love the book

Inferno is a very refreshing offer from Dan Brown. Having read Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, it was very satisfying to find unexpected twists and turns completely opposite to what I had come to expect from his previous works. Having to put aside the previous Dan Brown formulas I had in my head, it was quite the ride being unable to predict what was coming next.

Of course, the cog upon which the novel spins is The Inferno by Dante Alighieri. Having read the poem in University, I have to say that reading Browns Inferno definitely makes me want to explore that tome again with renewed interest and understanding. Browns method of incorporating this well-known poem along with historical fact, art history, geographical insight, ethical quandaries and modern day science is completely mind boggling. Even more awe inducing is the fact that he puts all of this information into his work and still manages to have the reader completely engrossed and turning pages frantically!!! I wish I had Dan Brown as a history teacher, I may have absorbed something!

There is no question that Brown is a multi-talented author. I can only begin to imagine the amount of research that must go into each of his novels. In this text, not only is he working with the dense and multi layered poem, The Inferno, he is also describing his setting and progressing his plot through the description of places and landmarks. Each sentence contains so much information! His is truly a talent to be admired and emulated!

With no desire to give away major elements of the story, I have to comment on how confronting the crisis is in this narrative. The reality of the situation is nearly as factually correct as the art history (probably more factual than my innate human tendency towards denial would like to admit!). Brown certainly gives readers plenty to think about, so much so that I found my book hangover lasted for days after completion as I mulled over the very possible implications posed within the pages I had just read.

I have most definitely been talking about this book to everyone who will listen so at the very least give it a read to inspire some interesting dinner conversation and, like me, you may just find yourself on a mental treadmill set to sprint!! I definitely recommend reading Dan Browns Inferno.