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elizabethsuggs's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciated this book, but I've had a tough time getting through this. I've started and stopped several times, and not for lack of trying. There are some beautiful words, but I feel like there's so much to unpack in this epic poem, you really need to take a course or work with others to truly understand it.
emma_honner's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
rosekk's review against another edition
4.0
I can see why Inferno is the section people talk about the most, and the one that gets printed on its own regularly. The first section I loved, and would have rated 5 stars. It's the most convincing depiction of hell I've encountered (perhaps because most others are modelled on it) in that it was the closest I've come to understanding why people believe in it. The description was brilliant and lively. Even the characters Dante briefly encounters felt distinct, and because the focus as often on what they did to earn their place in hell, they served the dual purpose of at once explaining hell and helping one understand its relation to life.
Ironically, things started to go downhill as the story ascended. Purgatorio remained fairly interesting, with characters appearing to explain why they had fallen short of heaven. It still had fairly vivid descriptions, making it easy to imagine. Towards the end, as they near heaven, it starts to loose its bright descriptions and fewer interesting characters appear. The whole thing looses its lustre as we approach heaven.
Paradiso made me start to loose interest. First of all, heaven appears to be almost empty - it seems to contain saints, angels and Beatrice and the rest of humanity appear to have failed the entrance exam. There's very little focus on the good deeds done to earn a place in heaven, and instead we're presented with a series of lectures from Beatrice and the saints, which either appear to be attempting to explain some contested aspect of Christianity, or lecture on sins we've already encountered in the previous sections. It's notable that in the edition I have (which has wonderful illustrations), the images get much more boring in Paradiso - every illustration in that section is clouds and angels, where as previously there was great variety. The suggesting that hell would be a much more interesting place to be consigned for eternity seems to be upheld here. The highest circle of hell is filled with pre-christian artists, philosophers and poets all whiling away eternity together, where as heaven is filled with saints preparing lectures for the rare few who make it up that far. As a result, I find my self less inclined towards heaven than to some of the lower levels. I'm sure that says something not very nice about the state of my soul. I'm sure Beatrice would tell me I've placed to much value on earthly delights. Unfortunatly, I find myself rather put of heaven (and not all that convinced by the arguments the saints put forth).
Ironically, things started to go downhill as the story ascended. Purgatorio remained fairly interesting, with characters appearing to explain why they had fallen short of heaven. It still had fairly vivid descriptions, making it easy to imagine. Towards the end, as they near heaven, it starts to loose its bright descriptions and fewer interesting characters appear. The whole thing looses its lustre as we approach heaven.
Paradiso made me start to loose interest. First of all, heaven appears to be almost empty - it seems to contain saints, angels and Beatrice and the rest of humanity appear to have failed the entrance exam. There's very little focus on the good deeds done to earn a place in heaven, and instead we're presented with a series of lectures from Beatrice and the saints, which either appear to be attempting to explain some contested aspect of Christianity, or lecture on sins we've already encountered in the previous sections. It's notable that in the edition I have (which has wonderful illustrations), the images get much more boring in Paradiso - every illustration in that section is clouds and angels, where as previously there was great variety. The suggesting that hell would be a much more interesting place to be consigned for eternity seems to be upheld here. The highest circle of hell is filled with pre-christian artists, philosophers and poets all whiling away eternity together, where as heaven is filled with saints preparing lectures for the rare few who make it up that far. As a result, I find my self less inclined towards heaven than to some of the lower levels. I'm sure that says something not very nice about the state of my soul. I'm sure Beatrice would tell me I've placed to much value on earthly delights. Unfortunatly, I find myself rather put of heaven (and not all that convinced by the arguments the saints put forth).
mollyridley's review against another edition
Just cannot get into it, might try again at a later date
ibadella's review against another edition
read the first volume to fulfill the hozier challenge and now my library book is due 🤷🏻♀️