Reviews

The Divine Comedy: Volume 1: Hell by Dante Alighieri

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kvanhook92's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

3.5

gremlin_98's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am finally listening to the Divine Comedy. I have been wanting to listen to this book for a while. Ever since I heard about it through a YouTube video breakdown of this novel. I never knew that there were three books. I also now own two copies of Inferno, an illustrated version & a hard copy as well. Okay I now own a hardcover copy of The Divine Comedy, yes that means I now own three copies of Inferno.

Inferno: Dante meets his ‘teacher’ Virgil, a poet {dead} who Dante very much admires very much. Virgil asks as his guide for his journey going forward. The description of Charon is fucking bitching. Hearing how the different levels are described are fascinating, I am going to have to relisten to this book with my physical books in the future. ‘Rottentail’ and all the other demon names are hilarious. I am definitely going through my copy of Inferno to quote their names. The ending of Inferno was very beautiful and if I put myself in the perspective of Dante it was breathtaking as we reached the base of the mountain of Purgatorio.

Purgatorio: The scene with the big fan for Virgil & also the scene with the siren are both very cool along with being great visuals. I think that Virgil is my favorite character in this book. I also feel like that this book is also going through much quicker than Inferno. Dante is now with Beatrice, Virgil is no longer with him. He couldn’t pass to Paradiso, couldn’t pass from Purgatorio, a place that Virgil wasn’t supposed to go through as is . When Dante weeps for his departure, Beatrice questions as to why he’s sad for there is no sadness where they are. I still think it’s funny when Dante talks directly to the ‘reader’, it reminds me of scenes with Iago from Othello. The griffin is yet another beast of mythos that he adds to his christian fan-fiction. Nymphs are also here, dragons are here as well. Also a ship that ‘regrows’ its damaged hides. The amount of what the fuckery is going on is astounding. I haven’t the faintist idea of what the fuck is currently what is going on. I think it was a dream, maybe. Beatrice is also not very helpful in this assessment, “The vessel was and is not.” Beatrice Ch. 65 Okay, so it does exist in a sense, but not in reality or this plain or rather it was a metaphor or ‘message’ of God’s will & message to Dante. Dante is now about to approach Paradiso, as they, “Rise amongst the stars'' Dante ch 66.

Paradiso: Dante is now with his angel, Beatrice. There is heaven in Paradise, why there are levels for Dante to better understand Paradise, but there are no ‘better’ levels of heaven. Also in Paradise there is no greed, no wants or doubt. The will of God is their own & they are all being of love. Dante talks to the various saints and those who are in Paradise. Reread the very last line of Paradiso.

Primal love is such an odd, but interesting concept to think about. Both in a way to talk about a God & for those among the mortals. I know that to some degree Beatrice is an allegory for Jesus christ. I’m pretty sure that Inferno will remain my favorite of the three books, but I do admit that I like Inferno the most. I know that Wendigoon likes Paradiso and Purgatorio better, but I think that Inferno fits me better.

asunshine42's review against another edition

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3.0

This is an iteresting book. I will admit that I did not finish it. For some reason this type of writing always put me to sleep. I know that this is meant to make people think twice before sinning or whatever but it just seemed like this guy wanted to write a book about how hes a special person who gets to judging other as they sit in there own torment. I don't know maybe its the best book ever but it's not my style...