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aceface's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.75
addicted2booksstefania's review against another edition
5.0
It’s crazy to say I’ve finished my course on Purgatorio & Paradiso and I’m officially done The Commedia! Despite my issues with Dante, this was honestly such a brilliant text and I’ve been lucky to have an amazing professor to help me understand it. I’m still in awe at how much knowledge Dante had and how much is required to understand all the nuances and jabs and references he sprinkles in the text. Highly, highly recommend reading it, but I recommend taking a class even more.
lori85's review against another edition
4.0
Whereas Hell had Nine Circles and Purgatory had Seven Terraces (corresponding to the seven deadly sins), Heaven has Nine Spheres surrounding the earth, based on the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude) and the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Love). They are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, the Primum Mobile. Finally, there is the home of God Himself, the Empyrean, a place composed of pure light and intelligence, the source of all Creation and beyond physical existence. Dante's ascent through each Sphere mirrors the soul's natural inclination to rise and seek what is good or, more particularly, the origin of all good. A theme in Purgatorio was spiritual and psychological maturity, in which Dante posited that it is humanity's innate desire for happiness and fulfillment that often leads us to sin, especially if we have not been properly taught discernment. This occurred in Canto 16 of Purgatorio, which is also Canto 50 of the entire Comedy, located directly in the middle and thereby indicating its significance to our understanding of Dante's cosmos.
From what I could understood of it, Paradiso is basically Dante expressing, in as many different and eloquent ways as he can, that this place is very bright and full of joy. There are also many, many metaphors involving hunger, nourishment, bows and arrows, and fruits and seeds. (This last one ties in with one of the motifs of Purgatorio, in which the souls are essentially "pregnant" with their new being.) The corruption of the clergy and present-day Florence are still very much present (and the subject of several long rants) but the overall impression is one of everlasting peace and contemplation. In other words, The Divine Comedy leans dangerously toward the "Evil is Cool/Good is Boring" tropes, although Your Mileage May Vary on that one. Paradiso is definitely the most abstract of the three, which is hardly surprising, considering that the whole point of Heaven is that these souls have found ultimate peace and enlightenment and have nothing left to overcome or strive for.
More on my old blog.
From what I could understood of it, Paradiso is basically Dante expressing, in as many different and eloquent ways as he can, that this place is very bright and full of joy. There are also many, many metaphors involving hunger, nourishment, bows and arrows, and fruits and seeds. (This last one ties in with one of the motifs of Purgatorio, in which the souls are essentially "pregnant" with their new being.) The corruption of the clergy and present-day Florence are still very much present (and the subject of several long rants) but the overall impression is one of everlasting peace and contemplation. In other words, The Divine Comedy leans dangerously toward the "Evil is Cool/Good is Boring" tropes, although Your Mileage May Vary on that one. Paradiso is definitely the most abstract of the three, which is hardly surprising, considering that the whole point of Heaven is that these souls have found ultimate peace and enlightenment and have nothing left to overcome or strive for.
More on my old blog.
pixiechick92's review against another edition
This book requires extensive background knowledge of classical literature and philosophy to grasp the complex allusions and references. It became too heavy and unenjoyable. I will say, there seems to be some really deep ideas; I’m just not in a position to chew on them with gusto.
cesar's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Esse volume nos conta a ida de Dante ao paraíso e do seu encontro com Beatriz.
O livro é pouco descritivo e é muito apoiado em diversos sermões durante a jornada de Dante no Paraíso.
O livro acaba sendo monótono e a falta de descrição de como é o Paraíso e dos seres que lá vivem deixa a leitura bem difícil.
Vale a pena, mas é um livro difícil.
O livro é pouco descritivo e é muito apoiado em diversos sermões durante a jornada de Dante no Paraíso.
O livro acaba sendo monótono e a falta de descrição de como é o Paraíso e dos seres que lá vivem deixa a leitura bem difícil.
Vale a pena, mas é um livro difícil.
sinogaze's review against another edition
3.0
slow at first but picks up around canto 27… love all the crazy emanationist stuff and dante’s commitment to feeling special about himself. really interesting stuff about mary and eve tbh noah you can have your book back now even though i kind of destroyed it by having it in my bag for six months
prynne31's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Paradise was 5*s
Canto 33 is amazing!
Not sure if I would like other translations better. Some notes or choices I wasn't sure if I agreed with. I'd love to read Dorothy Sayers' translation.
Canto 33 is amazing!
Not sure if I would like other translations better. Some notes or choices I wasn't sure if I agreed with. I'd love to read Dorothy Sayers' translation.
djla2009's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful ending to Dante's adventure!
I think part of it may be that as I read the Divine Comedy, I become more familiar with Dante's(and the translator's) style and could understand what he was saying more often. It's a hard book to understand at times because it's very poetic but also presumes exterior knowledge. The biblical references were fine for me since I'm familiar with the Bible(except for the books in the catholic Bible that were sometimes referenced). The Greco-Roman references where sometimes something I knew but sometimes something totally new to me. The Italian/Modern day references I had no idea what he was talking about. Florence's political situation was very complicated in Dante's day so I gave up trying to understand what he was talking about and that helped me enjoy the book more.
The depiction of heaven was very creative, I thought. The Inferno was creative too but I feel like that version of hell has pervaded modern day depictions of hell so it wasn't new to me. But the way Dante finds to depict heaven really gave me something to visualize other than angels playing harps on clouds. Dante is obviously very cautious to say that Paradise was much more magnificent than what he's able to describe.
This is definitely an investment and big effort to get through but at the end, I feel like it was worthwhile. It's nice that Dante breaks the divine comedy into 3 parts so that I could take long breaks after completing each part.
I think part of it may be that as I read the Divine Comedy, I become more familiar with Dante's(and the translator's) style and could understand what he was saying more often. It's a hard book to understand at times because it's very poetic but also presumes exterior knowledge. The biblical references were fine for me since I'm familiar with the Bible(except for the books in the catholic Bible that were sometimes referenced). The Greco-Roman references where sometimes something I knew but sometimes something totally new to me. The Italian/Modern day references I had no idea what he was talking about. Florence's political situation was very complicated in Dante's day so I gave up trying to understand what he was talking about and that helped me enjoy the book more.
The depiction of heaven was very creative, I thought. The Inferno was creative too but I feel like that version of hell has pervaded modern day depictions of hell so it wasn't new to me. But the way Dante finds to depict heaven really gave me something to visualize other than angels playing harps on clouds. Dante is obviously very cautious to say that Paradise was much more magnificent than what he's able to describe.
This is definitely an investment and big effort to get through but at the end, I feel like it was worthwhile. It's nice that Dante breaks the divine comedy into 3 parts so that I could take long breaks after completing each part.