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lavoiture's review against another edition
3.0
I like mysteries, and this one was ok, as far as that goes. I am still curious about whether or not the stories about Longfellow and the rest of his crew were true, though. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy to investigate further.
luisasm's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was very mysterious and dramatic, if a bit dense. A classic mystery, enjoyably set in the historical period, at times pretty creepy and horrifying, other times humorous. A fun set of characters, lots of twists and injustice, very enjoyable.
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
3.0
I was hesitant at first--it took a few chapters to get into Pearl's style and the era of the novel. Once in, though, I was hooked and eager to keep reading to solve the mystery of who was trying to punish/kill people in true Dantean style. It was also amusing to have all these really famous authors interact.
A worthwhile read that has even given me the motivation to attempt (again) to read The Divine Comedy....
A worthwhile read that has even given me the motivation to attempt (again) to read The Divine Comedy....
phlegyas's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of the first books I read when I got back to reading. Yes, I had given up reading (anything that was not Lovecraft) for a long time.
I really liked this book. It resembled a cross between "Dead Poets Society" and "Silence of the Lambs". Yes, I know, these are movies, but you understand where I'm going with this.
It had a nicely tied together plot, characters that you expected things from, cared for and was either surprised or disappointed by. Plus, series of murders. In a "the Historian" way.
Totally recommendable to any thriller fans out there. An enjoyable read.
I really liked this book. It resembled a cross between "Dead Poets Society" and "Silence of the Lambs". Yes, I know, these are movies, but you understand where I'm going with this.
It had a nicely tied together plot, characters that you expected things from, cared for and was either surprised or disappointed by. Plus, series of murders. In a "the Historian" way.
Totally recommendable to any thriller fans out there. An enjoyable read.
mattlefevers's review against another edition
3.0
The Dante Club initially struck me as a sort of "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" of historical figures, in which the author throws together a bunch of famous folk and makes them do cool stuff and fight crime. The plot has renowned poets (and, apparently, enthusiasts of triple names) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, and J.T. Fields attempting to introduce Dante's "Divine Comedy" to American audiences for the first time. Their work on a translation that will bring this renowned poet to the New World is interrupted by the conservative faculty of Harvard and then, more unsettlingly, by a string of seemingly Dante-inspired murders in the city. As virtually the only men familiar with the Inferno, the club is certain they'll be accused of the murders if they come forward, and as such, find themselves trying to find the killer on their own.
What I didn't realize until midway through the novel is that this wasn't merely a grab-bag of characters, like a child throwing their Iron Man and Ninja Turtles figures together and making them form a team. Most of the novels' events (excepting, of course, the Se7en-style ritual homicides) are historical, and these famous poets really did form a Dante Society where they met and translated the Commedia into English despite cultural opposition. These historical details are what set this novel apart -- the author has clearly done his research, and most of the book feels less like a thriller than a tour through post-Civil-War-era New England. This realism is probably The Dante Club's greatest strength and weakness -- the captivating realism and fascinating historical details also sometimes mean that, like real history, nothing is *happening* much of the time. The book starts off a little bit slow, and since the characters are middle-aged poets, there is a great deal less crime-fighting than there is researching and talking. As the tension ratchets up, however, and the stakes become higher, the book really does lock into its pace, and I found myself pretty enthralled for most of its running time.
I should also give a shout-out to Matthew Pearl's obvious love and respect for Dante. The detail and mastery with which the characters discuss and dissect the Inferno was so interesting that I actually had to re-read that book as soon as I finished this one. Well played, Dante Club.
What I didn't realize until midway through the novel is that this wasn't merely a grab-bag of characters, like a child throwing their Iron Man and Ninja Turtles figures together and making them form a team. Most of the novels' events (excepting, of course, the Se7en-style ritual homicides) are historical, and these famous poets really did form a Dante Society where they met and translated the Commedia into English despite cultural opposition. These historical details are what set this novel apart -- the author has clearly done his research, and most of the book feels less like a thriller than a tour through post-Civil-War-era New England. This realism is probably The Dante Club's greatest strength and weakness -- the captivating realism and fascinating historical details also sometimes mean that, like real history, nothing is *happening* much of the time. The book starts off a little bit slow, and since the characters are middle-aged poets, there is a great deal less crime-fighting than there is researching and talking. As the tension ratchets up, however, and the stakes become higher, the book really does lock into its pace, and I found myself pretty enthralled for most of its running time.
I should also give a shout-out to Matthew Pearl's obvious love and respect for Dante. The detail and mastery with which the characters discuss and dissect the Inferno was so interesting that I actually had to re-read that book as soon as I finished this one. Well played, Dante Club.
rty10's review against another edition
5.0
After many years of ownership, I've finally finished it. And it was absolutely worth it. It's a slow-burn to get started, plus the author did a wonderful job making sure that the language of, well, everything was mid-19th century New England... so, beware, it takes a while to get adjusted to.
Overall, the story's twists and turns, the spinning yarns, the introduction of characters, and the arcs of the main Club kept me enthralled and curious to know more.
TL;DR- Imagine Hermione Granger trying to write a Dan Browe story and needing everything to be authentic, but with a much better story and much better character development.
Overall, the story's twists and turns, the spinning yarns, the introduction of characters, and the arcs of the main Club kept me enthralled and curious to know more.
TL;DR- Imagine Hermione Granger trying to write a Dan Browe story and needing everything to be authentic, but with a much better story and much better character development.
nicovivi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This is probably the oldest acquired physical book that I own, since I was able to comfortably build a physical library of my own. Bought in 2006, I remember seeing this book everywhere in bookstores. Dan Brown had blurbed this book, and since I enjoyed Dan Brown’s books in the past I was intrigued enough to own it. I have not touched this book since, promising myself one day I will get to this book. I don’t think the small font of this particular copy helped the matter much at the time.
Overall I have enjoyed this book. The pacing of the book in the beginning was a bit not ideal for me to form attachment to the characters. Once we got to know each bumbling older character in this book, and events that occur from midpoint onwards, it was very intriguing and fun overall. Happy to have read the book!
Overall I have enjoyed this book. The pacing of the book in the beginning was a bit not ideal for me to form attachment to the characters. Once we got to know each bumbling older character in this book, and events that occur from midpoint onwards, it was very intriguing and fun overall. Happy to have read the book!
virtualreba's review against another edition
2.0
Not as exciting as I was hoping. Though true to historical accuracy the story lacked any really substance. I kept waiting for the story to pick up and it never did. Even the climax was dull.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
3.0
The voices of the poets were very believable, and I was touched by the account of post-traumatic stress disorder in Civil War soldiers. It was a pretty good murder mystery, but the pace was too sluggish for me. I understand that Pearl was trying to recreate the style of the 19th century poets and writers, but it wast really my cup of tea. So I say this is a solid novel, but not spectacular.