Scan barcode
sams84's review against another edition
4.0
This is Milton's epic retelling of the story of Creation and Mankind's fall from Paradise. Although it is a little hard work in places the prose is vivid and descriptive and carries the reader through very well. The dry wit and rhetoric of Satan is somewhat amusing (don't think Milton meant him to be that way though) and despite the best intentions I actually enjoyed his appearances. Yes this is an epic poem and an epic read but in my opinion it is well worth it.
sarahhhh__canread's review against another edition
2.0
This book just wasn’t really my thing. I don’t think it’s badly written It just wasn’t my cup of tea. Also the people that really like this book on Goodreads really glorify satan so that kind of freaks me out.
henry_michael03's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
joeydell4's review against another edition
dark
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
asolo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
n_howard0718's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
jasperfrancis's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
3.75
Five minute review .
This book is a blend of biblical fanfiction, the outcome of Milton's environment, and religion versus politics in his eyes. Milton, in the face of execution, blatantly places critique of the monarchy (or, in any instance, human governance at all) and asserts that the proper hierarchy suggests that no other power should be in place except for that of God. The monarchy, after all, set off to oppress Milton and create turbulence in his life. But, if oppression is bad even in authority, then what is it by the proper hand of God?
Proper hierarchy is what Paradise Lost is about, and by Milton's standards, justification. Is it though? I don't think so. But that's just me. Milton is calling upon his faith to write this, kind of a "it came to me in a prophetic vision" thing. It very much did. He calls other faiths, namely Paganism, false. However, where did those faiths come from? Right. A prophetic vision.
If we were to measure religions by their credits as some visions or callings, we would have lots of religions seeming to be 'the most correct'. At the end of the day, every religion calls another false. Even when faced with that, they will inevitably hold onto their idea that they are correct, even if the other guy also says the same.
The second highest theme for Paradise Lost is what I would call collective punishment. All that we suffer is from the roots of something we cannot understand, and we will always be the offspring of an evil thing. People 'understand' God, even when God caused the flood out of anger for a slice of the human race, and punished all of it.
People justified God for making humans die a death deserved by only two of their predecessors, whose offspring committed further sin from their anguish of being made mortal. It's a bit strange.
Envy is another theme. Satan's sins came from envy, and so did Adam and Eve's sin, as the Serpent tempted him out of yearning for an Eden. To me, if Satan were a 'holy figure', I think that people would sympathize with him as just 'being jealous' and 'wanting what he cannot have'.
I mostly gave this 3.5 stars because the misogyny made it so, so rough to get through. I loved the parts in Eden until it started getting a bit too Renaissance-thoughts-on-women-plus-the-bible. Yes, it was written at a time and in a context where misogyny was normal and the ideal thought process. I don't think that makes it very enjoyable though. Definitely not for me.
I enjoyed the parts with Satan better. I am sorry. This is one of those books where the villain is more enjoyable than the protagonist.
I'm an atheist who has loved theology since I was little, all religions and literature surrounding it. So this is a review through the eyes of a godless heathen. I just like the bible.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but the misogny was a buzzkill. The rest was a treat.
Thank you mama for this Christmas gift !
This book is a blend of biblical fanfiction, the outcome of Milton's environment, and religion versus politics in his eyes. Milton, in the face of execution, blatantly places critique of the monarchy (or, in any instance, human governance at all) and asserts that the proper hierarchy suggests that no other power should be in place except for that of God. The monarchy, after all, set off to oppress Milton and create turbulence in his life. But, if oppression is bad even in authority, then what is it by the proper hand of God?
Proper hierarchy is what Paradise Lost is about, and by Milton's standards, justification. Is it though? I don't think so. But that's just me. Milton is calling upon his faith to write this, kind of a "it came to me in a prophetic vision" thing. It very much did. He calls other faiths, namely Paganism, false. However, where did those faiths come from? Right. A prophetic vision.
If we were to measure religions by their credits as some visions or callings, we would have lots of religions seeming to be 'the most correct'. At the end of the day, every religion calls another false. Even when faced with that, they will inevitably hold onto their idea that they are correct, even if the other guy also says the same.
The second highest theme for Paradise Lost is what I would call collective punishment. All that we suffer is from the roots of something we cannot understand, and we will always be the offspring of an evil thing. People 'understand' God, even when God caused the flood out of anger for a slice of the human race, and punished all of it.
People justified God for making humans die a death deserved by only two of their predecessors, whose offspring committed further sin from their anguish of being made mortal. It's a bit strange.
Envy is another theme. Satan's sins came from envy, and so did Adam and Eve's sin, as the Serpent tempted him out of yearning for an Eden. To me, if Satan were a 'holy figure', I think that people would sympathize with him as just 'being jealous' and 'wanting what he cannot have'.
I mostly gave this 3.5 stars because the misogyny made it so, so rough to get through. I loved the parts in Eden until it started getting a bit too Renaissance-thoughts-on-women-plus-the-bible. Yes, it was written at a time and in a context where misogyny was normal and the ideal thought process. I don't think that makes it very enjoyable though. Definitely not for me.
I enjoyed the parts with Satan better. I am sorry. This is one of those books where the villain is more enjoyable than the protagonist.
I'm an atheist who has loved theology since I was little, all religions and literature surrounding it. So this is a review through the eyes of a godless heathen. I just like the bible.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but the misogny was a buzzkill. The rest was a treat.
Thank you mama for this Christmas gift !
xherdanjackiri's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
lucysnowy's review against another edition
3.0
usual disclaimer that i read only books 1-4, 9 and 10. and i can't say that i will be returning to finish the rest.
this is one of those books where i can see its worth, i can see why it is so important and influential ... but it was not a fun book to read. other than the iconic lines - like finding the frankenstein epigraph in book 10 - i was typically trudging my way through seemingly endless lines of poetry for hours on end.
that being said, i'm sure it will be exciting to talk about in my seminars. and i'm glad that i can say i've read a bit of it.
this is one of those books where i can see its worth, i can see why it is so important and influential ... but it was not a fun book to read. other than the iconic lines - like finding the frankenstein epigraph in book 10 - i was typically trudging my way through seemingly endless lines of poetry for hours on end.
that being said, i'm sure it will be exciting to talk about in my seminars. and i'm glad that i can say i've read a bit of it.