Well, that was quite a day…

I enjoyed this book, it was a good fun read. It does have its faults, but if you’re not after literary greatness, tight-plotting, polished prose and well-rounded characters, or can forgive the fact that this book has none of those things, then it works quite well.

I read The Da Vinci Code some time ago and really enjoyed it (it helped having the illustrated version for quick referencing). It was entertaining and fun. I expected nothing less from this offering, which after only a few chapters promised me exactly the same kind of thing, in terms of characters, plot development and pacing. Although this worked for the book, this is one of my criticisms. The formula is too much like his other stuff. There is no change from what goes on in his other book. However, the formula seems to work and this book is just as quick paced and entertaining. It kept me reading.

The story itself was intriguing. I liked all the references to Dante and how the writing and artwork was used as clues throughout the story. I have never read The Divine Comedy, but I will do now. The story also brought up some very interesting topical issues that got me thinking. The story has been cleverly constructed and there is no doubt that a lot of research has been put into it.

This book is purely plot-based and as a result the characters are not particularly well-developed. I struggled to find a personality to any of them and as a result found it difficult to sympathise with anyone. Langdon is the same person as he was in the Da Vinci Code, which bothered me a little, although it would make it easier to pick this book up without having read any of the others. The other characters seemed to be re-hashed versions of the ones in his previous book.

The book is over-written and could easily have been made at least 100 pages shorter. Dan Brown has done an excellent job of describing all the settings and artworks in the book, which makes it part travel-guide and detracts a little from the story. Maybe he didn’t think of writing a separate accompanying book with all this in for those who are interested (he really should write a guide book in my opinion). A lot of historical detail is given in chunks of dialogue, which slows down the otherwise hectic pace and seems a little unrealistic given the circumstances.

As many have pointed out, there are a few issues with the writing, much of which could have been sorted out with careful editing. There is quite a lot of scene repetition. This frequently occurs at the start of chapters, where previous scenes are summarised. There are a lot of ‘long moments’, ‘wry smiles’ and ‘subterranean caverns’ (as opposed to caverns above ground, presumably). And also the most awkward description of a spiral I have ever come across.

I probably won’t read another Robert Langdon book, but this is mainly to do with the formula that seems to be non-changing throughout the series. But I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of adventure.
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Exciting until the end.
Very well written, a book that you cannot easily put down without reading on. ( )

Best Dan Brown novel till date.
Before this I have found all Brown's novel slightly predictable, but Inferno is just mind blowing with twists and turns from the start. A thrilling page turner. Added to this of course is Dan Brown's usual descriptive tour through beautiful cities and their art. ( )

Where on earth do I start with this book? Dan Brown's new novel Inferno effectively creates a blend of thrill, adventure and as usual a race against the clock before catastrophe settles upon the world. The main character Robert Langdon, who features in three other Brown books, awakes in Florence possessing a head injury, amnesia and a strange bio-hazard tube registered only to his thumb print. He also appears to be hunted by a group of soldiers and a hired assassin. Attempting to fit the pieces of the puzzle missing from his memory, Inferno spirals into a story of attempts to curb the increasing overpopulation on earth through the literary phenomenon that is Dante's The Divine Comedy. But can Langdon once again save the world?
As in Brown's other works of fiction, they all follow similar story-lines, the plots are essentially always factoring similar scenarios, whose differences are only in place, period of history and a different threat to world population. Also featuring; a new woman for Langdon to run around with and also to inevitably gain a romantic interest by the end of the novel. Far from mocking this book (I did enjoy it!), I'm merely emphasising the similarities which pop up in every book Dan Brown has written. Saying this, however, despite the consistently short chapters - each which end on a mini cliff-hanger - Dan Brown has always been able to pull me into his novels which have never lacked mystery or that urgent craving to find out what's going to happen next.
The descriptions and settings of Inferno sometimes read like a history textbook or a holiday guidebook. Set Florence, Venice and Istanbul, I am now aware of all the interesting museums and areas to visit should I go there, I also have a pretty clear idea of how to get to each of these places too! The knowledge of art and history is also clear as Brown uses infamous paintings and literature to create his terrifying puzzle.
Unfortunately, I did not like the ending to this book, although I understood that it was necessary to end this way (without a purely satisfying result), it left me feeling a little frightened and paranoid. Which I'm sure was most likely the intended effect anyway!
Reading Brown's Inferno has definitely given me much to consider about the way we, as humans, live on earth and it certainly is not a reassuring thought. With ever exploitative hands grappling at our world's fisheries, water, forest and natural resources use, alongside our constant populating, it's easy to wonder whether something indeed needs to be done and done soon. I hope not so drastically as in this novel, but then, in what way?

This book is recommended to those with an open mind and a clear sense of what is possible in our ever advancing technological world.

http://feelingslightlybookish.blogspot.co.uk/ ( )

A Robert Langdon novel is like the craziest roller coaster you can imagine. I couldn't put this book down because every moment was exciting.

Inferno, follows the story of Robert Langdon after he wakes up in a Florentine hospital with no memories of the last two days. He is then thrown into a world of assassin followed chases and a threat of a worldwide plague that could be as catastrophic as the Black Plague. He has to use his knowledge of Dante's greatest work, The Divine Comedy to unravel the puzzle and try and save the world from sudden outbreak.

Like I said, this book was fast pace and really easy to jump into. Something was always happening and I just wanted to know what would happen next.

In terms of overall plot, I just loved the characters (Zobrist and Sienna Brooks being my favourites) and the content the novel produced. The mixture of history and science information that is presented in this novel makes for an incredibly interesting and immerse read.

These books are super fun to read and anyone could just pick it up and be thrown onto the roller coaster of Langdon's adventure. Would recommend to everyone. ( )