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3.5 stars.
It's your typical Dan Brown/Robert Langdon fun read.
This time around, I was a little pickier about what I wanted to see/the level of research I expected. I mean, there's the typical lack of appropriate research--this line gets repeated over and over and OVER AGAIN:
The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.
They attribute it to Dante, blah blah blah, repeat ad nauseum BUT:
Here's the deal, kids.
THAT IS NOT FROM DANTE. THAT IS NOT FROM THE INFERNO. IT'S NOT EVEN ACCURATE.
If you've ever READ the Inferno, you'd know that actually the neutrals AREN'T EVEN IN HELL. They're on the outskirts looking pathetic. BOOM. Facts.
(I even did a quick Google to see where the quote came from. A lot of folks attribute it to Dante, but then with some digging I think I've found that it's a MISattribution, so there you go. Granted, I'm not really taking the time to research the issue myself right now, but I have a headache AND I'M NOT WRITING A BOOK SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON THE WORKS OF DANTE.)
But, Brown's big on repetition in this one--I swear, if I had to read ONE MORE TIME about that stupid plaque in the EXACT SAME WORDING EACH TIME, I was gonna go pop that floating balloon MYSELF.
All that aside, this really was just your typical Langdon adventure.
I would've appreciated a bit more ACTUAL use/knowledge/research of the Inferno, but for a cotton-candy read, it was still entertaining.
Looking forward to seeing where Langdon goes next.
It's your typical Dan Brown/Robert Langdon fun read.
This time around, I was a little pickier about what I wanted to see/the level of research I expected. I mean, there's the typical lack of appropriate research--this line gets repeated over and over and OVER AGAIN:
The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.
They attribute it to Dante, blah blah blah, repeat ad nauseum BUT:
Here's the deal, kids.
THAT IS NOT FROM DANTE. THAT IS NOT FROM THE INFERNO. IT'S NOT EVEN ACCURATE.
If you've ever READ the Inferno, you'd know that actually the neutrals AREN'T EVEN IN HELL. They're on the outskirts looking pathetic. BOOM. Facts.
(I even did a quick Google to see where the quote came from. A lot of folks attribute it to Dante, but then with some digging I think I've found that it's a MISattribution, so there you go. Granted, I'm not really taking the time to research the issue myself right now, but I have a headache AND I'M NOT WRITING A BOOK SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON THE WORKS OF DANTE.)
But, Brown's big on repetition in this one--I swear, if I had to read ONE MORE TIME about that stupid plaque in the EXACT SAME WORDING EACH TIME, I was gonna go pop that floating balloon MYSELF.
All that aside, this really was just your typical Langdon adventure.
I would've appreciated a bit more ACTUAL use/knowledge/research of the Inferno, but for a cotton-candy read, it was still entertaining.
Looking forward to seeing where Langdon goes next.
It was a looooooong book. Sometimes the details lost me. It its one of his cleanest books...probably pg-13. I would recommend if you like Dan brown. If you don't.....then move on.
This had the fast paced "leave them hungry for the next chapter" style of the Da Vinci Code, but it had too many asides on the minutiae of Italy's historical sites. There were way to many times when it felt like I was reading a travel guide.
This book receives a star for it's tour guide book appeal. If you are a first-time traveller to Italy or want to explore some hidden gems of Renaissance art, add this book to your travel collection. Dan Brown provides exquisite detailing to a fault. The main character spends the first 200 pages running through Italy from some maniacal corporation and stops too frequently (for someone on the run) to lecture the reader on Renaissance art and infrastructure. The expository format overpowers the plot rendering cumbersome storytelling. Unfortunately, there isn't any story here.
I really enjoyed it but do think that Dan Brown needs to stop relying on secret passageways to get his characters out of difficult situations.
A book at a time when I was wondering about the same problem. Gives solutions to pursue it or not?
I somehow approve of the ending. It's a much "cleaner" way to stabilize the world's ever-increasing population. If that virus was out, people like Kim K and Kanye West won't have the chance to name a poor kid "North West".
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I picked this up ahead of a trip to Florence and really enjoyed reading Dan Brown’s Florence while exploring myself. I learned more about the art, architecture, and history of the place through this book than through my visit, and could point things out to my fiance! As always, I love the symbology, mystery, and fast pace of Brown’s books, and very quickly raced through this one. I found the personal interactions a bit cheesy, and the romantic feelings a bit unnecessary, but I read these books because of the unravelling mysteries, so it wasn’t a big issue. At some points the detail of the art history is a bit much for me, and at others, the points are repeated a few too many times, but overall, a very enjoyable read with twists that I didn’t expect even though I’ve read it before!
I totally enjoyed this book and can't wait for his next one!