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

Gripping, compelling

Another Dan Brown thriller, full of twists & turns. I found myself gripping my car's steering wheel in anticipation & suspense, only to (sort of) breathe a sigh of relief. 'Sort of' because there was another suspenseful passage ahead.
The narrator did a fantastic job of (foreign) accents and emoting of the characters' feelings.
Sad I'm done with the book, but will look for other suspenseful & intriguing books narrated by the same person.
Excellent & timely book!

Timely plot

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

The Dan Brown enjoyment factor is in the not-so-subtle guide book quality. Seriously, I need to hit Istanbul and the JFK mile... He manages enough hard and good science to make it intriguing, plenty of excitement with the necessary twists and turns. A bit on the too convenient side in places within this plot, but not every work can be hit out of the park.

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

I've read and/or heard them and enjoyed them all.

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

I'm becoming a fan of the duo of voices in audiobooks and the background side effects. It is a bit difficult to continue to hear female voices torn to pieces by a male reader. They frequently manage one voice fine, two sometimes, and three or more? Not so much. They fall back on stereotypes...

That said, you'll note that the performance brought the book's total rating up to a four star, whereas I only gave the book itself a three star.

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

Parts simply dragged along with too much exposition and not enough dialog. Also the 'convenience' factor was a bit too heavy.

Great if you are visiting Florence or Venice

Lots of stuff and nonsense from Dan Brown about Robert Langdon escaping near death defying situations again. Also with the help of a beautiful age-appriopiate woman. This time it's all about Dante's "Inferno". Together they travel from Florence to Venice and end up in Istanbul. Oddly, nothing about Langdon's previous hair-raising adventures seem to have made a dent in his mind. It's like he starting anew with each book.

Still what kept me going was all the minutia of the cities and Dante. All the little known historical facts about the churches, museums, waterways, palaces etc take up a lot of the book. Like a teacher who gives you just enough information so you don't nod off in class or become overwelhmed with details before moving on.

Plot has something to do with W.H.O., a world shattering virus and bad guys shooting at innocent people all being tied into Dante's "Divine Comedy". Shrug

Typical Dan Brown, but still great entertainment

Any additional comments?

Without wanting to spoil the plot for those who haven't read the book yet, I thought that the idea of the "plague" was brilliant. I never saw it coming. It is also interesting to think about the moral issues lying in the background.
I love "travelling" through his stories and finding out so many details about places Langdon visits.
I got exactly what I expected from the book: another great Robert Langdon story. I don't see how those who say the plot is the same old pattern expected anything else. Dan Brown is good at what he does, why should he stray from it?

One "Hell" of a Ride through Italy and Below

I really enjoyed this thriller take-off on Dante's Inferno (the first of 3 canticles from Dante's Divine Comedy written in the early 14th century). While I read this shortly after it was published more than 2 years ago, I am just now getting to writing a review.

I love Dante's Inferno. Brown's use of it here was strikingly done with his trademark semiotics and winding plot turners. I could tell he made a grand research effort on Florence, Venice and Dante. Though the theme of the story was a bit far-fetched, it's rather difficult to get the thrills from an international novel without the capacity to suspend disbelief.

It'd be great as a fantastic roller coaster ride to end the summer, particularly in audio. Yet, on this point, I must say that I also had the hardcover version and had to go to it when I became impatient to know what happened.

Those looking for "literary" probably already know this isn't for them. Call it a guilty pleasure, but I like suspense novels to be SUSPENSEful (and I'm not opposed to non-tragic endings). Let the literary cognoscenti lob their brickbats, like Q-tips into a canyon.

I give it a sound recommendation as a thrill ride, particularly for readers/listeners who love Florence or Venice (or Italy overall) and/or Dante'.

Thought provoking~

I found myself searching the web for the references in Dan Brown's Inferno. I always enjoy the reality in his books. The way he takes historical figures and places and intertwines his fiction is never dissappointing. He writes like a conspiracy theorist but adds enough touches of truth that it seems plausible. Inferno is frightening. It made me think about subjects that I had never really considered and the repercussions of the choices people make. I think it is important to keep in mind that this book is fiction--not a conspiracy even if it touches on present day worries. It is engrossing and entertaining but not reality.

It was alright

What did you like best about Inferno? What did you like least?

entertaining for the most part, but very predictable, very much like the other stories he has written. No huge plot twist, everything that happened in the story you saw coming a mile away. A big fan of Dan Brown, but this one didn't live up to the hype.

Mesmerizing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely recommend this book to my friends especially those who do missionary works in the 3rd world countries

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

The plot is Dan Brown's genius. Not only entertaining but also educational and believable.

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

Paul Michael is top-notch narrator. I have heard his voice in the books that I have purchased through the years (including the Bourne Series) and he will definitely increase the audible sales.

Any additional comments?

The long commute from CT to my son's graduation is Rochester, NY was made easy and exciting by listening to Mr. Brown's newest novel, Inferno. The winding roads, cops chasing the speeding motorists, traffic jams did not raise my adrenaline more than Dr, Langdon and his personal physician, Dr Brook's experience as they elude so many obstacles while traversing the labyrinth of Venice's subterranean passageways. It's like retracing the places I have been during our trip to Italy few years ago, and much more. Mr. Brown also has a way of dissecting the true nature of each character making sure that the readers understand why they evolved to be who they are. Not only did this book entertained me but it also gave me a better perspective of how life is all about. We have our own "inferno" to work with to make us a better person.I wish that he will also write his future novels with Asian flair and mystique and do justice to Manila's beautiful side.

Not an Art Masterpiece: AnArt Adventure Nontheless

I agree with most of the mediocre reviews I've read to date. The story is formulaic Dan Brown. While it's much better than his last book, The Lost Symbol, it's not nearly as good as the original.

If you simply agree to set aside the holes in the story and enjoy the art history and the clue riddled adventure along the way, then you will enjoy the book enough to make it worth your time and purchase. Granted, he does fill in the holes, but it feels as if he could have found a more realistic premise to make the story move as opposed to an amnesia gag following a phantom overnight trip to Europe.

I rounded up on the review only because I was able to take it for what it is worth, an adventurous story that asks you to set aside reality for a few hours.

Paul Michael does a fairly good job in narration, although he falls a little flat during the exciting, high anxiety moments in the story - he could have certainly put a little more life into the fun parts.

Overall, I recommend the book, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Set your expectations at (Medium)

Can I get this off my chest..... I Love Tom Hanks - But really. Robert Langdon.... How about Hugh Jackman - Or a less bloated Russell Crowe...... Now that, that is out of the way. As always - I like to be challenged mentally. This had some concepts and ideas that did make me think. Most though - It was filled with fluff and a lot of misdirection. It's gotta be tough though. How do you really follow up the Davinci Code..... I give him credit for trying.... I liked Angels and Demons much better.......

The narrator was great! - It would have been a much worse review if he had been a bad one.

For what it's worth J