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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
As much as you have to admire Dante for his knowledge spanning over so many fields - philosophy, cosmology, history, theology, mythology, poets, politics, whatever is the word for the science of torture (Dante should be called father of that science), about local crimes etc - one can see why Borges considered it the best thing ever written; still I didn't particularly like Paradiso. It is mostly saintly souls in large groups moving in different shapes. And despite all those souls telling us everything about right and wrong; the only thing that I liked are the parts where Dante and Beatrice are flirting with each other.
or
I mean get a room, right? But that is another thing missing from Paradise. No rooms. Souls just move around in closed shapes all the time, singing prayers. Sounds boring. To be fair, there are some religious celebrities - especially towards the end which might interest the faithful. But still, isn't paradise supposed to be really,really attractive? I can't imagine anyone being sold on this idea of Paradise. I, for one, can't imagine myself climbing the stupid purgarito mountain for that.
Not that I know of too attractive an idea of paradise. Even Hindu idea of paradise with all its riches never tempted me. It is this monotony which must accompany eternity - everything becomes boring in long run. Whats the point of having your favorite food, if you have been having it for last thousand years? I could rather prefer their alternative of cycle of rebirth and death over it, which Hindu saints are trying to free themselves from. The cycle of rebirth and death means, as I see it, the opportunity of doing things repeatedly without burden of the memory of having done it before. Think of all the first loves, first kisses, first sight of your children you can have in that scenario!
Another defect of heavenly life is we will probably lose our personality, our individuality too along with our pleasure - as was the case in Borges' short story 'Immortal'. There is thus no Paradise that is not boring and that doesn't make us dull. The only incentive a paradise has is a negative one - it is not hell, so one need not suffer (except from boredom).
And so, the best thing that can happen would be if we were reborn again or didn't have a soul at all. A soul doomed to live eternally must choose between suffering of hell and monotony of paradise. I know, pretty philosophical, is my it? I should be a theologian.
I think for us, goodreaders, choice can't be more clear. There is only one suffering we can't bear - boredom. I mean we chose he books that might make us make us cry, suffer along with its protagonists over sitting idly. And if we know a book that has made someone cry, we give preference to that book. Not that there is anything wrong with that. If you shall Google 'soul-destroying', it shall offer 'monotony' as its meaning. We focus our activities on saving our souls and we must continue to avoid monotony (read paradise) even after death ... No, the money I received from Satan for making a sale-pitch for his resort has nothing to do with this. Let us face it, hell has all the interesting people. I mean where do you think all the Lawerences, Nabokovs, Calvinos are?
So, feel free to commit all the sins you want. In the end, that is what will save you soul.
... On the other hand, the Islamic Paradise with its proposal of four virgins ... tempting.
And of course, to quote Nemesis "stars".
"Open thine eyes and look at what I am
Though hast behold such things, that strong enough
Has thou become to tolerate my smile."
or
"Were I to smile, then you would be
like Semele when she was turned to ashes,
because, as you have seen, my loveliness
which, even as we climb the steps of this
eternal palace, blazes with more brightness
were it not tempered here, would be so brilliant
that, as it flashed, your mortal faculty
would seem a branch a lightning bolt has cracked"
I mean get a room, right? But that is another thing missing from Paradise. No rooms. Souls just move around in closed shapes all the time, singing prayers. Sounds boring. To be fair, there are some religious celebrities - especially towards the end which might interest the faithful. But still, isn't paradise supposed to be really,really attractive? I can't imagine anyone being sold on this idea of Paradise. I, for one, can't imagine myself climbing the stupid purgarito mountain for that.
Not that I know of too attractive an idea of paradise. Even Hindu idea of paradise with all its riches never tempted me. It is this monotony which must accompany eternity - everything becomes boring in long run. Whats the point of having your favorite food, if you have been having it for last thousand years? I could rather prefer their alternative of cycle of rebirth and death over it, which Hindu saints are trying to free themselves from. The cycle of rebirth and death means, as I see it, the opportunity of doing things repeatedly without burden of the memory of having done it before. Think of all the first loves, first kisses, first sight of your children you can have in that scenario!
Another defect of heavenly life is we will probably lose our personality, our individuality too along with our pleasure - as was the case in Borges' short story 'Immortal'. There is thus no Paradise that is not boring and that doesn't make us dull. The only incentive a paradise has is a negative one - it is not hell, so one need not suffer (except from boredom).
