Inferno – Dan Brown

Brown, Dan. 2013. Inferno. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Bentang.

Rating 5 stars AND BEYOND!
(review in Indonesian, click here)

Is it just me or this book really has the I'm-so-legit wave?

Why I read it in the first place?

Bhahahahhahahaha. It’s a silly question, really. So let’s not dwell too much on this. I read this book because I am obssesed on every piece of Dan Brown’s works. People who enjoy reading, who appreciate art, who adore clever and generous character, and who have curiosity toward science and religion, MUST at the very least puke rainbow on Dan Brown’s books, and this book is no exception. How so? Well, this book successfully made me reach my orgasm point, just like a total nerd when it comes to an awesome book with too much awesomeness to bare. In some point I thought my brain is exploded for consumed over dose of amazingness in this book. So, why read this book? Pfft. That’s not even a relevant question if we’re talking about Inferno here.

This is it! The moment you knew you'll enjoy the ride.

My Rambling.

Right now, I’m trying hard to keep my hysteria over this book for myself so it’s not bursting everywhere in this rambling/review. But, what am I? I’m just a man’s child with weakness, so let me release this, OOOOOOOH MYYYYYY GANDAAAALFFFF! AMAZEBAAALLLSSS! Frankly, I won’t say much about the content of Inferno because, if you haven’t read it and considering it now, you’ll be much happier and satisfied if you know NOTHING before go and read it. Enjoy every suspense! I’m dead serious. However, if you need to be more persuaded and is okay for a slight sneak peek of this book, keep on reading then. Although I’m still not going to spoil anything. If you want to stay as an empty cup, jump to the fourth paragraph. 

In Inferno, Langdon wakes up in the exotic city Florence, Italy, without his memory. Yope! It means Langdon’s  journey will full of bewilderedness, dishonesty, and of course thrill. The source of conflict in this Brown’s newest book is a poem by famous late Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, whom his face is printed as the cover of this book. This poem entitled The Divine Comedy emerged from Dante Alighieri’s spiritual experience when he went through hell (inferno), purgatory (purgatorio), and paradise (paradiso). No one expect that this masterpiece will leave such uncontrollable effect even after centuries when it first published.

Reading Inferno is like a wake up call for the obvious problem we actually are facing RIGHT NOW. I was surprised at how real the threat of this problem just like explained in Inferno. We, right about this second, are facing it! Human overpopulation. And, the explication of Dante Alighieri’s vision of hell, definitely left me aghast a bit. Will human population really extinct in brutal way like is shown by Dante? Whatever, clear message after reading this book: Please don’t carelessly make babies!

Inferno is the fourth book in Robert Langdon’s series that has been with us since Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol. You don’t have to read the previous books to understand this one. I must say, I’m not so shocked anymore by Brown’s genius way in executing his story idea. I knew I’m going to have this reaction, totally stunned with all the simple intellectual complexities. Brown always uses omniscient point of view and intentional overlapping and back-and-forth plot, which is DOPE! For Inferno, Brown is consistent with his somewhat James Bond story line. The similarities are in the heroine that is replaced over and over in every book, and in their unique theme repetitive journeys. Bond is unique for his high end sophisticated tools. Langdon is unique for his wide knowledge of art and symbols. So, of course their actions in every book will use their uniqueness repeatedly. Reader who expect more is just imagining it way too far.

Robert Langdon, the Harvard professor and American well-known symbolist, never bored me with his constant awe toward pieces of art, that is described in deep details in Inferno. There are endless elaborations about art in this book, and I too enjoyed it through Langdon’s eyes. The setting of place is started in Florence and proceed to another breath-takingly exotic places, which also is described beautifully in great details, and I was more than willing to savor it.

I’m positive to say that Inferno is the best compared to Brown’s previous books. With so much intrigues than you can ever asked for, and twists in literally everywhere in this book, I tired myself with my wild over-excitement while reading Inferno. This 600s pages book just tells about a ONE DAY event, believe it or not. And when I came to read the last word in this book, I knew undoubtedly I was reading a brilliant masterpiece! Even until the last word, reader still be spoiled with lovely twist (that, if you are able to notice it, but it’s so obvious and I’m sure everyone is giddy as me when noticing that). Total masterpiece.

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If I ever crossed with person who read Inferno and they say nothing's good in it...