Inferno

A Novel

By: Dan Brown

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 17 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER • Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirty-six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings.

“One hell of a good read.... As close as a book can come to a summertime cinematic blockbuster.” —USA Today

“A diverting thriller.” —Entertainment Weekly

With a relentless female assassin trailing them through Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to flee.

Embarking on a harrowing journey, they must unravel a series of codes, which are the work of a brilliant scientist whose obsession with the end of the world is matched only by his passion for one of the most influential masterpieces ever written, Dante Alighieri's The Inferno.

Dan Brown has raised the bar yet again, combining classical Italian art, history, and literature with cutting-edge science in this captivating thriller.

©2013 Dan Brown (P)2013 Random House Audio

Underwhelming.

At this point it seems to me that Dan's approach to writing these books is largely paint-by-numbers. This iteration had a few high points (first time in a while I've understood and somewhat agreed with "the bad guy") but for the most part it feels almost contrived, like someone held a gun to his head and forced him to write it for a fast-closing deadline. I made myself finish listening to it on general principle, but this will probably be the last Dan Brown book I buy. There's too many good options out there to waste your time on this kind of mediocrity.

Inferno is warm, but never fires me up.

What did you love best about Inferno?

I like the continuing adventures of Robert and this one had a unique twist considering the injury he had sustained before the book even begins.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I was unsure who to trust, but at times I felt like it was a bit too much. In the end it all pans out logically, but for a minute or two audiances are left to wonder.

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

Great.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Find the Dante within.

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed the book, but Brown's previous entries into the saga were better.

Another Twist and Turn by Dan Brown

If you could sum up Inferno in three words, what would they be?

unexpected, historical, interesting

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inferno?

When the illusion was revealed.

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

Paul Michael does a great job. He sounds like what I think Robert Langdon should sound like.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Brown creates another yawner.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Well. I did recommend this book to a doctor friend in order that we might discuss the matter of overpopulation. Otherwise, I found the book to be disappointing. The information about historic sites was good, particularly for one who is not apt to travel to Florence or Istanbul. Nevertheless, it wasn't enough to keep me awake. I will say that this book is much, much better than the last one. (The Lost Symbol.)

Would you be willing to try another book from Dan Brown? Why or why not?

I'll give the guy one more chance.

How could the performance have been better?

I literally hated the narrators "soft girlie voice." It irritated me tremendously.

Did Inferno inspire you to do anything?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Any additional comments?

I loved The Da Vinci Code. Everything since then has been downhill. Too bad.

Entertaining, but a bit predictable

Worth the credit and if I didn't have audible I'd read it in book form. This book like the other Dan Brown books is very entertaining and kept my attention. It was a bit predictable and had the exact same formula as all the other Dan Brown Novels.

The perfect distraction

Where does Inferno: A Novel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Nothing extraordinary, just simply enjoyable.

Would you recommend Inferno: A Novel to your friends? Why or why not?

I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to make a mindless task less mindless. It isn't a great literary achievement, but it is greatly entertaining.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! Fast-paced and intriguing.

DAN BROWN STRIKES AGAIN! PAUL MICHAEL IS AMAZING!

If you could sum up Inferno in three words, what would they be?

3 words: HOLD! ON! TIGHT!!!

As soon as I received Inferno, I knew it was special. The way it began, as always was something only Mr. Brown can do. And of course Paul Michael delivers an awesome voice narration that is absolutely first class. I feel that the chemistry between both author and voice over really bring the stories that Dan Brown writes to life. The pace is at break neck speed, and you can't wait to get to the next chapter. Can't wait till the next epic Dan Brown novel. This guy is my favorite author, and no one else can properly come close the that of Mr. Brown. Great work.

What other book might you compare Inferno to and why?

None, only previous books from Dan Brown can even come close.

Which scene was your favorite?

Can't choose just one. They are all super cool and stand out. I guess the 'Consortion' scenes always seemed dark and mysterious, my kina stuff.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole trip through the levels of hell, that was extremely moving.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait till the next novel.

Where was ye Editor ?

If you could sum up Inferno in three words, what would they be?

good - not great

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inferno?

the switch between Ferris and Brooks

Which character – as performed by Paul Michael – was your favorite?

no fav.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Any additional comments?

The last third of the book needs an Editor's pen to tighten it up. Drags in several places with unneeded details.

Thought Provoking

I will say that this book did not captivate me as much as Angels and Demons or Da Vinci Code ( I actually enjoyed the A&D more than any of them), but it is still a very good book. I love reading Dan Brown's works because it is so apparent how much research he does and how interesting he makes certain points of history. If Dan was a high school history teacher it would be absolutely enthralling. I think this book brings to light a serious problem of over population, as well as offering some ethical considerations. You still get the same old Langdon following clues to solve a problem, and you expect their to be twists and turns in the book, so you kind of expect them. This being said, I am very glad I read the book. I gave it 5 stars overall not because how much I enjoy learning from Dan Brown. It is not just a piece of fiction, but educational about art, European history, and current issues.

Decidedly "meh"

So, lets start this off with the most accurate way of summing up this novel... Have you read Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code, and/or Lost Symbol? If you answered yes, then you have read this book with a different dust jacket on it. That doesn't mean anything other than a warning to not expect anything new.

So, lets get to the meat and potatoes. Dan Brown seems to write the same novel over and over again. It is the same formula, with no carry over or character development. They're fun, fast paced books the first one or two. After that, it seems to just get tired. I was really hoping for more this time, being a huge fan of Dante's original classic that forms the centerpiece of this story. Sadly, there was nothing new here.

Robert Langdon has gotten himself into another impossible situation that is really just a series of puzzles that only he can solve. But while on an artificial clock of course. This time, he's in Italy (again), solving puzzles laid in front of him by a madman bent on the destruction of much of the human population. The only new element is Langdon is suffering from amnesia. But even this gets old fast.

I can say that the pacing is still excellent, as is the historical bits sprinkled within. But as always, it is not a history book, so those without historical knowledge to know truth from fiction, please take everything with a grain of salt. But the settings are well described, and you get some nice flavor as usual for Dan Brown.

The narration is exceptional though. I would gladly give it four stars, except for a few mispronunciations that got on my nerves. Paul Michael captures Langdon very well, and helps draw you into the world of art and intrigue.

I have to give this only three stars because in addition to the poor character development, and the contrived situations, you also have to deal with more unoriginal writing. If you liked the last three books in the series, and they haven't gotten old, give this one a try, you'll probably like this too. But if the concept and writing was wearing thin on you during Lost Symbol, or earlier, you may want to hesitate to get this one.