Inferno

A Novel

De: Dan Brown

Narrado por: Paul Michael

#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

Another Rollercoaster Ride!

Has it been almost four years since the last Dan Brown novel? Yes it has! In his latest work, Inferno, Brown pulls out the unflappable symbologist Dr. Robert Langdon of Di Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Brown uses the same formula for his new novel, Inferno, substituting the Bible for Dante. It works. The problem with all Langdon novels is that they happen over such a short timeframe, you don’t get a chance for much character development and very little backstory.

Langdon awakes in a hospital with a head injury, in Italy and without a clue to how he got there; then the game is on. This time-lock story formula and lack of character depth places him at a significant disadvantage that he more than makes up for with interesting facts, plausible fibs and fast paced action. The novel is narrated by Paul Michael who did a good job but a touch monochromatic for my taste.

In my conversations with other readers, over the years regarding Browns’ work, I think either you love him or you don’t love him so much – no middle ground. He is a very polarizing writer because of his formula and style. For me, I just like to sit back and enjoy the ride. He isn’t the most eloquent of authors but I do like the ways he puts together all of the research and the brisk pace he moves you through conflicts.

I strongly recommend that you read his stand-alone works Digital Fortress and Deception Point which are excellent. They do not use the same formula as the Langdon novels. In some ways, they are much stronger works than the Langdon novels. As long as he doesn’t bring out this formula every year, I will remain a fan – this is a definite listen.

Kept me listening for hours

What made the experience of listening to Inferno the most enjoyable?

Paul Michael did a great narration.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Robert of course!

What does Paul Michael bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought he really sounded like Tom Hanks and varied his tone well for other characters.

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

There was that Dan Brown fear twist that kept the story edgy.

Any additional comments?

I loved the ending.

TOWERING INFERNO

THIS REVIEW IS A BIT UNFAIR AS I'VE BEEN LISTENING FOR A JUST A CHAPTER OR 2.. I HAVE TO SAY I WAS ENTHARLLED FROM CHAPTER ONE, SYMBOLS AND DISCONCERTING DREAMS, ASSASANATION ATTEMPTS, MURDER, MAYHEM, AND THREATS FROM A CLANDESTINE COMPANY WITH FINGERS ON THE PULSE AND IN THE POCKETS OF THE POWER BROKERS MOVER AND SHAKERS INFLUENCEING THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OF OTHER COUNTRIES THIS IS JUST AT THE START..I HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING THE RELEASE OF THIS BOOK, HAD IT ON PREORDER AS I AM SURE OF MANY AUDIBLE LISTENERS HAVE. I AM SO INTO THIS STORY I JUST HAD TO SAY SOMETHING. IF YOU FOUND DAN BROWNS OTHER NOVELS WELL DONE,(REMEBER ALL THE DOCUMENTARIES THAT CAME OUT AFTER THE DA'VINCI CODE? } THIS BOOK IS FAST OFF THE LINE, YOU ARE SWEPT INTO INTRIGUE, CONVOLUTED TWISTS,WHAT HAPPENS A WHERE IT LEADS WE WILL FIND OUT THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO A SATISFYING CLOSE I HOPE..SORRY TO JUMP THE GUN ON THIS REVIEW BUT WHEN MY BLOOD PRESSURE SPIKED TO OVER 180 I KNEW I WAS HOOKED, A VORATOUS VILLIAN WILLING TO PULL OUT THE STOPS TO MEET HIS GOAL WITH LANGDON TRYING TO SORT IT OUT,AGAINST ALL THE HIGH TECH EQUIPENT, TANTALISING CLUES MYSTERY OF SYMBOLS AND A COVERT ATTEMP ON LANGDON'S LIFE, A FAILURE THAT STARTS THE TENSION BUILDING. I AM GLAD TO GIVE THE LISTEN MY FULL ATTENTION. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT AS WELL I WANTED TO SHARE MY 1ST IMPRESSION.. I GUESS I AM PUSH OVER FOR A THE WRITERS ABILITY TO CREATE GREAT IMAGERY, AND THE BONUS OF A SKILLED NARRATOR.

