A review by storyorc
The Paradiso by John Ciardi, Dante Alighieri

challenging informative 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? No

2.5

Interesting to see Dante's speculation on the structure of heaven, written unfailingly in pleasing rhythm, but tedious for the non-devout. Moments of emotion (such as the last of Beatrice, and Dante's love for her), along with Dante's efforts to marry Scripture with recent science of the time, paradoxes of love, questions like why God would create people who do evil, and splashes of the astronomy of the time keep you going.