Best-selling author Dan Brown’s newest book “Inferno” was recently released, and the storyline of the fourth book in the Robert Langdon series turns out to be just interesting enough to keep reading, but all in all, the book falls flat compared to Brown’s previous best-sellers “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels & Demons.”
While “Inferno” is disappointing, compared to his last novel, “The Lost Symbol,” the former is brilliant; unfortunately, that is not saying much.
The novel’s premise centers on Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy,” focusing on the first of the three parts: Inferno. The memories of discussing the epic in both seventh grade history and sophomore English resurface, along with the newly supplied facts from the New England inhabitant.
The well-researched information that has come to be expected by fans does not disappoint; however, sadly, apart from the beginning, Langdon does not focus on symbology, but instead focuses on the history of Florence, Venice, Istanbul and, of course, the book’s namesake. Although it is interesting, readers sit there and wonder why Langdon, a professor of symbology, is there when most of the information he supplies could have been the result of a Google search?
While Brown seemed to learn that Shakespearean-length monologues are less than thrilling to readers, he remains fixed on a similar style shown in other works. Langdon, the protagonist from “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons” and “The Lost Symbol,” awakes in a daze and a little confused of previous events. Sound familiar? You might not have anticipated a young, attractive and intelligent woman helping to guide Langdon through the adventures of the day. Well if you had, you would be correct. Not only does the day seem like weeks, but ends in a time crunch upon which the entire population is resting. Being creative, I see.
Although the author may not have deviated from past plots, the book follows its counterparts and joins the bestseller list, and it would appear that Brown’s formula works.
Similar to the other three Langdon adventures, the principal of the novel focuses on a scientific and theological debate about the human race, with Inferno being the catalyst of the characters’ actions. While very interesting, readers prove the story’s point that humans try to repress the unfortunate present. Although it is a good point, the theme is not exactly uplifting.
The one thing the novel did have that is slightly different from its counterparts is no definite villain. Even at the end of the story, there is a sort of understanding of why the “villains” do what they do.
I will not deny that the last 100 or so pages are intriguing, filled with twists in each chapter, but frankly once the twists begin, the storyline of the majority of the novel appears to be obsolete and a sort of obstacle in getting to the last portion.
While it is eventually worth reading, especially if you are a Langdon fanatic, do not hurry to purchase “Inferno.” The movie might be better.
-Delaney King
