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bangsthetics's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
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? Yes
3.5
ililly2003's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was happy to have joined Baylor University's 100 Days of Dante challenge to complete the reading of the Commedia: I fear I may never have read past the much-read Inferno without it.
But my understanding of that famous first volume is forever changed by completing the full work. Yes, Paradiso succumbed to some of my concerns that the 'sensation' might be stalled in an unending cycle of 'adjectives glorioso.' How could it be else? On the other hand, what questions and challenges on the nature of fate, justice, faith, and the like which I raised through the reading of the first two volumes Dante ultimately addresses, not always with satisfactory answers, but with artful use of metaphors and arguments which explain why this satisfaction cannot be found. Readers would do well to approach this final volume as an argument, perhaps, an opportunity--despite the Florentine politics which continues even in Heaven itself--to reflect upon the nature of Creation, of our behavior and motivation for it, of some of the best that the Church might offer its flock, and why and how it might stumble.
Inferno is a prelude, a premise, to this realization, not merely a speculation upon what happens to sinners.
In addition, while the Mandelbaum translation is not always recommended, I found its poetry more evocative than other translators, and his extensive notes and discussions of process are enlightening.
But my understanding of that famous first volume is forever changed by completing the full work. Yes, Paradiso succumbed to some of my concerns that the 'sensation' might be stalled in an unending cycle of 'adjectives glorioso.' How could it be else? On the other hand, what questions and challenges on the nature of fate, justice, faith, and the like which I raised through the reading of the first two volumes Dante ultimately addresses, not always with satisfactory answers, but with artful use of metaphors and arguments which explain why this satisfaction cannot be found. Readers would do well to approach this final volume as an argument, perhaps, an opportunity--despite the Florentine politics which continues even in Heaven itself--to reflect upon the nature of Creation, of our behavior and motivation for it, of some of the best that the Church might offer its flock, and why and how it might stumble.
Inferno is a prelude, a premise, to this realization, not merely a speculation upon what happens to sinners.
In addition, while the Mandelbaum translation is not always recommended, I found its poetry more evocative than other translators, and his extensive notes and discussions of process are enlightening.
smithological_stories's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
lottpoet's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rose_89's review
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
buddhafish's review against another edition
130th book of the year. Artist for this review is, again, for the last time, French artist Gustave Doré.
I have no idea what to rate this as there is so much to unpack and I'm just a lowly student (not even a student anymore). Without notes there's no way that I could possibly read or understand this. I found myself extremely grateful that I studied Classical Civilisation once again and knew a good number of the names Dante was dropping in regards to the Roman Empire, but the religious names, the Saints and countless people from Dante's own lifetime were mostly lost on me in their allusions. Paradiso has a poor reputation as being boring/difficult compared to the first two installments of the Comedy and to be honest it is the most boring and the most difficult. Beatrice is a boring guide compared to the awesomeness of having Virgil himself leading you through Hell itself (is anything cooler?) and the stories of finding God/understanding piety are far less compelling than the sufferings of those in Hell, and the same with Purgatory. In Hell we meet characters like Ulysses and in Paradise we meet Saints and Angels. Though the imagery is still wondrous as Dante and Beatrice fly through the circles of Heaven (in an end-of-2001: A Space Odyssey way), the bits around all that are not as great. Most of all I felt I needed so much outside research to understand it, I knew I'd have to read it several more times.
However, I have now read the whole of The Divine Comedy and I think I stand with Joyce in saying: Dante > Shakespeare. As a whole, one of the most amazing things I've read. I'll come back to this difficult beast when I read the whole thing all over again in another translation, probably Ciardi. But for now, it's finally farewell to Dante (and now I feel like I am on first name basis).
I have no idea what to rate this as there is so much to unpack and I'm just a lowly student (not even a student anymore). Without notes there's no way that I could possibly read or understand this. I found myself extremely grateful that I studied Classical Civilisation once again and knew a good number of the names Dante was dropping in regards to the Roman Empire, but the religious names, the Saints and countless people from Dante's own lifetime were mostly lost on me in their allusions. Paradiso has a poor reputation as being boring/difficult compared to the first two installments of the Comedy and to be honest it is the most boring and the most difficult. Beatrice is a boring guide compared to the awesomeness of having Virgil himself leading you through Hell itself (is anything cooler?) and the stories of finding God/understanding piety are far less compelling than the sufferings of those in Hell, and the same with Purgatory. In Hell we meet characters like Ulysses and in Paradise we meet Saints and Angels. Though the imagery is still wondrous as Dante and Beatrice fly through the circles of Heaven (in an end-of-2001: A Space Odyssey way), the bits around all that are not as great. Most of all I felt I needed so much outside research to understand it, I knew I'd have to read it several more times.
However, I have now read the whole of The Divine Comedy and I think I stand with Joyce in saying: Dante > Shakespeare. As a whole, one of the most amazing things I've read. I'll come back to this difficult beast when I read the whole thing all over again in another translation, probably Ciardi. But for now, it's finally farewell to Dante (and now I feel like I am on first name basis).
kateeemily's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0