorrow but I haven’t!

I was surprised at how this book has gripped me so far. I’m up to page 118 in my ebook. Chapter 33 in part two.

I’m glad you’re taking your time Eldarwen! I have caught up on a few buddy reads. But still have a few more
I had to restrict myself from signing up for more.

I’ll post my thoughts on your comments and this book tomorrow hopefully

[Eldarwen]

Haha, seems to be a trend with this book! Staying up late and not getting enough sleep ;-)

I'm happy to hear though that you're able to join in and caught up on some other BRs!

I had to restrict myself as well.... less so this month because there weren't as many books that caught my fancy for July, but I really, really wanted to read two more books that popped up for BRs at the end of June but I just wouldn't have been able to manage.

[Alanna]

Eldarwen wrote: "What is your other favourite character? Since you said Vicente was one of them. Is the second one Sal or someone else?"

Fito. Always appreciate an intelligent booky character.

[Eldarwen]

Absolutely. Fito is great. And I like that he makes the best out of the lot life has given him.

[Eldarwen]

Finished Part Four - an interesting one!

Sam (view spoiler)[is coming along nicely, dealing with her new circumstances, growing up while doing so and I liked the end of this part where she just slapped Sal for being overbearing and basically a dick, not just to Eddie but to her as well.

Granted, Eddie could use a few choice words coming his way, but attacking him just like that without knowing why he is talking to Sam or what he is saying, that was uncalled for. Ordering Sam to go inside was even more uncalled for. So it was good that she stood up to Salvie and slapped him to make those things clear to him. (hide spoiler)]

Salvie (view spoiler)[is still not really working through his issues but at least he starts to see where his problems are. And he is such a good guy. The things he does for his dad, for Sam, for Fito, for Mima, it's great!

But the anger.. yeah.. he needs to figure out the root of it and then deal with it. Like Sam though, I'm confident he'll be able to figure it all out. (hide spoiler)]

The world needs more guys like the ones in this book. It really, truly does.

[Eldarwen]

Finished Part Five.

I am loving this. Sáenz writes coming of age in a truly fantastic way.

Fito: (view spoiler)[That guy is something else entirely. So young and in some ways far more adult than many adults. Life dealt him a crappy hand and he nevertheless goes through life doing his thing.

Even when his life takes a turn for even worse, he runs with it and still tries to make the most of it.

He is also lucky in that he has a couple of great friends who are there for him when things are terrible. I love how they all, without even seriously discussing these things, take Fito under their wing and care for him as if it were the most normal thing in the world. (hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

Finished the book.

LOVED it.

And definitely some tears towards the end, but a whole lot of smiling as well.

[Tina ❣]

I finished too! I was reading it at night before I went to sleep. I have not had time to post things the past two days.

I loved this! I'm glad I read it.

I definitely agree with you both about how well written these teenagers are. I kind of wish I knew them. You know what they have is special.

And I really like how Sal and Sam aren't (view spoiler)[pitted as a romantic love. They have the sibling love going on and it's rare to see two main characters have that in young adult. (hide spoiler)]

But damn. Why do they all have to (view spoiler)[be without parents? (hide spoiler)] Eldarwen - I agree. Fito is kind of amazing. To not be on the path to where his mother was. I think it's admirable.

A few tears shed for me to. But I'm not torn up inside. I like how this book has made me feel. Glad I've read it

[Eldarwen]

I agree!

Sam and Sal are (view spoiler)[a great pair and I absolutely love the fact that there is no petty love thing or even love triangle going! They are brother and sister from the start, even if Sam did teach Sal how to kiss haha. (hide spoiler)]

Very true about the parent thing. (view spoiler)[It was kind of rough that they all ended up without parents. But maybe that's also what makes them gravitate toward each other? I mean Sal and Sam have known each other from a very young age, but they both know what it's like growing without parents, or without perfect parents.

And instead of acting out like brats, they learn to use that knowledge to become nice people who don't mind helping out a friend. (hide spoiler)]

But Fito.. yes. I think he's definitely the best out of the three teenagers. A hell of a strong personality to not let himself be dragged down that road when it would be so easy, considering his family and environment.

[Eldarwen]

I was also happy for Vicente. (view spoiler)[Marcos might have hurt him before but I think their love was sort of the real deal for both of them and even if it took Marcos a while to figure out that he didn't need to be scared of his own feelings, I'm glad that they managed to work it out.

And once again, I'm also glad that while Sal (and Sam by extension) was suspicious of Marcos, he didn't act out and hurl abuse at the man, or treat him like shit. (Unlike teenagers in a lot of other YA novels.) (hide spoiler)]

But if you liked this one, you should really also read Ari and Dante. :-)

[Tina ❣]

I did think it was funny when Sal mentioned to his dad that Sam taught him that! I kept thinking... (view spoiler)['okay here it comes, the secret romance that Sal has for Sam'. But nope! (hide spoiler)]

Parents - (view spoiler)[That's what I thought. I found it interesting that the three had dead mothers and inadequate biological fathers (Fito's dad was okay, at least he tried). They sort of adopted each other as well. (hide spoiler)]

And yes! I actually really love how Sáenz addressed Sal's anger. I think it would help a lot of teenagers understand themselves and learn how to deal with it. I don't think anger is talked much about in high schools and I think it should be.

Vincente - Good points! (view spoiler)[I think how Vincente came to accept Marcos' apology and explanation was done realistically. The acceptance of him into the family as well.
I think it's important to read books where the characters are realistic, relatable, and possible to use as a role model. I know when I was in my young teens, the books I read helped shape who I am today (mainly Harry Potter and the Georgia Nicholson series). I think it would help teenagers relatable to Fito know that there's good in the world and help available. (hide spoiler)]

But yeah! I definitely want to read Aristotle and Dante. Hopefully in August.

[Eldarwen]

That is true. There is a severe lack of important topics in school anyway, but anger is definitely not something I remember coming across as an emotion that needs to be dealt with correctly.


I agree - (view spoiler)[and it might also give teenagers in Fito's position the courage not to give up and that it is important to go your own way, to do your thing to make your dreams come true. (hide spoiler)]

What is the Georgia Nicholson series? Never heard that name before.

[Tina ❣]

Yes definitely! Fito as role model!

The Georgia Nicholson is written by Louise Rennison. There's 10 books and the first one is
The 1st and 2nd books were made into a movie.
It's basically about a teenage in England, her friends, her family, her boy obsession and hilarity

[Eldarwen]

Sounds fun! I'm not the biggest fan of journal-style books but I might give it a go.