Scan barcode
genocforal's review against another edition
4.0
If you want to see where bitterness can take you, if you need an illustration of vengeance, or if you want an expanded—albeit, sometimes cumbersome—experience of the fall of Adam and Eve, look no further.
Milton is mythologically and verbally adept and can relay the human experience in a beautifully poetic way.
Milton is mythologically and verbally adept and can relay the human experience in a beautifully poetic way.
sameenshakya's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Essential motherfucking reading
rileythelighthousekeeper's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
mimikyoot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
Very difficult to parse, incredibly rewarding to digest. This will stick in my mind for years to come
alchinchilli's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
316bunny316's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emmaisnotavampire's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Can't say I read this one for fun: I knew from the very beginning that an epic poem from the 1600s would not have been my thing. I would say, instead, I read this for the lore, treating it more as a study syllabus and a source of information than as a form of entertainment. Basically, this is the closest to reading the Bible I will ever go in my interest for biblical mythology. Reading this poem made me understand why sometimes retellings are a good thing, and indeed I do kind of wish I could find one; although, in a way, this is already a sort of retelling of the book of Genesis itself.
The style was not any worse than I expected, but also not any better: a plain old tedious epic poem, the only form of literature that somehow manages to combine the worst parts of prose and poetry, without one's lyricism nor the other's fluency... but I mean, to each their own I guess. Personally, this was not for me.
Why did I torture myself reading it then, one might ask. Well, it's about Satan, of course I'm gonna read it! Speaking of which, not nearly enough Satan was found in this poem, highly celebrated for its innovative "portrayal of Satan as a sad and lonely victim" when really it was only for about one chapter, and all the rest was just Adam being boring and devoted and so on. I guess it was indeed innovative at the time, especially considering that alongside the very minimal sympathy for Satan's fall Milton also explores the element of lust as a side effect of obtaining the forbidden knowledge, which many would still consider sacrilegious nowadays... not me though. Give me more Milton, do better. Don't be a pussy.
Lastly, I am still to decide whether or not I liked the continuous use of references to things yet to happen, yet to be created, yet to be born: at times it felt purposeful, at others simply like the author forgot when the story was set. It was however interesting in one of the final sequences, in which Adam is shown what will happen to humanity in the future, what horrors are hiding around the corner.
One day I will find something to satisfy my bizarre fascination with biblical mythology in combination with my utter desire for blasphemy in the exploration of such, but I'm afraid this was not it. What a shame.
The style was not any worse than I expected, but also not any better: a plain old tedious epic poem, the only form of literature that somehow manages to combine the worst parts of prose and poetry, without one's lyricism nor the other's fluency... but I mean, to each their own I guess. Personally, this was not for me.
Why did I torture myself reading it then, one might ask. Well, it's about Satan, of course I'm gonna read it! Speaking of which, not nearly enough Satan was found in this poem, highly celebrated for its innovative "portrayal of Satan as a sad and lonely victim" when really it was only for about one chapter, and all the rest was just Adam being boring and devoted and so on. I guess it was indeed innovative at the time, especially considering that alongside the very minimal sympathy for Satan's fall Milton also explores the element of lust as a side effect of obtaining the forbidden knowledge, which many would still consider sacrilegious nowadays... not me though. Give me more Milton, do better. Don't be a pussy.
Lastly, I am still to decide whether or not I liked the continuous use of references to things yet to happen, yet to be created, yet to be born: at times it felt purposeful, at others simply like the author forgot when the story was set. It was however interesting in one of the final sequences, in which Adam is shown what will happen to humanity in the future, what horrors are hiding around the corner.
One day I will find something to satisfy my bizarre fascination with biblical mythology in combination with my utter desire for blasphemy in the exploration of such, but I'm afraid this was not it. What a shame.
micahbigs's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amberghinii's review against another edition
dark
medium-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? Yes
3.75