I just finished reading Inferno by Dan Brown, a book that had been on my reading list for a long time, and I’m glad I finally accomplished it. At around 430 pages, the book initially felt bulky, but once I started reading, I found myself speeding through it—perhaps due to Dan Brown’s captivating writing style.
The action sequences in the novel were thoroughly enjoyable. The characters—Robert Langdon, Sienna Brooks, Elizabeth Sinskey, the Provost, and Bertrand Zobrist—were all well-developed and left a lasting impression. They stay with the reader for days after finishing the book.
Before reading Inferno, Dante Alighieri, the author of The Divine Comedy, was just a name I vaguely recognized. But after reading, I gained a much deeper understanding of his life. I learned about his unjust banishment from Florence for loving Beatrice, how that inspired him to write The Divine Comedy, and how his vivid depictions of hell were meant to guide people of his time toward the righteous path.
The novel also takes readers on a literal tour of Florence, painting such a vivid picture that it made me want to visit this beautiful Italian city someday. Venice is described in equally rich detail, as much as the plot allows.
One of the key themes of the novel is the problem of overpopulation and its control, which resurfaces throughout the story. It raises an intriguing discussion: how some brilliant minds with high IQs recognize the looming crisis and strive to solve it directly, while others view these efforts as a threat to humanity. This is a topic that readers will likely ponder after finishing the book.
Inferno is a great read for anyone looking for a fast-paced action thriller blended with history from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. A quote from the book that will stay with me is, “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”
The next book on my list is "To kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee.
