rinoon's review against another edition
3.0
if some dude gave me tour of the underworld back to heaven i’d catch feelings too. definitely gonna miss virgil.
hflh's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
If you like Inferno because of the romantic tension between Dante and Virgil, the verse, and the devils, and don’t care about Dante’s craft or his musings on religion, sin, and politics, you will not like Purgatorio.
Purgatorio is more boring and the verse is drier, but it is still a little gay as I’m very certain Heaven welcomes people with a fully choreographed Pride parade.
Purgatorio is more boring and the verse is drier, but it is still a little gay as I’m very certain Heaven welcomes people with a fully choreographed Pride parade.
eds_writing_journey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dsbookie's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this part of the Divine Comedy the most so far. In Purgatory, there seem to be even more historical connections, but instead of telling them that they have no redeeming qualities, there is more a theme of hope. It was refreshing to see that not everything was just damnation and a lack of sorrow. There was actual repentance in what they had done. Plus, Virgil gets put in his place more often in this part because he does not really know Purgatory as well as he knew Hell. It was interesting to see how Hell and Purgatory were so different--they had some things exactly opposite from each other. It will be cool to be able to see how Purgatory will be different from Heaven.
jdparker9's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
belwau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
noelisss101's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
3.0
After what seems like forever, I have finished Dante's The Divine Comedy II: Purgatory (trans by Dorothy L Sayers). This was a much more difficult read for me. First of all, there is less action. In Hell, there is constant movement from level to level and Virgil and Dante are continually observing punishment in action. There is also, of course, the horrible fascination with watching the punishment fit the crime. Because Hell is set in eternity, there is no time and therefore no time limit on action.
In Purgatory, the movement is less and, in fact, is even limited by the passing of time. Souls working their way through Purgatory are not allowed to move upward on the mountain at night, so Dante and Virgil are forced to stop several times on their journey. Purgatory was also a bit more challenging for me, a Protestant, since I was not familiar with the doctrine. Sayers does an excellent job explaining the doctrine of Purgatory in the introduction and clarifying some mistaken notions that many have. Again, without her introductory passages and excellent notes, I would have been lost.
So far, I would say the Divine Comedy is a beautifully done allegory representing the journey of the soul from sin to knowledge of and repentance of that sin to the eventual acceptance into Heaven. A bit difficult for those of us who aren't inclined to the Classics, but lovely poetry and a well-executed translation go a long way to making it more palatable. Three and a half stars out of five.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.
In Purgatory, the movement is less and, in fact, is even limited by the passing of time. Souls working their way through Purgatory are not allowed to move upward on the mountain at night, so Dante and Virgil are forced to stop several times on their journey. Purgatory was also a bit more challenging for me, a Protestant, since I was not familiar with the doctrine. Sayers does an excellent job explaining the doctrine of Purgatory in the introduction and clarifying some mistaken notions that many have. Again, without her introductory passages and excellent notes, I would have been lost.
So far, I would say the Divine Comedy is a beautifully done allegory representing the journey of the soul from sin to knowledge of and repentance of that sin to the eventual acceptance into Heaven. A bit difficult for those of us who aren't inclined to the Classics, but lovely poetry and a well-executed translation go a long way to making it more palatable. Three and a half stars out of five.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.
neolemur's review against another edition
4.0
I was set up to be disappointed when I read Purgatorio—everyone says it's worse than Inferno, and it is. But I was surprised at how much I enjoyed! The beginning is exceedingly beautiful, with descriptions of Dante-the-pilgrim's body as breaking light wonderfully leading into theology of the body and senses. Dante-the-poet's fascination with the ability, or inability, of pagans to achieve mercy is fascinating and sometimes funny (really, the Pope resurrected Trajan so he could become Christian?). The end of the book is also lovely; after Dante's smug, consequenceless romp through purgatory, we see him strongly moved by his love for Virgil and recognition of his own sin. Ultimately it is still less creative and intelligent than Inferno in my opinion—but there's a lot to like!