Download PDF The Inexplicable Logic of My Life Benjamin Alire Saenz Books

Product details Age Range 12 and up Grade Level 7 - 9 Paperback 464 pages Publisher Clarion Books; Reprint edition (October 23, 2018) Language English ISBN-10 1328498026

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life Benjamin Alire Saenz Books Reviews

• With The Inexplicable Logic of my Life, author Benjamin Alire Saenz returns to a theme of his first novel Carry Me Like Water the idea of what makes a family. I loved his exploration of that in the first novel, and I love that he again tackles the subject in this beautiful novel for young adults. While many think that blood determines family, I have long believed we make our own family, quilted together from those that we love and that love us, blood-related or not. The Inexplicable Logic of my Life tells of high school senior Salvador; his best friend Samantha; his father Vicente—the man who adopted him; his friend Fito; and his loving grandmother Mima, Vicente’s mother. There is not even a tiny bit of blood connecting Salvador to any of these people, and yet they are his family, bonded more tightly than any family ever. The novel is a tale of love and loss. There is plenty of death in this book, but there is no drama. Saenz writes of life, in all its simplicities and complexities, and life includes death. But one thing I particularly liked here is that the author makes clear something I’ve long believed nobody ever dies; they live on in our hearts, guiding us and comforting us when we need them. And this is a powerful message to teen readers who, mostly, have not experienced much loss in their young lives. It is also a truth that those who have had loss need to hear. And Saenz makes his point quietly, beautifully, and with evocative poetry. This is the kind of great writing that teen readers need to experience. The narrative flows, the characters are true, and all the while, there is an underlying current of song. Saenz also speaks of the duality of the human spirit. He pointedly has Samantha call Salvador by the effeminate nickname Sally, while Salvador calls Samantha Sam. Through this suggestion, we see that these are full rich people, embodying stereotypical traits that we associate with both sexes. Sam is tough, yet tender. Salvador is sweet, yet combatant. And we, as readers, know that this is what makes people full and great. The Inexplicable Logic of my Life is a lovely achievement, a novel of power and beauty. It proudly takes its place on the shelf with its author’s other fine novels, for Benjamin Alire Saenz is one of our best.
• If possible I would give this book more stars Mr Benjamin Alire Saenz does nothing but pour all his love into his words and as I mentioned on my tweet on regards to this book I wonder how I could possibly write a review on a book that reaches so deep into our hearts and makes us feel all these emotions we laugh, cry, get a bit angry with the world no bueno but mostly we love....Salvador or Sally as Sam calls him grows up in this Mexican American family fitting in but questioning how much he fits in we get to go in this ride of emotions where Salvie is getting to know himself he wasn't an adult, he wasn't a man but he wasn't a boy anymore... we also get to meet Sammy this spark of life that pushes Sally out of his shell he loves her to death and Fito who was dealt not the best hand but does so much without really loving himself as he should he is encouraged by this lovely family to give himself a break and as Mima says Dejarse querer. Mima I wish I had a Mima I love Mima and did I mentioned I love Mima? last but not least even knowing how much I love Salvie I have to say I wish I could hug Vicente he shares his love with everyone in need. I want to bottle Mr. B love and soul that he poured into this book to share with all those that need it. I found Mr. Benjamin's books thanks to 2 of my nieces I can see why they love his books he is nothing but poetic. Read this book and you would see why I have fallen in love so easily with Vicente, Salvador, Sam, Fito, Mima, Marcos and all of the lovely characters that make the Silva family who they are heart and soul. 💙💙💙💙💙
• Such a good book ... I loved this book, and I might say that about a lot of books, but this ... this was different. This was life-changing. I cried, I laughed, I felt good, I wondered, I felt alive Reading this piece of art!
  
  WARNING! (some might feel this is a spoiler, so you have been warned!)
  I also loved that the two main characters were a boy and a girl (both heterosexual) that did not have romantic feelings about each other. They loved each other like Brother and sister/ bestfriends. It was beautiful. I tend to dislike characters in books that are parents, because they often are boring to me. In this book, that was not the case. I loved Sal's dad. What an amazing individual! And he doesn't even exist! I feel like I know all these amazing and horrible and beautiful People I met in this book. They feel real to me.
  I loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the universe, and I did not expect to ever read a book that captured and moved me like it did ever again .... but then I read this one. And - dare I say it? - I loved this one even more, I think. Please read this book. It might change Your life.
• I don't know how he does it but I feel connected to his characters right from the start; they all feel so real, so genuine, with all the good and the bad stuff, with all their struggles, which in a way are all of our struggles to ultimately achieve the same find a place where we truly belong, among people who truly care for us and we care for. After reading his first book, I knew I needed a big box of tissue nearby. I loved especially the relationship between Sal and his dad- and the many wonderful secondary characters dad of course, and Mima and Fito - I wanted to cry each time Fito turned up, my heart ached for him so much. He had been dealt such a tough card and yet he had so much decency, was such a good guy. I wanted life to be good to him, he deserved it. I highlighted many, many beautiful passages in the book.