Fluff

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

If you want a lesson in Italian Art and enjoy a book with lots of fluff than this one is for you . There are many great parts where Mr Dan has you hooked but then he goes off in never never land . ! Good ending !

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

good

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

all ~~ He is great

Do you think Inferno needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No

Any additional comments?

No

Another Adventure into and out of the past...

I enjoy Dan Brown because I can escape from my daily 8-5 job. I would love to travel and Dan Browns' books have allowed me to do so.
It wasn't the greatest plot (never quite made sense why the villain, who dies in the beginning anyway, would want his "weapon of doom" found) but I enjoyed the art history, architecture and classical literature lesson. Dan Brown is a good professor, just like Robert Langdon and I appreciate him.
While I listened, I would travel on the internet to Wikipedia or other sites to look up what painting he was talking about or what architecture he was describing. (You'll need a smart phone or iPad/Kindle Fire to do this). It always fills me with a sense of wonder at the beauty of the past.
It also makes you think, and think hard about the planet we live on and how we should be better stewards of what we have. I like Dan Brown because he makes me think outside the box and I am a better more enlightened person for it. Thank you Dan!

ANOTHER WINNER BY DAN BROWN!!

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

Thought-provoking, insightful, entertaining

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inferno?

The twists at the end...can't believe I didn't see some of that coming!

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

Paul Michael did a remarkable job! Love his voice and the inflections he did to try and distinguish the different characters.

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

No extreme reactions...just walked away thinking of our world today!

Any additional comments?

“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”
― Dante Alighieri, Inferno

Exciting Thriller with a Message

This is another very enjoyable Dan Brown thriller. The entire book focuses on overpopulation and it's consequences. Personally, I agree with Mr. Brown. Overpopulation is an issue that we rarely hear about in the news, yet has more potential for self destruction than almost any other global issue.

The story line centers around Robert Landon's efforts to find a genetically engineered virus, whose impact is not yet known. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of both Venice and of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia and spent a good amount of time watching YouTube videos of the famous buildings and art described in the book.

Inferno is well worth the credit and the time to listen to it. Enjoy!

I lost interest way before the chase was over.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sort of.

If you’ve listened to books by Dan Brown before, how does this one compare?

It was not his best book.

Have you listened to any of Paul Michael’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

??

Did Inferno inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

Dan is very good, heck maybe great at holding onto a secret. He’s a master at suspense and the action never stops. However, this book would benefit if pages 200-300 disappeared. You’d never miss them. The big secrets come later, much later. By the time I was ready for the climax he wasn’t even close to finishing. So, I put the book down and read three other books before I got back to it. On whole, it was ok, worth the money. However, I expect better writing from a big time pro like Dan Brown.

A Poor Ending to an Exciting Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Dan Brown can definitely tell a great story; however, the heavy-handed and dubious conclusion left a really bad taste toward the book. Such a great story with all its twists and turns, surprise character revelations and suspense, deserved much better than a tired and tried "sermon" on a scientifically doubtful premise.

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Great Gatsby

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

Zobrist

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

A great narration

Fiction Flirting with Fact!

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

I enjoyed this book. There were times when I was 'on the edge of my seat', and other times when I went two or three days without listening. Dan Brown is a teacher, for sure. I always learn so much from his books... and this one, in particular, made me aware of a REAL issue that affects the human race. That being said, if you're not in the mood to be lectured 'college style', this book isn't for you. However, if you love learning new facts about artwork and architecture, you'll really enjoy this.

The plot was intriguing. At one point, near the middle of the book, it contained a surprising twist that prompted me to go back and re-read an earlier chapter.

I visited Italy ten years ago as a teenager. Much of this book was set in Florence, Italy. A spark of interest in that country has been reignited now that I've finished the book.

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

The narrator did a very nice job - adding a softening of voice for the female characters.

Any additional comments?

Overall, a very enjoyable read.