Books: Inferno

Botticelli's Map of Hell inspired by Dante's Inferno
Robert Langdon is back. When he wakes up in a hospital ward with a lot of pain and disorientation, Langdon is similar to Jason Bourne. No, he is not a skilled secret agent fighting bad guys. But he has amnesia like Jason Bourne. Luckily for him and us, it is retrogade amnesia. In effect, the last thing he remembers is events from couple of days back. At that point in time, he was in Harward. But now he is Florence. What happened in the last couple of days? That is the key to the new mystery by Dan Brown.

The latest book in the Langdon series is a gripping thriller because of three things. After staging the third book in the series in Washington DC, Dan Brown brings Langdon back to Europe. Imagine the vast expanses of United State with the constricted overcrowded yet ancient places in Europe. Which would you prefer to set as a backdrop for a thriller? I choose the latter. The lack of space and the energy in the street is the best setting for a thriller. This is the first thing that works in the book.

The second thing is the two parallel searches. Langdon had earlier solved the mystery. Now he is retracing his path. There are two searches. The first search to uncover the mystery and the second is to uncover what happened earlier. Both of these parallel searches is interesting. Moreover, Dan Brown reveals just enough to keep us hooked on the book. Langdon before losing memory had more time to solve a mystery. Now, he has less than 24 hours to solve it. A lot of lives are at stake if he doesn't!

Finally, Dan Brown uses the book for initiating a dialogue. Like one of his previous books, this one also bases the search around an European artist's work. While it was Da Vinci two books back, it is Dante this time. Unlike his previous works, this is not man torn between religion and science. The dialogue initiated is man's capability to play God. To be more precise, stretching science to play God.

Dan Brown is back in form. Go for it.

Picture Courtesy: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu

Tags: Books,Dan Brown,Robert Langdon




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Comments

  1. Nice Review...Well written

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  2. I have purchased the book today morning, and finishes four chapters, and happened to stumble upon your post. I am very sure, this book is not going to disappoint me. Your write up affirms my belief further :) very well written review Nona.

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    1. Have fun figuring out the mystery and the chase through Florence. You are going to enjoy it. :)

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  3. Nicely reviewed..... Thanks for the share......

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  4. Bingo! cant wait anymore just ordered @amazon, Nice review :)

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    1. Thank you. If it is okay with you, please use the link provided to Amazon if you are ordering after reading my review. :)

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  5. Nice review, unfortunately the book did not live up to his earlier efforts for me!

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  6. I read this one too. But it was a bit too predictable. But i always love the ways he describes the places and monuments and he makes me want to visit Istanbul now!

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    1. I deliberately omitted Istabul from my review. Yes, you are right. I also want to visit that city. A couple of my friends were there for a week in the beginning of May. So it makes want more to go there!

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  7. Thanks.. been looking for a review of this. Glad to know it lives up to expectations.
    http://www.godyears.net/

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  8. Nice review, maybe i will find time to read it.

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    1. Thanks. :) I hope you find it as much interesting as I felt while reading when you pick it up.

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