And so, the best thing that can happen would be if we were reborn again or didn't have a soul at all. A soul doomed to live eternally must choose between suffering of hell and monotony of paradise. I know, pretty philosophical, is my it? I should be a theologian.
I think for us, goodreaders, choice can't be more clear. There is only one suffering we can't bear - boredom. I mean we chose he books that might make us make us cry, suffer along with its protagonists over sitting idly. And if we know a book that has made someone cry, we give preference to that book. Not that there is anything wrong with that. If you shall Google 'soul-destroying', it shall offer 'monotony' as its meaning. We focus our activities on saving our souls and we must continue to avoid monotony (read paradise) even after death ... No, the money I received from Satan for making a sale-pitch for his resort has nothing to do with this. Let us face it, hell has all the interesting people. I mean where do you think all the Lawerences, Nabokovs, Calvinos are?
So, feel free to commit all the sins you want. In the end, that is what will save you soul.
... On the other hand, the Islamic Paradise with its proposal of four virgins ... tempting.
And of course, to quote Nemesis "stars".
berndiesel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nattyyllie's review against another edition
2.0
(2.5 star) overall, including Inferno and Purgatory.
Favorite quotes:
“Only this of what I felt can I say: That as I looked at her, my soul was freed from any other need, just as long as the eternal bliss that shone directly on Beatrice contented me with its light, reflected from her, to me through her eyes.”
“Let me know how many teeth love bites with.”
Favorite quotes:
“Only this of what I felt can I say: That as I looked at her, my soul was freed from any other need, just as long as the eternal bliss that shone directly on Beatrice contented me with its light, reflected from her, to me through her eyes.”
“Let me know how many teeth love bites with.”
madisonj99019's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
thebruce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
clauis_lib's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
carterjj's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ed_moore's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The final instalment of the Divine Comedy, Dante’s ‘Paradiso’ is set over the days following Easter Sunday so I have unintentionally read this at the perfect time. That being said, it was a huge drop in quality from ‘Inferno’ and ‘Purgatorio’. ‘Paradiso’ follows Dante’s pilgrimage through Heaven, which is depicted as just a flight through space past various planets rather than an independent realm such as Hell and Purgatory. In this instalment the guide of Dante changes from Virgil, to the woman he was infatuated by, Beatrice, and she is just constantly gawked over by him and frequently described to have beauty beyond description. Having read ‘La Vita Nuova’ and knowing the real relationship, or lack of which, between Dante and Beatrice, his fantastical love was a painful read. She was also a much less interesting companion than Virgil was in the prior two segments of the Comedy.
Additionally, ‘Paradisio’ was far less interesting as its primary focus was on religious conversations and the passing of moral messages, rather than an insight into the inhabitants of Paradise and any political or mythological commentary. Paradise frankly appeared to be a pretty boring place to end up, for all the souls just float around as little balls of light in emptiness, singing hymns. It might be blasphemous but Hell seemed like a far more interesting place to reside and Heaven seemed to have no real merit.
That being said, the translator of the edition I read, Mark Musa, was by far the best translator of the Comedia that I have read, he previous editions being those of Durling and Kirkpatrick, and his explanatory notes were also brilliant. Whilst better in format, assessing Dante’s poetics ‘Paradiso’ was such a disappointing fall off from how brilliant ‘Inferno’ and ‘Purgatorio’ were.
Additionally, ‘Paradisio’ was far less interesting as its primary focus was on religious conversations and the passing of moral messages, rather than an insight into the inhabitants of Paradise and any political or mythological commentary. Paradise frankly appeared to be a pretty boring place to end up, for all the souls just float around as little balls of light in emptiness, singing hymns. It might be blasphemous but Hell seemed like a far more interesting place to reside and Heaven seemed to have no real merit.
That being said, the translator of the edition I read, Mark Musa, was by far the best translator of the Comedia that I have read, he previous editions being those of Durling and Kirkpatrick, and his explanatory notes were also brilliant. Whilst better in format, assessing Dante’s poetics ‘Paradiso’ was such a disappointing fall off from how brilliant ‘Inferno’ and ‘Purgatorio’ were.
_jenny_k_'s review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25