Dan Brown’s Book Inferno descends to Hell

It has been 2 months since Inferno by Dan Brown has been out in hard cover.  And it took me a better part of a month to get my hands on a copy.  But that was not the only reason this review of Dan Brown’s Inferno is delayed.

In this 4th outing, symbologist Robert Langdon chases the ghost of eugenicist Bertrand Zobrist through Florence and Venice in the company of a slim genius, Sienna Brooks.

To successfully chase down and stop the bio-terror, Robert Langdon has to solve the codes largely inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy.  The novel whizzes us through the sights and sounds of Florence, where Robert Langdon finds himself one fine day.

To my annoyance, the first two-thirds of the novel reads like a tourist guide for Florence, Italy.  It is only when Robert Langdon and the suddenly-pretty-suddenly-starling Sienna Brooks get to the Horses of St. Mark in Venice does the story takes off.  Till then it is a torture, and the main reason for this delayed review.

Presumably because Robert Langdon is all knowing to be surprised by medieval codes, artists and architects, the sudden changes in scenario is entrusted to the characters.

However, in the name of introducing twists in the storyline, Dan Brown has managed to smother the Inferno in a blanket of disbelief.  Instead of being startled by the abrupt turns, I was left confused and dazed.

(image courtesy flipkart.com)

Spoiler Alert:

In the end too, we find that a character with more villainy getting away as a heroic persona, whereas another who actually attempts more good get the shaft. 

I mean the Provost actually does much more than Sienna Brooks to rectify the situation, once he realises the truth.  In fact, Sienna Brooks actually does not cooperate, does her own thing with a hidden-agenda, avoids disclosing the truth, two times everyone, but gets away without jail time.

:-P

My suggestion?  If you have nothing else to do, and ~Rs. 450/- to burn, go ahead and buy it.  Else skip it.

[As of this post Inferno sells for Rs. 397 + Rs. 50 shipping on flipkart]

Inferno - Dan Brown
Reviewed by: mad.madrasi
on: 2013-08-06
Rating:2.5

Tags: dan_brown

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