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eesh25's review against another edition
I'm going to say this up front: This is not a review. More like me writing what I thought about the epic, because I have not idea how to review a Fourteenth century epic about a dude's journey through the nine circles of hell. Moving on.
Dante was obviously a very good poet and had an imagination that would put Spongebob to shame. Seriously, the guy did a really good job at thinking up different tortures related to different sins and his imagery was epic (pun!). If I ever need to learn how to magically torture someone, I would use Inferno as a guide book.
But, while he is a skilled writer, I also agree with the reviewer who called this a "burn book". Because Dante essentially put every person he didn't like in hell. Actually, he put everyone in hell. Every single Greek or Roman hero or leader I've ever heard of was in there. He set very strict rules and I'm not sure how anyone is ever supposed to make it to heaven.
And this book was not easy to get through. The traslation I read was good and simple but it the bajillion references that had me in a bit of a pickle. He referenced so many people and events that, had I tried to look up each and every one, I would've been reading this for a month.
Also, Dante was a genius but this wasn't something that you could agree with. And maybe he didn't intend for his work to be a lesson; Just a demonstration of talant.
Whatever the case. I did like reading this poem but it was a strange experience. I might come back to it at some point in the future. Give it another shot. For now, I'm going to leave the rating black. Reading at your own risk.
motui's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sophiasahota's review against another edition
The common fate of sinners in Inferno is a punishment of fire, agony, disfigurement, torture, etc. (except for those in the ninth and deepest circle, like Judas and Lucifer, and those is the first circles whose sins are not as great). In the midst of this violence, those who have killed themselves (”The Self Murderers”) are turned into trees where the Harpies nest. That really moved me - despite The Self Murderers’ eternal damnation, their fate is much different than the other sinners. They exist as large knotted trees, rooted to the spot, unable to harm themselves again or be harmed by the fiery torture that the other sinners face. There is a sort of mercy to this, an acknowledgement that even though suicide is technically a sin (and seen at the time as on par or as even a greater sin than murder) it is punished quite differently - I would go so far as to say that it is punished in a tragically beautiful way. Maybe this was not Dante’s intention, maybe the Forest of the Self-Murderers is only supposed to be unrelenting and disturbing, but I can’t help but feel like there is an unconscious mercy in the Self-Murderer’s fate.
themacchine's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
whitecat5000's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
1.0
DNF. Alright, so this translation was so much better, but I just think I couldn't care less about the story.
pinteaalec's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ellaaa1023's review against another edition
4.5
Dante’s wish fulfilment self insert bible fanfic where his favourite poet who’s been dead for a thousand years prior carries him away from danger bridal style .
ernst's review
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
yashandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
4.0
It's so dark, I don't know how to put my thoughts into words but will come back in future